Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-01-15
ANTS WILL PUSH
COUNTY OPTION
ATTORNEY JOHN F. BAKER SAYS
FIGHT WILL BE MADE EARLY IN
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LIQUOR INTERESTS ACTIVE.
Tax Commission VIII Report to Legisla-
ture the Latter Part of Next
Week.
OPPOSE LOCAL RATE COMMISSIONS.

MADISON. Wis, Jan. 11.-[SpeciaLl
Among the bills that will be intro
duced early in the coming legislative
session is the county option bill, said
John f. Baker. attorney for the anti
saloon league of this state in an inter
view today. '"Ehis' will be the most
important bill that the Wisconsin Anti
Saloon league will be interested in pass
ing. This piece of legislation is con-
ceded to be the next logical step in the
progressive legislation against the saloon
evil in Wisconsin,
While Wisconsin is one of the strong
est liquor states in the Union, and is
considered the stronghold of the liquor
interest in the middle west, sentiment
throughout the state is growing rapidly
in favor of fair restrictive measures.
The fairness of the option idea is a
strong appeal to the unbiased.
Will Present Bill.
1.-The bill as prepared and as it will
be introduced combines features of sew
eral laws Of other states, including the
Ohio law, under which the people of
Ohio have voted the saloons out of over
fifty counties in that state since last
September. The bill also includes the
substance of certain provisions taken
from the Illinois option law, which was
also held constitutional in the Illinois
court in the last few months, and which
has enabled the people of the state of
Illinois to vote seven-eighths of her ter
rltOrial area dry. Features of the In
diana and Michigan county option laws
will also appear in the Wisconsin bill.
While the county option measures
will be the most important measure
that the anti-saloon forces will contend
for, it is by no means the end of their
legislative programme. There are sew
eral important amendments to exist
ing laws that will be introduced later
in the session.
Liquor Men Line Up.
'"The liquor forces are lined up strong
ly against these measures and are like
wise centering their efforts on the county
option bill. Both sides are keenIy alive
to the situation. Judging from present
indications the liquor interests are plan
ming to show their hand as early in the
contest as the beginning of the preimin-
airy organization OF the Legislature.
However the Legislature may dispose
of the county option bill during the COM
ing session, the anti-saloon league feels
safe, in saying that the people of the
Legislature until it becomes a law"
Tax Commission to Report.
The report of the state tax commits
sion will be ready for presentation to
the Legislature the latter part of next
week. Heretofore this report has been
somewhat delayed but the commission
made an effort to get the information be-
fore the members this year without the
aid of supplemental report.
Some interesting recommendations are
anticipated Recently the commission
has given two hearings to the life in
surance of the state that some equitable
method might be devised for the valua
ton of the policies. 1t is claimed that
under the present arrangement the
Northwestern Life Insurance company
of this state is compelled to pay many
times as much as similarly valued prop
erty.
The trust companies are awaiting the
report with interest. Nearly a month
ago a hearing was granted them. 1t was
claimed that their stocks were taxed
twice. Some recommended upon this
feature may be made. The success of
the application of the ad valorem sys-
tenn of taxation to the street car COM
panies of the state will be discussed in
this report and there are some who be-
lieve that the tax commission will ask
that the telephone companies of the
The report will be yoluminous and will
be much larger than the last report, that
of four years ago.
To Cut Printing Expense
The attention of the Legislature will
be strongly called to the method of
state printing now in vogue by which
Secretary of State Frear declared in
his recent report that the state was
paying out much more than it ought.
ing of Gov. Davidson, Attorney General
Gilbert and Secretary Frear, have been
conducting a quiet investigation and the
results of their labors will be presented
to the printing committee of the Legis
copies of any of the reports now being
distributed broadcast, as well as being
used for fuel because the storage space
they occupy is too valuable, will be i'm
mediate The secretary of state and
the state treasurer ordered fewer copies
of their last reports than has been Gus
tomarily ordered of the state printer,
because no need was found for such
ing, according to Secretary Frear, in
creased from $40, 038.21 in 1903 to SIPS
$50 II in 1908.
Lehr's Scheme Opposed.
The announcement of Senator J.
Elmer Lehr of Appleton yesterday that
he will propose an amendment to the
public utilities law, which will allow the
creation of municipal commissions, from
a decision of which there will be an ap-