The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-01-14
ANTS WILL PUSH
COUNTY OPTION
ATTORNEY JOHN F. BAKER SAYS
FIGHT WILL BE MADE EARLY IN
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LIQUOR INTERESTS ACTIVE.
Tax Commission Will Report to Legisla-
ture the Latter Part of Next
Week
OPPOSE LOCAL RATE COMMISSIONS

MADISON. Wis, Jan. .-ISpeciall
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 This will be the most
important bill that the Wisconsin Anti
Saloon league will be interested in pass
ing. This piece of legislation is CON
coded 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
III favor of fair restrictive measures.
The fairness of the option idea is
strong appeal to the unbiased.
Will Present Bill
THE bin 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-eghths of her ter
rltoral area dry. Features of the In
diana and Michigan county option laws
will also appear in the Wisconsin bill.
While the county option measures
VIII be the most important measure
that the anti-saloon forces will contend
for, ii is by no means the end of their
legislative programme. There are sew
erat important amendments to exist
ing laws that will be introduced later
i'll 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 keenly 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 prelimn-
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
state will keep the measure before the
Legislature until it becomes law"
Tax Commission to Report.
The report of the state tax commits
sion will be ready for presentation 10
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 a supplemental report.
Some interesting recommendations are
anticipated. Recently the commission
has given two hearings to the life in
surauce 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 rs similarly valued prop
crty.
The trust companies are awaiting the
report with interest. Nearly a month
ago hearing waS granted them. 1t was
claimed that their stocks were taxed
twice. Some recommendations upon this
feature may be made. The success of
the application of the ad valorem syS-
tenn Of taxation To the street car com
/ panics of the state will be discussed in
/ this report and there are some who be-
/ lieye that the tax commission viii ask
that the telephone companies of the
state he treated in the same manner.
I The report will be voiummous and will
/ be much larger than the last report, that
Of four years ago.
To Cut Printing Expense,
I The attention of the Legislature will
| be strongly called to the method of
state printing now III vogue by which
! Secretary of State Frear declared sin
: L. hA tf.ttl
paying out much more than it ought.
! The state printing commission, consist
/ ing of Gov. Davidson, Attorney General
7 Gilbert and Secretary Erear have been
/ conducting 4 quiet investigation and the
results of their lahors will be presented
/ TO the printing committee of the Legs
| laturc. Limitation of the number Of
copies of any of the reports now being
. distributed broadcast, rs well as being
used for fuel because the storage space
they occupy is too valuable, will be in
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
large numbers. The cost of state print
ing according to Secretary trear, in
crea sed from $40 ,03S.2l in 1903 to Sl2S,-
. 800. 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-
peal to the state railroad commission,
has created nothing but amusement here.
Speaker Ekern will not discuss the
scheme and every one of the Republican
members of the Legislature here point
out the fact that in effct this was the
same as the Democratic idea OF regua-
ton. that was defeated in the Leglsa-
ture by decisive vote two years ago.
In the case of high local feeling as
often happens. the state commission IS
so far away from this prejudice that 1t
is not affected by it. say the Legislators.
There is considerable talk here, how
ever. that law will be passed revoklng
nil Of the franchises Of the public utility
cnmnonies of the state and grant III lieu
thereof indeterminate permits This last
proposition is meeting with more favor
Ia. L. l.,,,.