The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-05-07

property. This is the ad valoreTn sys-
tenn, which has proven SO successful
in increasing the taxes of railroads.
= The attention of the committee on
taxation was directed to the matter by
the statement that thirty-eight com
panies under the present license fee
law pay no tax to the state whatever.
An investigation showed that this
would be q method of increasing the
revenues Of the state, and the COM
mittee drafted lengthy bill, based
largely upon the features in the ad
valorem law as applied to the rail
roads.
What investigation Shows.
The law at the present time compels
companies whose gross receipts for the
preceding year shall be over 100000
to pay license fee Of per cent.
Companies whose receipts are less
than 100000 pay 212 per cent tax.
The state treasurer complains that the
telephone companies do not incor-
porate under the law and it is difficult
to reach them under the present sys-
tenn for taxation purposes.
The investigation in support OF the
ad yalorem system of taxing tele-
phones not only shows that thirty
eight companies pay no tax at all,
but that one company pays tax Of
only 2 cents to the state; two COM
l panies pay cents; four companies pay
5 cents; three companies pay cents,
and fifty-four companies pay over Z
cents and less than 81. Many smaller
companies will oppose the bill.
Public Utilities Companies.
The public utility companies will not
be compelled to surrender their
franchises to the state and receive in
lieu thereof indeterminate permits.
This was the verdict of the assembly
committee on transportation last week
after the hearing was given on the
Berner bill to compel the same. The
measure provided for all franchises
granted by the state prior to July 9,
1907, to public utility companies "be so
altered and amended as to constitute
and to be an indeterminate permit"
The feature of an indeterminate per-
NIT, that makes it different from a
franchise, is that it allows utility
to operate under good behavior, allow
ing the city to step in at any time and
purchase the property at a price to be
fixed by the railroad rate commission
The reason for recommending the
bill for indefinite postponement was
because the committee felt that the
time was not ripe for such move.
The Sanborn bill in the senate will
be recommended in it's place. This
bill provides that utilities may have
until 1911 to voluntarily surrender
franchises. A similar feature was in
corporated in the public utility law,
but it expired some time ago. So
many companies have since attempted
to surrender the franchises that it was
deemed advisable to allow two years
longer for companies to have that
privilege and there is belief among
some of the Legislators that then there
will be a sentiment for the passage of
law as complete as the Berner bill.
Woman Suffrage Turned Down.
the legislature for various reforms,
woman suffrage, the recall, the initia-
tive and referendum and the MARY
Ann" or second choice in the pri-
maries, being among the bills killed
by the assembly. The woman Suf-
frage proposition was turned down by
a rather decisive vote, although AS
semblymen Hamper and Twesme
made effective arguments for it.
Although the senate passed the
measure it was regarded as foregone
conclusion that the assembly would
kill it and the women made no particu-
lar effort to save it in that house.
However they regard it as triumph
to have it go through the senate and
will look hopefully to another legisla-
ture.
Death Of Ex-Governor Solomon.
The death of former Governor Ed
ward Solomon at frankfort, Germany
following closely on that Of former
Governor Taylor, was an event of in
terest of the week in political circles. !
Solomon succeeded to the governor
ship in 1862, on the drowning of Gov
ernor Harvey Shiloh and served for |
nearly two years, but so far removed |
is that time and so long was it since |
Solomon left the state that it was not |
generally known that he was still liv- |
ing when Governor Taylor passed |
away.
The list of former governors of the |
state that then went the rounds of the |
state did not contain his name. Salo- |
mon was born in Germany and but lit |
tie over thirty years old when he be- |
came governor. 1t was a tremendous |
responsibility to lay upon shoulders so |
young, with the many great questions |
brought on by the war, but Solomon |
met them we'll and ranks high among |
the executives of Wisconsin. He |
was man of dignified bearing, court |
ly, with high ideas as to the dignity |
and Observation-Disclosures IF bic of1fco