Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-05
EDMONDS HELD
IN CONTEMPT
lcoNrINuEp FRoM rIRsT PAeEl

The debate was marked by num-
Der OF hot clashes and dramatic Incl
dents that made the session one Of the
most memorable in recent legislative
history. The speech Of Senator Gay
lord was undoubtedly the most i'm
FASHIONED and most powerful heard at
this session.
Taxation of Phone Companies.
II the bill introduced IN the assem-
bly, Friday by the committee on taxa
ton is enacted into law State yreasCr-
er A. r. Dahl estimates that the take
of the telephone companies of the state
will be increased from 500 900 to $780,
600 At the present time these con-
Germs pay taxes on the license fee
basis, on much the same plan the rail-
roads formerly paid upon, and II is
proposed 10 compel them to pay taxes
IN proportion TO the value OF their
property. This is the ad valorem 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 a 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 a license fee OF 4 per cent.
Companies whose receipts are less
than 100000 pay 2% per cent tax.
The state treasurer complains that the
telephone companies 10 not incor-
porate under the law and It IS difficult
TO reach them under the present sys-
TEN for taxation purposes
The investigation In support OF the
ad yalorem system Of taxing tele
phones not only shows that thirty
eight companies pay 70 tax at all,
but that one company pays tax Of
Qntt fttlH ~ AilE btfAi O. LWD ANAAAT
panies pay 4 cents; four companies pay
5 cents; three companies pay cents,
and fifty-four companies pay over Z
cents and less than ST. Many smaller
companies will oppose the bill
Public utilitles Companies.
The public utility COMPANIES viii not
be compelled 70 cmrender their
franchises TO the gtate 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 10 compel the same The
measure provided for all franchises
granted by the state prior TO July 9.
1907. to public utility companies re SO
altered and amended as 10 constitute
and TO be an iudetermlnate permit"
The feature OF an ndeterminate per-
init. that makes il different from a
franchise. is that Il allows a utility
10 operate under good behavior allow.
ing the city to step IN az any time and
purchase the property at a price to be
fixed by the railroad rate commission.
The reason for recommending tho
bill for tndehnite postponement was
because the committee felt that the
time was not ripe for such move.
The Sanboru bill in the senate viii
be- recommended IN its place This
bill provides tlt utilities may have
until 1919 10 voluntarily surrender
franchises. similar feature was in.
corporated in the public utility law.
but il expired some time ago So
many compaui IS have since attempted
10 surrender tue franchises that It was
deemed advisable 70 allow two years
longer for companies TO have that
privilege ard there is belief among
some Of The Legislators that then there
viii be a sentiment for the passage of
a law as COMPLETE az the Herner bin.
Woman Suffrage Turned oowt
Last week was a disastrous oae in
the legislature for various reforms.
woman suffrage. the recall, the jnitia.
tive and referendum and the MARY
Ann or second choice in tie pri.
maries. being among the bills killed
by the assembly The woman suf.
uagC proposition was turned down by
rather decisive vote. although As.
seublHmen Hamper and Twcsmc
made effective arguments for It,
Although the senate passed the
measure 10 was regarded RS foregone
conclusion thar the assembly wor 1
kin 1t aud the women made no particu,
Tar EFFORT to save il ia that house.
However ,hey regard IL Is a triumph
to have it So through the senate and
Will looa hopefully 10 another legisla.
ture
Death Of Ex Governor sslouon.
The death Of former Governor I'D.
ward Salumau at Frnnuort. Germany.
following closely un that Of former
Governor Tay ior, was an event Of in.
terest Of the week in political circles.
Salomou succeeded TO the governor.
shin In $50 on the drowning Of Gov.
ernor Harvey Shiloh and ser ed for
nearly two years but SO far removed
Is that time aud SO long was 1t since
Su,omou .att the state that Il was not
generally known thAt he was stil liv.
lus When Governor Taylor PASSED
AWAY
The list Of former governors Of The
state thst TEEN wen, the rounds OF the
state did mot contain his name Salo.