Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-03

iii recalre the henefts.

+ + !.
Public hearings on the income tax
bill will be resumed this week. This
measure, as the title clearly indicates,
provides, for the taxation Of incomes
and practically exempts the personal
property tax. Thus double taxation
will be avoided. The income tax will
be levied at the source Of income.
The question of double taxation was
given careful consideration by the
committee as that is the thing that
had to be avoided If the bill was to
have any chance.
+ + +
The banks are fighting the bill
creating a fund for the guaranty of
bank deposits The large, strong
banks contend that under the pro-
posed bill that the weakest bank will
become as strong as the strongest,
and that the strong banks will make
the weak ones strong without any re-
turn for doing so. The large bankers
contend this is unfair, and they are
working TO defeat the measure. The
both houses, and there is some doubt
If the senate will vote that strong for
It.
The senate laid to rest the county
option bill and all of its measures,
but the assembly still has a chance to
pass upon the question as the Gulick-
son county option bill is yet to come
before the lower house This legis-
lature already has expressed itself on
the various measures aimed to tighten
the lines about the liquor traffic This
is one question that this progressive
legislature is not dabbling with. Thus
far all anti-saloon measures of any
Importance have failed in both houses,
and those that are to be acted upon
will be treated in the same manner
!. :. :.
The Donald good roads bill passed
the senate, but the assembly commit
tee on highways has sort of a death
grip on this bill The committee
spends many hours each week work
ing on It., but there is no immediate
indication that the measure will be re-
ported out until near the close of the
session. The real bone of contention,
is whether the commission shall be
composed of salaried or unsalaried
men. The Donald bill, which appears
TO have the call with most of the
members, provides an annual state ap,
preparation of $35O.000 for the i'm
provement of public highways.
J. 1. =
The Gettle initiative and referen-
dunn is to take the place of all other
legislation on this subject now pend
ing. This week the initiative and
referendum will pass the assembly.
The Gettle bill provides that the peo-
pie of the state shall reserve the pow
er to propose laws, resolutions and
amendments to the constitution and
TO enact or reject them at the polls.
Independent of the legislature and al
so that the people reserve the power,
at their option. to approve or reject
at the polls any legislation passed by
the legislature No more than 8 per
cent nor in any case more than 10000
voters of the state shall be required
to propose any law by initiative petit
lions. Every initiative petition shall
contain the full text of the law or
amendment to the constitution. The
petition must be fled with the secre-
tary Of state no less than ten days be-
fore any regular session of the legis-
lature. Matters of this nature shall
take precedence over all other meas
ures before the legislature except ap-
preparation bills. If the legislature
fails to pass legislation proposed by
the people it shall refer II to vote
Of the people at the next ensuing
election In no small degree this
makes the legislature useless. and is
one of the most progressive ideas ever
considered in this country.
:. !. :.
The question of woman suffrage win
SO to a vote of the people The James
woman suffrage bill passed the senate
and then was passed by the lower
house. Lawyer members of the as
sembly, however. considered The bill
full of legal defects and it was recon-
sidered and substitute bill, which
smooths out the legal defects of the
James measure was reported in. This
is in the hands of the committee, but
there is not the slightest doubt about
It's passage in both houses. The legis
lature washes its hands by putting the
suffrage question right up to the vo-
ters.
FRED c. SHEASBY.