Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-10
LITTLE CHANCE
| FOR INCOME TAX
Wisconsin Legislature Befud-
died Over the Question.
MUCH OPPOSITION TO BILL
Chief Criticism Is That u Is Made
UnworkabIe In an Endeavor to
Reach the Corporations
Mahon on warpath.

Madison. Wis, May 9.-(specian-
The Wisconsin legislature Is so befud-
died on the income tax question that
it looks as though the legislature Will
adjourn without passing an income
tax bin. The original bill On this
subject was discussed for weeks, the
result being that the committee draft
ed a substitute. This measure, ac-
cording to experts. is impossible, and
one of the members OF the safe tax
commission made the statement that
if the bill became a law that special
session OF the legislature would have
to be called to amend it to make il
possible of administration. Nils P.
Haugen, a member OF the state tax
commission and recognized as one OF
Wiseonsin's experts on the question of
taxation, appeared al a public hearing
on the substitution bill and frankly
confessed that he could not endorse
the measure. It is growing so late in
! the session that some Of the leaders
have practically reached the conclusion
that the income tax proposition cannot
be worked OUT by the legislature I'M
less the members are willing to re-
main here all summer. Commissioner
Adams also is opposed to the measure,
/ It is said, on the ground that is is
not workable in its present form.
These measures maintain that the bill
will impose added taxation upon those
who now are paying what is consid-
cred a just proportinate share.
Further objection is urged that the
cost of collecting taxes under fits PRO
visions and the involved system, in
Commissioner Haugen's opinion
makes the plan Impractical He BE-
lieves that a workable income tax
plan can be arrived at if tine IS given,
and fayors postponing action for two
! years when a complete system can be
presented to the legislature for its
consideration.
The chief criticism TO be heard as
to the new bin is that it is made un-
workable by an endeayer TO reach the
corporations Instead Of. devising a
plan which viii supply a system to
take the place of the present person
al property tax, to supplant it, il ap-
pears the present bill seeks to supple
ment existing systems in this state
and adds a new scheme.
i 4 =
Assemblyman Thomas ] Mahon Is
out on the watpath against the book
trust. In connection with his bill to
create a text book commission, Mr.
Mahon served notice on the assembly
that the book trust was maintaining on
active lobby, and that II the members
would open their eyes they would fiud
out what was going on. During Mr.
Mahon's absepce his bill was with
drawn from the committee on print
ing and sent to the committee on ed
ucation, which MIR Mahon apparently
believes is not any too friendly TOWARD
his bill. or at any rate not as friend
lyg as the committee on printing
When Mr. Mahon returned he put III
a stiff fight to have his bill again sen
to the committee on printing and h
carried the point. He promises t
make some sensational disclosures
concerning the book trust lobby
that lobby continues in its presen
course.
Assemblyman Axel Johnson's effort
to fix a time limit to legislative SEES
sions in this state failed He intro
duced a bill limiting the sessions q
100 days with an extension of twent,
days upon a majority vote Of the mem
bers. The committee reported in
substitute fixing the time limit a
120 days with twenty days extension
Mr.. johnson argued for the bill, de
claring that the graft ridden state
are those that have no time limit II
their sessions. He charged that eveI
ID the progressive state Of Wisconsin
that too much time is spent in hors
play and political play. Speaker In
gram took the floor and spoke agains
the bill He said Wisconsin. unlik
many other states, Is passing through
constructive period, and that tn
Legislature must proceed slowly an
with care and close study. He sal
that the legislature is working iron
twelve to sixteen hours a day an
that II is a misconception to assum
that its efforts are not appreciated b,
tbs people. The speaker won owe
Mr.. johnson, whose bill was burie'
beneath a heavy vote.
The resolution to Investigate III
charge that United States Senate
Stephenson bought his seat has beel
put over another week. The investi
cation, Il was explained, was delays
because Of the Illness Of Senator Brod
enstab, who will present minorit,
report generating Stephenson. Tha
there is a Lorimer connection and tn
| possible action IF the United State
senate as 10 that case is discusEef
freely among the senators here. Tha
some Of the senator's have yisitet
Chicago lately is known and It {
stated that their visit had somethin,
| To do with the Stepher son matter