Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-07-26

ballot to declare his party afaliation.
and that the ballot OF the party TO
which he belongs only should be given
to him This is the rule in many
states Other similar regulations have
been suggested, but none has been
found more satisfactory than the stat
ute here sought to be amended. Not
the least OF the advantages attendant
upon its operation is the effectiveness
In bringing out larger proportion OF
the voters of all parties at the pri-
maries. thus tending strongly to Sc
cure better nominations"
A bill introduced by Assemblyman
Spoor amending the fish and game
laws so as to prohibit anyone from
| catching or having in his possession
more than As trout in one day passed
both houses of the legislature.
The present law prohibits the catch
ing of more than As brook trout
Senator Husting strongly opposed
the passage Of the bill on the ground
/ that it was intended to save the face
of the state fish and game warden in
his unsuccessful prosecution of former
| Congressman s. Weiss of Sheboygan
Falls on the charge Of having in his
possession an excessive number OF
brook trout.
Governor McGovern signed the
income tax bill and deposited it
with Secretary Of State Frear.
and it now becomes a law immediate
ly upon its publication, though not eff
fective until next year Attached to
the bill is statement by Governor
McGoyern regarding the provisions OF
the bill as follows:
There has been so much miscon-
ception concerning this measure that
in signing it feel justified in making
brief statement in the hope of cor
recting false impressions and of di-
recting attention from Insignificant de-
tails to the main provisions of the
bill.
TO begin with, It should be under
stood that practically every penny of
revenue raised by this bill over and
above the cost of administration viii
go to support local government. 1t
will be spent to pave streets, build
roads and bridges. maintain hospitals
and jails, provide fire and police pro-
lection. and support the courts for
those who pay the tax.
'By the terms Of this law ten per
cent. of the revenue raised under 1t
WIN go to the state, 20 per cent. to the
county, and 20 per cent. to the town,
city or village in which it is collected.
But the entire expense of the admin
istration will be borne by the state.
This feature Of the bill is signifi-
cant in two respects: In the first
place, 1t affords a complete answer to
the criticism frequently made that an
income tax is sound in principle, but
should be administered by the nation
al government. 1t should never be
forgotten that the prime object OF
taxation is revenue. Because personal
property taxation has broken down
and the burden upon real estate is
daily increasing. the prime desidera-
tum at this time is improvement in
local taxation. This improvement is
here attempted by providing an in
come tax.
I'm the second place, this feature
renders utterly untenable the claim
that the taxation of incomes will In
jure business or drive capital from
the state. The expense of local gov
eminent must be borne somehow. 1t
is now raised by taxation OF land and
personal property. AS soon as this
law is put into operation 1t will be de-
frayed in part at least by the taxation
of incomes. Hand In hand with this
change will go the abolition Of per-
sonal taxation and reduction in the
tax upon real estate. After this year
personal property taxation viii prac-
tically cease; this bill specifically ex-
empts money, credits, household furni-
ture. wearing apparel, tools. farm ma
chinery and practically all stocks and
bonds, and permits those who pay
taxes on other forms of personal prop
erty to deduct the amount from their
income tax But the total amount OF
local taxes will not be either in
creased or diminished; it win only be
more widely and equitably distribu-
ted"