River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-04-10
STATE SINGLE
TAX IS FAVORED
GuIickSon Resolution Is Adopted
by Assembly.
BASIC LAW is WIPED OUT
Friends of Measure Declare That II
1t Becomes Statute 1t Will Aid
in Developing Northern
Wisconsin.

Madison.-That the legislature is
in favor of state regulation of public
utilities, instead of local supervision
and control, has been indicated by
the Unidentified postponement of the
Manning bill giving the common coun-
ellis power to regulate street car COM
panies. The assembly also killed the
Rhea bill, which would give the com
mon councils power over. railroad
crossings, flagmen and alarm bells.
The attacks eon the powers Of the
railroad commission come principally
from Milwaukee, where the commits
sion is now devoting it's energies to
solution of the street car problem.
Favor Single Tax.
After a long debate the assembly, by
g vote of 43 to 30, adopted the Gulick-
son joint resolution looking toward the
adoption of the single tax in this state.
The resolution wiped out the rule of
uniformity that has been the basic law
of the state in subjects of taxation for
over sixty years. The resolution pro-
vides that the legislature shall have
power to authorize counties, towns,
cities and villages, by vote of the
electors therein, to exempt from taxa
tion in whole or in part designated
classes Of property. AS the single tax
would rest entirely upon the land, the
resolution is generally considered as
favoring the single tax idea
Assemblyman Edward Nordman, the
leading single-taxer of the assembly.
made q long speech in favor of the
r. -olution, claiming that it would aid
in the development of northern Wis
Consin
Loans Farmers Postal Savings.
The assembly passed the Vint reso-
luton petitioning congress to pass a
bill SO that the deposits in the postal
savings banks of the country can be
loaned to farmers.
Frederick's anti-fee-spliting bill has
been sent to engrossment This bill
makes 1t a felony, punishable with
state prison sentence, to take or re-
ceiVe a split fee. Before the commit
tee on judiciary testimony was given
that, as the direct result of the fee
splitting system, hundreds of opera
lions are performed by physicians in
order to secure the price charged for
the operation
In spite Of the numerous protests re-
ceiyed by members of the assembly
against the L. L. Johnson bill prohib-
iting companies unauthorized to do
business in this state from writing in
6urance, the measure has been en-
crossed 1t is claimed that some of
the companies that have been driven
from the state are attempting to Sc
cure policies in the state by circular
methods and advertisements in maya
zines. 1t is this class of companies
that the bill hits and the measure has
the backing of the state insurance de-
partment.
Exempts Bank Stocks.
Gulicksons bill taking the exemp
ton off OF national bank stock and
United States securities was en-
crossed. 1t now goes to the finance
committee.
The Rhea bill to raise the salary of
town supervisors from 81 to So was
defeated, although it was on the cal
cndar for passage. Opposition to it
came from the farmer members, who
relieved that the present salary is suf-
hcient
Under suspension of the rules the
Holmes bill, strengthening the foreign
Incorporation act SO that companies
cannot do business in the state unless
they have filed their charter and by
DAVIS with the secretary of state, was
passed.
The bill by the committee on fish
and game, fixing the closed season for
bass from March l to May 80, was en-
crossed
Rosa's bill permitting a town 20
take charge of cemeteries that have
been abandoned for five years or over
was passed under suspension of the
rhles.
Among the other bills passed were
the Gorecki bill prohibiting the selling
or use of liquor on school premises,
and the Dolan bill giving majority of
the stockholders the right to dissolve
q corporation.