River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-15
TO MAKE TAXES
LESS A BURDEN
Bill for Semi-Annual Payments
Before Legislature.
OF BIG INTEREST TO FARMERS

Measure Provides for Payments in
January and July-BilI to Broaden
Powers Of State Railroad Commits
sion Passes Senate-The Breach in
the Republican Party.
Madison, Wis, May 13.-(SpeciaL)
In one of it's business-like and SER
ious moments the Wisconsin legisla-
ture will proabbly pass bill of great
interest to the farmers of the state.
The bill was introduced by Assembly
man Axel Johnson of Polk county and
provides for the semi-annual payment
of taxes. The joint committee has
already recommended the measure
for passage.
The theory of this bill is that it
will make the payment of taxes less
of burden, the total amount to be
paid will be half of the amount under
the present system of annual pay
ment of taxes, and for that reason it
will seem less burdensome. Taxes,
according to the Johnson plan, will
be paid in January and in July,
the farmer is best situated to pay
taxes. The bill is Of general interest,
as the same rules that apply to the
farmers of the state in a matter of
this kind also are applicable to the
general citizenship of Wisconsin.
Protection for the Public.
The Holmes bill to broaden the
powers of the state railroad commits
sion SO that this board may act more
promptly to protect the public by i'm
proving dangerous crossings has pass
ed the assembly and will doubtless
receive favorable action in the SEN
ate. Mr.. Holmes has introduced prac-
tically all of the bills in which mem
bers of the commission are especially
interested. The crossing measure
gives to the commission the right to
act upon its own motion. Under the
present law in order to have a danger
Gus crossing made safer it is neces-
sary for some citizen to file a COM
plant. There is considerable red
tape to the procedure provided by
statute, and it is the aim to remove
delay incident to carrying out the
present law.
Another bill by Assemblyman
Holmes which is making favorable
progress relates to stock and bonds,
the purpose Of the bill being to do
away with the evil of watered stock
in the organization and reorganiza-
ton of corporations, and placing the
physical valuation of properties upon
the basis of real valuation.
Recess of Legislature.
The movement for a recess of the
legislature until sometime next win.
ter in order that members of both
houses may be given more time in
which to make a study of important
bills is making little Roadway. The
| members seem to feel that it is bet
ter to remain here and finish the
work now. They fear that to return
next winter would mean another SEES
sion of four or five months for which
they would receive no additional com
pensation. Most of the members have
already spent their full compensation
for services and the majority of them
feel that they can i'll afford to return
next winter to do work which may
be done within another month or
two.
A bill of interest to farmers has
just been passed in the senate and
has gone to the governor. 1t is bill
which provides that after Jan. 1,
1915, that sleighs shall have the same
width as automobiles, wagons and
other vehicles. This measure, how.
ever, provides that any sleighs pur-
chased previous to Jan. 1, 1915, may
be used until they are no longer fit
for service.
Many Bills Are Killed.
After discussing subjects for weeks
and months, the legislature during the
last few days has killed a number of
bills which have been given much
time and attention. Among these is
the Rosa bill which had as it's .pur-
pose to give to parents equal rights
in the disposition of minor children.
The medical bill to make more string
ent the medical requirements in this
state, the Hull bill to inaugurate a
college course in the normal schools
of the state and the bill to divorce
the breweries from the saloons have
also been recorded in the legislative
obituary column.
The Glenn bill for a referendum
vote on equal suffrage has passed
4