River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-04-30

+ tax. M'Govern can hold +
+ money in treasury but not =
+ in tax payers pockets, he =
!. declares. \
!. X
The fact that it will probably be
impossible for Gov. McGovern to
prevent the collection of taxes
next year, as he stated he intended
to do, in his denial of special ses-
sion, is pointed out by Attorney
Gen eral Wal er C. Owen in a state
ment issued today.
The attorney general criticises
other statement made by the gov
rno in the reply to the special
session petition. Mr.. Owen said:
"The people of this state will
not interested in the governors
disquisition on peanut politics.
They r interested in more i'm
portant things-matters of more
intimate concern to them, in the
consideration of which they will
not be frustrated by spiteful filings
concerning fractional politics fur
Their than to pause in amazement
at the undignified spectacle pre-
sented.
Taxes The Issue
"Their coming tax bill challen-
ges their interest. 1t is admitted
by all, even the governor himself,
that the appropriations of the last
legislature we're large and the last
tax levy high. 1t may be noted
right here that with this situation
the state officers, other than the
governor, had nothing to do and
were at all times powerless to pre-
vent. So far as / am concerned
I can say that the only motive
prompting. my action in this matter
was to secure a reduction of the
next tax burden.
II deny that the plan of present
ing a petition to the governor was
matched in the dark | deny that
the head of any department or
commission was called into any
meeting attended by me and. ask
for any information; and l fur
Their unequivocally deny that sec
recy was enjoined upon any such
officer by me or by anyone in my
presence or to my knowledge. The
fact that the governor was not
cognizant of this plan until it was
presented to him is scant justi-
fication for the broadside charge
that it was matched in the dark
If the governor was not consulted
it was not without reason, for be
it understood that from the time
he issued his famous Bull-Moose
proclamation he has not consulted
a single state officer, SO far as l
know, upon any question of state
or party policy. This attitude or
self sufficiency o. his part has
not suggested or invited confer
ence between himself and other
state officers.
+ Defends Petitioners
Gan over suspicious and super
sensitive nature has pictured in his
imagination many bogy-men to
disturb his political coghizations.
The dire political plot that he sees
in a straightforward petition adj
dressed to him by the state offic-
ers, acting under their constitu-
tional rights of petition, is nothing
more or less than a creature Of
suspicion and Imagination. The
petition was presented. in a dig
nified way and it is to be regrett-
ed that the governor did not re-
spond in a like manner.
".The absolute futility and inn
possibility of clam, judicial con-
ference with him is perfectly man
ifest from the Incorporate and I'M
dignified language of his SO call
ed reply.
"The governor comedies that
taxes we're high last year. de
further comedies that it is advis-
able that the State tax levy be
kept within the average tax levies
for recent years. He undertakes
to do this single handed and alone
by the exercise of powers confer
red upon him for entirely differ
ent purposes. If he can do this,
we'll and good. Results and not
methods are important. If the tax
levy for the next year can be kept
down, the results may justify the
use of strong-arm methods and
the arbitrary exercise of power.
Far be it from me to criticise the
method employed.
Attacks Governors Plan
"Those who signed the petition
to the governor asking for a spe-
cial session Of the legislature pro-