Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1914-04-09
GOVERNOR ASKS
REFERENDUM Of
BADG[' 5 ,SSjiiIiftRS
Asks Five Questions to Be
Answered on Election
Day.
II REDUCE STATE TAXES
The Question Of Highways
Seems to be the Largest
Problem.

Governor Nc Govern has sent to the
to Rn clerks of the state letter to be
read to the voters on election dey and
answers to be returned to the execu-
dive. It is in the nature of referen-
dunn which the people are asked to
deside.
The letter points out that a special
session of the Legislature to deal with
the problem of appropriations, esp cial-
Nv those relating to buildings and TO
highways, is being considered by tie
chief executive. AS to the first the
governor points ont lhas by refusing to
sanction any building thai W as not Rb-
soIutely necessary by June 30 he will
have saved approximately $3.50 600. He
has affected this saving with the CO.
operation of the boards concerned, as
follows: Through the University OF
Wisconsin, 100000; through the
board of control, Sill 900; and throul b
the normal schools, $l75, 900.
He says the principal cause of high
taxes this year is The recently inaugu'
rated good roads movement and Is be
yond his control. State taxes levied
for this purpose have creased fto,n
$3.50, 600 in 1912 to 81 $50, 900 in 1913
Thus the increase is almost fivefold.
Moreover, for each dollar levied by Ihe
state the counties are requ red approx
mately to contribute another dollar
and the towns still another; so that
about S4,6OO,00O III ai will be avail
able for high way construction and
improvement this year. If their is
to be either a reduction in expenditure
or change of policy is must b
brought about through cooperation
with the people Of the towns and coun-
ties and with their consent. Besides,
if a special session of the legislature
should be called it will mean merely
the reasse milling OF the men who pas
sed the present highway appropriate
law less than year ago with only
seven opposing votes in both houses.
If they be again called together they
should, if possible, have for their
guidance clear and unequivccal man
date from the people as to what action
they should take.
The five questions submitted and on
which he desires reply are as follows:
Are you in favor of reducing the
state appropriation for highwey aid?
If so, how much?
2 Many towns do not apply for the
share Of state aid 10 which they are
entitled. Are you in favor of reserving
in the state treasury for hmlteC
period (say three ears) the smOuot OF
state aid TO which each town would be
entitled If 1t applied for the same al
once, SO that every district may
receive its proper proportion of the
highway fund which iE helped TO
create?
3 Are you in favor of repe zling that
portion of the present law which per-
mits automobile and other private or
ganizat1ons by the deposit or certain
amount of money. to force towns to
undertage highway improvement?
Are you in favor Cf an amend
ment to the constitution which will
give the governor of the state power to
veto bad items In an appropriation bill
without being compelled to disapprove
the bill as whole?
Should a special session be cal
led, are you in favor of Legislative
rule that will give the governor a
chance to veto vicious appropriations
without at the same time defeating
good ones and so enable him to exer.
else some control over tax legislation
for which he Ia held responsible by
the people?