The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-03-19
The MOTION is SECONDED.
Editor of the Pilot:

In your last issue
there was letter from, ga Farmer
who made the suggestion that the
taxpayers of this county follow the ex'
ample set by those of other counties
and hold a mass meeting to protest
against the commissions, the state aid
Highway law and so on; and asks, "who
will second the motion?"
|, for one most heartily do so. Mat
ters have reached such point that
from 20 to 80 per cent of the income
from land, both farm and city property
is required to pay the burdensome tax
alton. In four years without any good
reason our taxes have doubled. In ten
years they have been multiplied by
four. A farmer friend said TO me the
other day, owe are no longer paying
taxes, we are paying rent to the state
| for the use of our own land
The increase in taxes is not alone in
| the amount of state tax collected. Our
county and local taxes have increased
Why? Because the legislature has
heaped on US a multitude of new local
taxes which our county and town Of
ficers ar com pei ed by state law 10 put
into our local tax rolls. 1t has created
new officers and fixed their salaries
and taxes must be levied to pay them.
| One example is that of the office OF
County Highway Commissioner. We
| are taxed TO create large state high
way fund and then to get the money
| back to our counties and towns in the
name of state aid, must again tax our
selves twice as much more.
The power of the people over their
home affairs, their schools, their roads,
their bridges, their town and county
buildings, is being rapidly taken away
| from them and centralized in the
hands of officers and comm lssions al
Madison. The cost of every function,
the exercise of every power 10y the pee
pie has been largely increased, in some
cases more than doubled by state law
We now hold two general elections
where we formerly held one. Towr
and district officers are compelled tc
attend meetings and listen to lectures
by some upstart STRIPPING from the
university and charge their per diem
and expenses to the towns and dis
tricts by force of state law.
All these things cost money and the
aggregate sum is a big one. The tax
payer mas little to say about taxes
but must pay, pay, pay, with the best
grace he can.
Look at your tax receipt. Mr.. Far
mer, and then tell ifyou can how much
you had to dc about voting the alarm.
ing increase in your tax over that OF
last year. And the end is not yet un-
less The people will rise in their might
and majesty and by united action put a
stop to the contemplated proceedings.
AT least two more big commissions
with hosts of assistants, deputy inspect.
ors, agents and spies are being pre-.
pared and the salaries, fees, travelling
expenses, and hotel bills will bring an
other big jump in taxes after the legis
lature meets again.
We have at least, thank God, one
right left. We can protest against
this unjust and unrighteous state OF
affairs. For that reason, second the
notiot of a Farmer to call county
mass meeting. In the mean time let
the people get together and discuss
the matter. BE ready to send dele.
gates or come enmasse when the time
arrives and the place is fixed.
Come determined to be heard. Let
not the state office holders do as they
have done in some localities, side-track
you with motions to investigate. In
formation is no longer needed. Your
tax receipts ought to be information
enough. A Taxpayer.