The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-09-03
Some Things the Legislature has Done.

Some Things the Legislature has Done.
Madison, Wis, Aug. %. Now that
the legislature has completed its work
and the results to the taxpayers are be-
ing counted, the opposition to the pres
ent state administration is devoting it
self to campaign of misrepresentation
in which attacks are being made on
members of the legislature which are
| unwarranted.
The position of the governor on mat
tiers of interest to taxpayers is, of
course, being misrepresented, but Gov.
Phillip expects that and is proceeding
in his work undisturbed.
1t is an unfortunate fact that news
papers in the state which have been
opposed to Governor Philip have been
| mislead by correspondents at Madison
until the people IN some sections of the
state have not had the real facts pre-
scented to them about legislation. With
very few exceptions the press of Wis
consin is disposed to be fair, however,
and there are many editors who were
opposed to Governor Philip during the
| last campaign who are ready to give
him credit for his splendid work. These
editors have been imposed upon by un-
be months before they understand the.
| true situation at Madison.
Here are some things which Govern
or Phillip has done with the aid of the
| legislature for the taxpayers of the
state.
The appropriations by the 1915 legis-
lature are So, 100000 lower than that
of the legislature OF 1913.
III ~. ELL -
81, 900, 900 less than the tax levy of last
fall. There will be no tax levy outside
| of the regular mill tax for educational.
purposes, and it is possible that even a
part of the mill taxes may be RENTED.
The agricultural, interests of the.
state have been brought under one
saved for the taxpayer and greater eff
| ficiency will result.
The departments of the state having
to do with conservation in all its
branches, including the propagation
| and preservation of fish and game,
have been correlated one department
| with the same object in view.
A move has been made to pay the
states indebtedness which has been
| neglected by former administrations
| and, while taxes will be lower, at least
$500, 900 will be paid off each year.
| A move for the betterment of rural
schools has been started by the Dickie
| bill in which Mr.. Dickie and the gov
ernor cooperated.
| The expensive and altogether useless
campaign pamphlet has been abolished.
| The useless and cumbersome Mary
| Ann law which provided for second
| choice voting, and was source of in
| convenience and expense to every coun-
| ty in the state without a single bene-
fetal result, has been wiped off the
statute books.
| A department of engineering which
will do away with duplication of this
expensive work has been established
which will save the taxpayers in the
| long run many thousands of dollars
| year.
The work of state printing has been
| placed under a state printing board,
| which will save thousands of dollars
| each year.
| Last but not least in eyes of the tax
| payers is the fact that the appropria
lions of the 1915 legislature have been
kept down, despite opposition from La
| Toilette hold-over senators, to basis
| of expenditures rather than former al
| lowances and a start has been made
| toward putting the state on business
basis.
| AS times goes on these results Of the
| legislative session will be understood by
| the people and it is fair to assume that
| the present campaign of misrepresenta-
ton will make very little Roadway.