The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-02-11

The taxation question will appear be-
fore this legislature in many phases.
Not only will there be a determined
effort to reduce the takers in Wiscon-
sin, but there will also be an effort to
make the taxation less of a burden by
providing that the tax payments shall
be payable semi-annually, and the tax
payers thus relieved of paying so large
sum as he is now compelled to pay
when taxes are due. There is an i'm
mense amount of sentiment in this state
i'm favor of semi annual tax payments.
if any one doubts that the taxation
subject is live and vital subject in
this state, he has but to read over the
letters which every member of the leg
islature is receiving in regard to the
taxation question. There is hardly
member, and especially those represent
ing country districts, but who has had
correspondence from his constituents
in which a demand is made for
change in the taxation burden. The
plan for semi-annual payment of
taxes is received with great deal of
favor in the country, and great many
country members are receiving letters
from their constituents in which the
constituents quite emphatically ask the
country members to support the semi
annual tax-payment bill
So far the only objection to the bill
that is known comes from some city Of
fcials in Milwaukee, where unquestion-
ably the cost of advertising of the tax
collecting department would be materi-
ally increased if the taxes should be
collected semi-annually. AS the matter
stands, the city officials in Milwaukee
who view the semi-annual tax payment
bill with alarm fear that the people
will object to the increased cost of ad-
ministration and declare that before
going on record for or against the bill
they would like to sound the public of
Milwaukee and find out whether they
would rather pay the additional $780,
600 which will have to be paid out for
administration purposes if the taxes
are collected semi-annually, or whether
they would rather save this amount by
having the taxes collected annually. OF
couse, in all places the semi annual col
lection of taxes will increase the cost
of administration. Even in the agricul-
tural districts of the state the town
treasurers will want more if they are
obliged to collect the taxes semi-annu-
ally. On the other hand, the public
would probably willingly bear the in
creased administration cost for the
convenience of having the tax pay
ments divided into two payments a
year. Still, the expense of administra-
ton under a semi-annual tax payment
system will unquestionably be discussed
when the bill is under consideration.
The tax problem is a difficult one to
deal with in many ways. One reason
is because few people will give the
subject the careful consideration which
1T demands, and take the time to dis
cover whether high taxes are due to
local or state administrations. The
parties in power invariably suffer from
high taxes and the public is very like
ly to hold the administrations which
are governing them responsible for tax
conditions which they may not be re-
sponsible for. This has been the ex-
perience in Wisconsin and in other
states and very often the tax paving
public is very unreasonable when it
comes to discussions of tax paying con-
ditions. Still, there is good reason for
some of the discussion in Wisconsin and
whatever may be the interest involved it
must fairly and squarely face the ques-
ton that reduction in taxes is an alb
solute necessity, even if some state pro.
jects have to have their expenditures
materially curtailed to meet the de-
Mands for lower expenditures.
That the taxation burden this year
is proving heavy burden was shown
by the very strong sentiment which
found an early expression in the legis-
Iature for an extension in time for the
collection of taxes. The only law
which has passed the legislature thus
far is the measure which provides that
municipalities may extend the tax nav
ment time if they desire. The necessity
of this emergency law was well shown
by the fact that there are more unpaid
taxes on the books of every municipaIi-
ty of the state at the present time
than in many years before, and it is
said many people are in such shape
financially that they feel they will have
to pay the penalties for not meeting
their taxes within the time limit rather
than nav the taxes at this time As a
matter of fact, however, most munich
palities have either made arrangements
to extend the time through some sub
terfuge, or else have taken advantage
of the extension law.
The taxes are being paid in farming
communities more readily than in
cities, which shows that the agricul-
tural population in Wisconsin is well
supplied with ready money, and in less