The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-08-05
TO Be ISSUE IN NEXT CAMPAIGN
Friends of the Administration Unwilling
to Drop Battle After Unsuccessful
Move in the Two Branches of the
State Legislature.

Despite the fact that the admins
tration bill for single tax commits
sioner has been indefinitely postponed
by both houses, the tax commission
question is one which will remain pro-
minent, not only before The legislature,
but before the state the coming two
years. The governor intends to use
the question as one of his issues. He
feels that it is one Of the most promin-
ent questions before the state at the
present time, and one which should
have a great deal of consideration.
There is a feeling throughout the state
that the tax question is one of great
Importance, but whether the people of
the state really desire to have the tax
commission abolished is a far different
question. The question will hinge
largely on the work of the commission
during the coming two years. There
is no question but that there is a
great deal of labor connected with the
administration work of the tax com
mission, and the question largely is
whether the commission, as a one-man
department. such as is proposed by the
governor, could carry out this admins
trative work.
In the first place, there is the admin
istration of the income tax. Viewing
the question from any standpoint,
there is no doubt if income tax is to be
enforced in the state Of Wisconsin that
tax commission is necessary to look
after the enforcement of the tax stat
ute. 1t is the idea Of Gov. Philip that
this income tax work together with
the work of the valuation of public
service corporation property can be
done by commission with a single
commissioner and able assistants. The
tax commissioners themselves, while
not talking much about the bill, by no
means agree with the governor, and
Commissioner Thomas Adams, as was
stated recently, offered to resign from
the commission under the stipula-
tion that no one should be appointed
to I'LL the vacancy to permit of a dem
could be accomplished by two commits
sioners. This offer Of Mr. Adams was
not taken up.
The work of the tax commission
which PROFESSIONALLY has caused the
most criticism in the state is work of
a very delicate character in that it con
sists of placing the valuation upon
land in assessment districts where prac-
tically there is dispute over the valu-
alton. When these valuations have
been made, there has been usually an
increase in the valuation, and this fact
has not been enjoyed by the owners Of
the property. In a good many ways,
the work of the tax commission out
side of its merely administrative work
in connection with the advalorem and
the income tax laws is not work
which appeals to the public, for it
is a well known fact that taxpayers
generally do not like to have their
taxes increased.
A part of the objections to the tax
commission also arise from the very
general opinion that the valuation on
Wisconsin property has been raised so
that more money might be netted from
the appropriations which are on a mill
tax basis. Whether this belief is true
or not, it exists, and has not increas-
ed the friendship of the voters for
the tax commission.
This much can be said for the pres
ent tax commission-it has certainly
been fearless in its administration of
the tax laws, and perhaps this in part
is responsible for its unpopularity.
There is no question but that Gov.
Philip intends to use the tax COM
mission question as an issue in his
campaign in this state for re
nomination.