The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-09-28

W nat Is tHe use OF QulDDllng, ne
asked, "over a slight increase or de-
crease in state taxes, commissions,
number and amount of salaries of
state employees, when the real record
Of the present administration is a
record of service in behalf of privilege
seeking corporations resulting in the
granting of fayors running into the
millions annually, and the undermin-
ing of laws Of vital Importance to the
great mass of the citizens of the state? ?
THE people did not get a reduction
in their tax receipt, but there were a
large collection of interests on the job
throughout the legislative session,
which secured reductions in their tax
receipts, or fayors that were worth
great sums of money. 1t is a record
without parallel in the recent history
of the state, of service to selfish inter
ests, seeking to profit at the expense
of the people"
Then followed a review of the va
riOus savings, and favOrs to life insur-
ance companies, grain elevators, rail
roads, casualty insurance companies.
water power companies, and fire in
surance companies, presented in the
form Of table as follows:
Water Power Companies
one site given away.......Sl2 200, 600
Life Insurance Companies
Taxes reduced annually.... 10000
Grain Elevator Companies
- Taxes reduced annually.... 100000
Casualty ms. Companies
Defeat OF bill increasing
workmen's compensation. 100000
Railroads
Track elevation Zone proiecD 200, 600
Crossing accidents, damages
saved ,...... ........,........ 100000
Interest on postponed taxes $4,000
Fire Insurance Companies
Defeat of bin giving state
control over rates. 100000
TOTAL SAVING" ONE
EAR ..,....,...... S5,25O,000
Special attention was given to the
grade separation law, whereby the
city Of Milwaukee is forced to pay
over a million dollars to help elevate
the tracks Of the st. Paul railroad, so
that dangerous crossings might be
eliminated.
what do the taxpayers in Milwau-
kee really think" asked Mr.. Williams,
"of pledges and promises to reduce
taxation, when under such pretense
and deception, measures and methods
are found to thus enrich and benefit
one single corporation to the extent
OF over million dollars, that Is to be
taken from the people Of that city
later in increased taxes"
Cases in other cities Of the state,
notably Eau Claire and Kenosha, were
cited as working a similar injustice.
Attention was called to the fact that
have been forced to raise their tracks
at total cost Of over s7O,000,000 dur
ing the last twenty years, all the cost
OF which was borne by the railroad
companies. The same companies, he
said, are now permitted to force Wis
consin municipalities and towns to
pay as high as fourth Of the cost,
and in addition, under the terms OF
law passed by the last legislature, are
to be subjected to the further expense
of paying a portion of the cost Of re-
side tracks up to fifty
per cent.
Eve have heard a good deal" said
Mr. Williams, "about public service
controlling the great city
OF Chicago, and the legislature OF the
state of Illinois, but still the city OF
Chicago does not face the conditions
that Milwaukee and other cities OF
Wisconsin do by reason of this be-
trayal Of their rights for the benefit OF
big railroad corporations.
I'm this fight" concluded Mr.. Will
liams, ut is not so much a question OF
party, but Of citizenship. and appeal
to men Of all parties in Wisconsin for
support in this great effort to prevent |
further exploitation by a continuance
)f special legislation and tax reduc-
lions for private interests at the ex-
pense Of the great mass Of our citizen
ship"