Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-03-07
MAY REVISE TAX LAW
Philip NETS HOT OPPOSITION
IN PLAN HOWEVER TEN
PER CENT LIQUOR.
Especial correspondence to Herald.
BY r. b. PIXLEY:

Madison, Wis, March Gov Phil
lpp is encOuntering most strenuous
opposition to his idea which is carried
out in a bill introduced by Senator
Bray, which repeats that provision of
the income tax allowing offsets for
personal property taxes.
The peculiar thing about it is that
the men for whom he was charged
with Representative Of cor
porations-are back OF the opposition.
Two years ago, when the governor first
entered the executive chamber, mis-
political opponents charged at every
opportunity that he was owned and
controlled by big business" and
pointed to the fact that he came from
Milwaukee and said he would look at
ter the interests of the manufacturers
aud the railroad companies first.
Now the very men who were suppOs-
ed to be his friends, and perhaps are,
from a personal standpoint, are
fighting him in his idea of improving
the tax laws. This is no argument
for or against the bill. Perhaps no
man except a real tax expert, and we
have few Of that class in Wisconsin,
can be quoted as an authority in that
direction The manufacturers de-
clare the Bray bill is unjust, and that
It will mean a great hardship to every
company engaged in a business in
competition with companies located in
states which have no income tax law
On the other hand Senator Bray de-
clares that under the present law the
owners of personal property have a
decided advantage over the owner of
real estate. He cited cases showing
this including the Wells building in
Milwaukee
Another interesting feature of the
hearing before the finance committee
was the appearance of Assemblyman
Edward NOrdman Of Langlade county
against the bill, thus combining the
influence of a member who is sup
posed to represent the farmers with
that of the representatives of the man
ufacturers.
Whatever happens, every one who
has studied the subject knows that
Gov. Philip is right when he says that
our tax laws are far from perfect
Another idea on prohibition is to be
put up to the legislature at least, and
while it is being considered by the
legislators it is certain to be discussed
by the people. That is the proposition
of abolishing the sale of beverages
containing more than ten per cent Of
oil hI1f oil OI tho 10 Of
ers which would include beer. Sew
eral states have studied this suggest
ion and there is pending today before
the Illinois legislator what is known
as the ten per cent law, or the divorce
of whiskey from beer. The idea is to
be advanced in the assembly, when
the Evjue statewide prohibition bill
amendment, which will be similar to
the Evjue bill except that it will not
prohibit the sale of less than ten per
cent beverages.
Assemblyman Henry Grell says that
when his skim milk cheese bill comes
up he he is going to have skim milk
cheese on the speakers desk, and will
invite the members to taste it, He
says the proof of the cheese is in the
eating. Mr.. Grell declares that his
bill has been misrepresented, and that
he does not seek to do anything but
allow owners of skim milk to convert
it into cheese, properly labeled so
that people may eat it if they wish to
and thus help cut down the cost of
living.
Another bill to repeal the primary
law, this time without a referendum
attachment, is to be introduced in the
assembly The bill introduced by AS
semblyman Young must be approved
by the people. The new bill repeats
the present law and provides for a
county primary. The county conven-
ton is to elect delegates to a state
convention, which is to nominate a
state ticket, and, in years when a
United States senator is to be elected,
a candidate for that office and to adopt
a state platform. This subject is
bound to cause interest in the legisla-
ture and the bills are certain of warm
support and determined opposition.
The special highway committee
which has been studying the trunk
line road idea is about ready to re-
port, it is understood in favor of a
5,000-mile system. Meetings have
been held every Wednesday night
since the legislator convened, and
hundreds of suggestions as to kinds
of roads and ways to spend the S.
100000 which is to be used in the next
five years. When the bill comes in
the members will have another big
subject to ponder over. The commit
tee being large and representative, it's
recommendation, if it is unanimous,
will have great weight.
The debate on the Bennett resolu-
ton demanding that Senator LaFol-
lette recede from his position on the
European war was the most interest