River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-05-12
State Legislative News
BY c. E. HANSON


gressives in the assembly last Thurs
day morning won great victory
when the Dahl income tax measure
was engrossed. This bill provides for
a revision of state income tax rates;
for the taxation of the dividends on
bank stocks; for the repeal o. the per-
sonal property offset; for the repeal
of the secrecy clause of the state IN
come tax law, and for fixing the ex-
en1ptions under the state income tax
law the same vote under the federal
law.
The vote in the assembly was
tight squeeze. The bill was refused
indefinite postponement AZ to AS, ana
was then sent to the finance COM
mittee for further consideration.
There has been determined effort
and a flood OF propaganda against
this measure. When it was discover
ed. however, that in all probability
the present income of the state would
he insufficient to meet expense the
sentiment in favor of the killing OF
the bill changed and the measure was
sent to the finance committee for con-
sideration. Assemblyman Dahl made
a splendid fight for his measure. The
bill was opposed by Assemblyman
Mark Catlin, the stalwart leader.
While this is a great preliminary VIC
tory much fighting will still have to
he done before the bill is finally pass
ed.
This victory over the Dahl bill was
followed by another victory. Old IN
come tax returns of corporations ana
individuals may be checked over Tor
six years PAST, if the senate concurs
in the Edwards bill, which would ac-
complish this purpose. Assemblymen
Robert Caldwell of Lodi, attempted
to kill this bill on the floor, but fail
ed. The vote against killing was 40
to 80. The bill was then passed % to
10.
The Edwards bill is one of the most
important measures of the session
and was offered at the request OF the
state tax commission. 1t permits the
commission to go ahead and unearth
any frauds in income tax returns and
collect back taxes.
1.-THE last session Of the Legislature
appropriated $4,000 to the tax COM
mission to investigate some OF these
back returns" said Mr.. Edwards.
.'The state was enriched more than
million of dollars as a result
Assemblyman C. E. Hanson favored
the bill declaring that men should be
made to pay taxes if the income tax
report filed was not correct The
bill was opposed by Assemblyman
L. L. Pierron, Ozaukee, and Assem-
blyman Caldwell.
Grade crossing legislation is dead
for the session. Without debate the
house by vote of At to 81 killed the
Ruffing bill, which would place the
expense of grade crossings on the
railroads. This was practically copy
of the Bennett bill killed in the lower
house.
By vote of 43 to SO the house kill
ed the Nye bill which would put hotel
employees under the supervision of the
industrial commission. Assemblyman
Rynders, Amigo, opposed the bill and
Assemblyman Cakes favored it. The
Grandine bill to put a penalty in the
state pulp wood law was engrossed
after the house, by vote of IA to SO,
refused to kill the bill.
The house passed the bill approp-
rating 100000 to pay claims for
slaughtered tubercular cattle and
concurred in the bill appropriating
s35,100 as an emergency for Stout In
stitute.
! After an impassioned plea for the
adoption of his resolution memorial
izing congress to Immediately recog-
nize the freedom of the Irish republic,
the senate turned down the milder
Burke substitute Is to IA and then
ADOPTED the Huber resolution % to 5.
This is an endorsement of Senator La
Follete's position on the Irish ques-
ton.
The bill to increase the nonresident
tuition fees at the university is dead.
The Goodman amendment for a
$500 tuition fee for foreign students
was killed 80 to IL.
The committee amendment for a
$500 tuition fee for all non-residents
students was killed with only few
votes in opposition.
The original bill for a $500 tuition
fee for nonresident students was kill
ed by practically unanimous vote
after C.. M. Perry, Oshkosh, author of