Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-03-31

Legislature Is Not Friendly to
Proposed Measures.
WILL BE BIG ISSUE IN 1922
Governor Blaine Will Be Compelled to
Make Taxation Matters Chief Plat
form Plank in Fight for
Reelection.

Madison.-There is little prospect of
any tax legislation at this session Of
the Wisconsin general assembly. The
body, by large vote, killed the c. E..
Hanson bill for the repeal of the per-
sonal property offset in income taxes,
and it has indicated that it does not
favor a change In the present tax
laws
This means that Governor Blaine, II
he stands for reelection, will be COM
PEELED to make taxation matters a di-
rect issue in the next campaign. The
Hanson bill, which was defeated In the
house, was recommended by Governor
Blaine, by the state tax commission
and by at least two or three political
parties. Its defeat by the assembly
means that the tax issue will be fought
out In the 1929 election.
1t is probable that the assembly will
appoint a committee to investigate tax
matters. By vote of 90 to 40, the as
sembly has tabled the ingalls, resolu-
ton which provides for tax investi-
cation. This means that this resolution
can be taken from the table at any
time and acted upon and it is probable
that the outcome of this tax discussion
will be that such a committee will be
ultimately appointed.
The Titus resolution for an organ
lied reforestation project was the sub
ject of long discussion In the senate
few days ago The resolution pro
vides that a sum not to exceed two
tenths of mill of the last state as
sessment may be appropriated for the
refOrestation work in the state. This
would amount to about 5000 900 under
the terms of the proposed constitution
al amendment. On the roll call the
resolution was passed q to 5.
An emergency appropriation Of S3O,
600 for the warien's department of the
conservation commission was passed
without opposition.
A part of the grain taxes of Superior.
Milwaukee and other dock cities will
go to the counties and the state If the
senate follows the action taken by the
house in advancing the Edwards bill
for this purpose.
Up to 1915 grain was taxed as other
property and was subjected to all
taxes Then it was found that there
was little grain in elevators on May /.
the tax assessing time, so the law was
changed and an occupation tax was
imposed. The whole amount of this
tax went to the city where the elevator
was located. The Edwards bill is for
a division Of this amount of grain tax
collected SO that 10 per cent will go
to the state, 20 per cent to the county
and only 70 per cent to the city. AS
semblyman Polowski moved for the In
definite postponement of the bill. His
motion failed. 62-25.
In spite Of the fact that the house
recently voted to repeal the dog tax
law, 1t has engrossed and amended the
Olson bill reducing the dog tax to 81
and 81, instead Of S. and So, as the
present law provides. and advanced it.
The C. e. Hanson amendment to the
constitution to allow sheriff to sue
coed himself In office was engrossed.
This Is the second time the amendment
has been approved by the legislature.
II passed by the senate it will be sub
mitted to vote of the people in 1922
with the other constitutional amend
ments.
A building program at the Univer-
sity Of Wisconsin 6ggregating total
OF So, 139,6O0 is requested of the legis-
lature Among the buildings desired
by the university are:
Addition to chemistry building, $751;
600: addition to Bascom hall, 500, 800;
addition to engineering shops $685.
600; minor buildings at college Of ag-
riculture, 100000; addition to law
school building, $5625O; addition to
music hall, $91, $50; addition to extern
sion building, $4,000; addition to
service building, $4,000; additional
dormitories for girls, 100000; dormi-
tory for men, $500, 600; electric sub
station, $4,000; piers and shelters at
lake, $4,000; utility needs, boilers,
ETC., $4,000.
"The unusual increase in student at
tendance has emphasized the lack of
facilities" said Mr.. Thorkelson, In ex-
planning the building program. 'It is
no exaggeratiOn to state that the uni
versity Is supplying instruction daily
to 1900 students, with a building
capacity for 500.
"The practical suspension Of normal
university building activities for the
past seven years has created the IN
usual accumulation of building needs"
Value Of Wisconsin Farm Land.
The average acre value Of all Wis
coLsin lands, with improvements, Is
estimated by Joseph A. Becker of the
Wisconsin cooperative crop reporting
service, United States bureau of crop
estimates and Wisconsin state depart
ment of agriculture, at S125, compared
to $3.50 In 1920, 500 In 1919 and S1O2
ia 1918 Average value of farm lands
without improvements is estimated at
$S4 per acre, compared to SOC In 1920,
$50 Tin 1919 and S72 in 1913 Poor
plowlaLds averaged S62 per acre, COM
Dared to s66 last year. $50 In 1919.