River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-02-10
Farmer Legislators
Now Able To
Assert Intentions
Hon. C. e. Hanson, Assemblyman
From Pierce County, Writes
Letter to Constituents

Madison, Wis, Feb 8-For the first
time in many years the farmer mem
bers Of the legislature have been able
to assert their intentions. For q
score Of years the work Of the legis-
lature has been delayed until it was
time for the farmers to leave and
plant their crops. Then the work of
the session was pushed along and
many bills were enacted while the
farmers were absent--bills opposed to
their interests. The farmer members
of the legislature at this session are
determined that this shall not happen
again. Early in the week Assembly
man r. w. Ploetz, farmer member
from Waushara County, served not
ice upon the House that he would OBJ
iect to the introduction Of any new
legislation from the floor Of the house
after February 10th. This is the date
fixed by the house rules when no more
bills shall be introduced In this move
to push the work of the session, As
semblyman Ploetz was seconded by
T w. Bartingale of Chippewa county
Bills are coming into the legislature
rather slowly at this session. The
reason for this probably is that most
of the members of the legislature
have come down here determined on
having a short session. There IS
sentiment against the Introduction OF
any useless bills.
The taxation program is the big
problem before this legislature. In
the upper house Senator H. ]. Sever
son of Waupaca county has introduce
ed a bill for sur-tax on incomes
which is estimated to reach approx
mately s6,0O0,Oo0. simultaneously
the writer has introduced in the low
er house a bill to repeal the so-called
personal property offset to the income
tay. Bills have also been offered
which increase the exemption OF indi-
yfduals, married and single, under the
income tax. Governor Blaine, in his
message. recommended an increase
of income taxes, repeal OF the per-
sonal property offset, and an increase
of tax exemptions for individuals. a
study that has been made by the state
tax commission shows that ii bill
Is passed increasing the exemptions
under the income tax law as proposed
bv Governor Blaine that no farmer in
the state would pay as high an income
tax as he now does, If the legislature
should enact the C. E. Hanson per-
sonal property offset bill. The g, b..
Hanson bill will result in putting
more than 100000 in the treasury
of the state and localities without in
creasing the farmers tax single
cent. Farmer members Of the legis-
Iature are beginning to see that they
have been paying more than their
share Of the taxes for the past ten
years and they are now Tallinl IN
line to support the Hanson bill which
will result in income tax payers con-
tributing a larger share in taxes for
the support of the government.
This week promises to be an i'm
portant one in the legislature. A
committee Of farmers has been con-
ferring with Governor Blaine and the
state marketing commission IN the
drafting of new marketing commits
sion law. This bill will be introduced
some time this week. On Wednesday
the Matheson bill to strengthen the
dry enforcement laws of the state will
be given consideration by the assem-
bly, state affairs committee. A bush
ell basket full Of petitions from every
county in the state has been received
in the house asking for an enactment
Of more stringent dry laws.
If the work of the session can be
kept under way as it has the past few
DAYS there is every Indication that
this session Of the legislature will set
record for an early adjournment
With the determination Of the farm
er members that this work must be
speedily completed there is every in
dication that the session this year viii
be shorter than previous years.
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