River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-04-07
State Legislative News
From Hon. G. E. Hanson


ion is being defeated at this session
Of the legislature than is being pass
ed. The powerful interests from the
manufacturing centersi Of Milwaukee
and the lake shore seem to have plac-
ed spell of fear over the legislature.
A tax program which would put some.
of the burden of taxes upon the rich
of the state, upon the men who made
enormous profits out of the war, will
have hard time getting it through
this legislature.
People generally do not realize how
it is that good legislation is defeated.
If the farmers of the state could only
organize the way that the big manu-
facturers of the state organize legis-
lation might be enacted which would
relieve the real estate of the state
from ever increasing tax burdens.
But the farmers are busy and have to
remain at home and at work. The
manufacturers are busy but they are
organized and come troopingS to Mad
ison by the hundreds in order to de-
feat much needed legislation. There
has Just come to my attention let
ter which was sent out by the Cham
Der of Commerce, Milwaukee, the big
business organization of that city,
calling attention of the wealthy men
q Al. ~ Mn.JsccN- hu
train-loads to defeat needed tax leg
islation. They did the same thing
twenty years ago when an effort was
being made to pass railroad legisla-
ton. Men came into Madison by the
trainload to oppose this needed re-
form. The same spectacle was just
repeated when the hearings were held
on March "a on the taxation bills.
That the influence which wealth ex-
erts and the plan under which the OPP
crate may forever be made clear to
the people of my district ! offer the
following letter from the Chamber OF
Commerce of Milwaukee which shows
exactly how big business operates
while the farmers are home working:
Milwaukee Association of Commerce
March II, 1921
Dear Mr.. Secretary,
Plans are being made for the APP
pearance of merchants and manufac-
turers in Madison on March "a, at 2
D. m. to attend the hearing on the three
tax bills as follows:
"a Severson S6,o0O,0OO
(2) Conant Sl6,OOO,OO0
(3) Arnold $26,000,000
Ii is believed that if we can have two
or three thousand merchants flock into
the State Capitol on that day some
assemblymen and senator's will not
be quite so anxious to tax their con-
stituents to death.
Plans have already been formulat-
ed for a large attendance from many
sections of the state, but there are
still some places in Wisconsin from
which we must have representatives
and we urge you to get as many mem
bers of your organization IS posi-
bic and even non-menlbers who are
merchants and manufacturers to at
tend this hearing.
Special trains will be run from
Milwaukee and perhaps you can ar
range for a special train from your
city either direct to Madison or to
connect with some special trains out
of Milwaukee on the morning of Mar.
"a.
Business men are not adverse to
constructive progressive legislation,
but they do object to being burdened
with additional taxes when they are
already overburdened with present
taxes.
viii you please make every effort
to have a large representation at the
hearing in Madison on March "a, at
2 p. m, and nelp Us defeat legislation
which is unwise and inopportune :?
We shall be glad to give you any in
formation on this subject that you de-
sire.
(signed) W. c. Carlson,
President, Milwaukee Association
Of Commerce.
Because CT the success which the
state had had II tie manufacture of
hinder Irvine at the states prison at
Waupun it is now proposed to have
legislative investigation of the feas-
ibility of the manufacture of sugar
from sugar beets by prison labor As
semblyman j. ]. Lamb, Fon du Lac
county, has secured the adoption of a
resolution in the House which pro-
vides for the appointment of COM
nlittee of two senators and three as
semblymen to investigate the sub
ject.