River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-03-10
State Legislative News
From Hon. c. E. Hanson

real test vote on taxation measures
will come before the assembly this
week. The requests Of the different
departments of the state ask for ap-
proximately $l5.0o0000 more than
the present revenues of the state. To
meet the difference between the
amount to be received and the amount
needed Governor John j. Blaine in
his financial message last week, reco-
mmended an increase in income taxes
but no increase on general property
taxes. Over this recommendation the
big fight in the assembly will be stag
ed.
Assemblyman C. E. Hanson's bill
repeats the personal property offset.
The Goodman bill which is also under
consideration this week in the Assem-
bly, increases the exemptions under
the income tax law
The greatest opposition has devel-
oped against the G. E. Hanson bill for
the repeal of the personal property
Offset. Big business in all parts OF
the state was represented at hear
ing in an effort to defeat the bill. As
semblyman Hanson says: "A man IN
my part of the country has $4,000
out at interest. If he has good au-
tomobile he would pay no tax on the
money out at interest because the tax
on the automobile would be sufficient
to offset it. | believe this personal
property offset should be repealed"
Tax Commissioner Lyons, support
ing the Hanson bill, said at the hear
ing: "On the average approximately
s3.OO0OO0 of assessed income tax has
been stricken from the rolls because,
forsooth, they were the fortunate
possessors of some millions Of dollars
worth of personal property as well as
the recipients of vast amount OF IN
come. But for the operation of the
Offset the revenue actually available
for public expenditures during the last
eight years would have been increased
by over $23,00O000 and the general
property tax decreased the same
amount"
Business men appearing against
the taxations bills were asked by As
sen,blyman C. E. Hanson just what
they would substitute, and in reply
they said: "We would suggest that
the state cut out half of the Normal
Schools, cut down the University, and
reduce the commissions"
"To cut out half Of the Normal
schools and the University would
mean that we would lose half of the
teachers we are now educating" said
Mr.. Hanson to the committee. This
would in turn mean that we would on
" be able to educate half OF the COM
mon people that we are now accom-
plishing. Does business demand that
we educate only one-haf the common
people that they may escape their
just burden of 'taxation?"
The Matheson bone dry bill will
come up for final passage in the As
sembly Thursday. A move to recon-
slider the vote by which the bill was
engrossed was defeated last Thursday
bv vote of As to As. This was an at
tempt to pass the Cook amendment
which would strike from the law the
power of district attorneys and pro-
hibition officials to question under
oath any person whom they believed
had any knowledge of violations OF
the law.
Assemblymen Hanson and Mathe-
son were the floor leaders for the drys
and successfully defended the bill
against all the attempts of the vets
TO amend or defeat it. No further
fight is expected in the assembly and
that the Senate will pass it is. gener-
ally conceded.
Wittenhiller's bill making marriage
outside the state for the purpose OF
evading the state eugenic law was
passed in the lower house. The bill
is aimed at the many clandestine mar
riages that take place just over the
state line.
Governor John J. BLAZING delivered
his financial message before a joint
meeting of the tvso houses last Tues
day. No further tax on general pro-
perry, consolidation Of state commits
sions and departments, and cutting
the appropriations so that the state
may live within its income were the
three essential points made by the
Governor.
He pointed out that boards and
commissions had increased 300 in
the last six years. He also said that
the appropriations asked for exceed
ed the income by S13,OOO,0OO and that