Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-03-10
BONE DRY BILL
IS NEAR PASSAGE
Assembly by Close Vote Refuses
to Reconsider 1t.
HEARINGS ON TAX MEASURES
Many Persons Desire to Be Heard
When Legislature Takes Up Cor
sideration of All Bills to In
crease Taxes.

MadisOn.-Since the Wisconsin gen
eral assembly refused, by a vote of
10 to 81 to reconsider the vote of a
few days ago by which it sent to en-
grOsSment the MathesOn bOne-dry bill,
the measure is likely to be up for
final action within the next few days.
Senate action will next be in order.
During the debate three members
of the legislature attacked the activf-
ties of Il. Z. Hutton, superintendent of
the Wisconsin Auti-SalOon league. AS
semblyman K. A. Burden of Marinette
said that Hutton has offered support
for an appointment if l would support
the Matheson bill" In spite of these
attacks reconsideration of the Mathe-
son bill was refused.
Probably the biggest hearing ever
staged in Madison will be held on
March "a when the legislature takes
up the consideration of all bills to in
crease income tax rates on individuals
and corporations doing business in
Wisconsin. Business interests from
every section of the state, chambers of
AOiiIilViNC hilO CSNttb-
lishments have notified the legislature
that they desire to be heard on these
bills
Three bills will be up for consdera-
tlon. First is the Dahl bill, which
provides for an increase of income tax
rates on incomes below $4,000 and car
ries exemptions of $1,000 for married
Second is the bill offered by Senator
II. J. SeversOn, Waupaca county. which
provides for a graduated surtaX on in
comes above $1,000 This bill applies
alike to individuals and corporations.
The first $4,000 is exempt. On the sixth
$1,000 the tax is per cent, and this
tax increases gradually until, on all
over $4,000 the tax is 6 per cent. This
bill is estimated to raise approximate
ly S6,0O0000 annually. This measure
Is said to have the Endorsement of
Gov John j. Blaine. If the personal
property offset now used against in
come taxes were repealed these two
bills would probably produce "a sufti-
cient amount of revenue so that no ad-
ditional state tax on real estate would
be necessary.
The third bill for consideration is
one by Senator Conant with rates
reaching as high as 10 per cent, and
calculated to produce $160OO,OO0 an
nually. Senator Arnold has a bill to
greatly increase present income tax
rates. Business interests declare that
these bills should not be passed dur
ing time of depression.
That the general property taxes lev
led by the state are small as compared
with the amounts raised for city and
school purposes is shown in bulletin
issued by the Wisconsin tax commits
sion and sent to the legislature. Data
for every city in Wisconsin has been
complied.
State taxes constitute, on the aver
age, only per cent of the total tax
collected; county board levies are 15
per cent; city councils are 10 per cent
and school boards are "a per cent.
Many people have the impression
that the general property tax burdens
are heavy because of the requirements
for state purposes says the bulletin.
This is entirely wrong. By far the
largest part of all general property
taxes are kept in the city treasury and
spent for city and school purposes. If
cuts are to be made, they can be made
most effectively by the local council
and school board.
1.-The above mentioned bulletin is
one of a series of monthly publications
issued by the municipal statistics de
partment of the tax commission. The
tax data is taken from shipments of
taxes furnished by city clerks and veri-
fed by correspondence, by comparison
with the county clerks appointments
of taxes and by the tax certitication
of the secretary of state
School taxes are a great burden in
the cost of government. In the follow
ing cities of the state the school taxes
are over 80 per cent of all taxes paid:
Alma, Altoona, Augusta, Beloft, Black
River Falls, BloOmer, Buffalo City,
Chetek, Cudahy, Fennimore, Glenwood,
Hudson, Mansion, Menomonie, Mando-
vi. Nellsville, New Lisbon. New Rich
mond. Oconto Falls, Onalaska, Stan
ley. Stoughton, Two Rivers.
Not including schools of the cities
of the state having tax levy of over
so per cent for municipal purposes,
are: Chiffon, Delavan, DePere. Hart
ford, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Mayville,
Milwaukee, Oconto, Portage, Rhine
lander
New City Taxes Show Variation.