The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-12-07
BAIT FOR SUCKERS

to the political promises made Wis
consin voters. This compells a re-
view and comparison of present day
costs of state government with the
promises made the people when the
so-called La Toilette reforms in
Wisconsin were first initiated. This
bait casting for political suckers has
been wonderfully suce essful. 1t has
been the food fed to the public for
so long, that the existence OF the
good, Wisconsin voter and tax pay
er may indeed be doubted.
1t was contended that if the cor
porations, railway and public service
concerns, and big business could be
made to pay their just proportion OF
taxes the lesser taxpayer would be
relieved from some of the burdens.
The state tax commission was au-
thorized. Millions of dollars give
the bounding evidence of over in
creasing assdised valuations, until
in many of the cities and towns OF
Wisconsin real estate is assessed
above its actual sale value. While
it is true that this ha materially in
creased the tax payments of the
corporations and big business, it is
more glaring.y true that the small
home owner, the farmer and the
great masses of small tax payers are
the ones who are paying the bill.
There has been steady climb IN
the valuation upon Wisconsin pro-
perty, imposed by local, county and
state assessors, but no evidence of a
decrease in the rate per cent. AS
the valuation was and is being in
creased upon property, year after
year, the bait casters for political
suckers have been working over time
devising ways in Which to spend the
money of the tax payers.
Local and county taxing agencies
have taken their inspiration. form
the state. Money spending boards
and commissions, bureaus and Off
Gals have absorbed the ever in
creasing tributes of the taxpayers.
The mandate is to find more pro-
perty already heavily burdened, to
bring more into the tax gathering
Golfers that there may he more
riotous spending. A common sense
view should compel the conviction
that the taxpayers themselves would
sooner or later call the money
spenders of the Wisconsin system of
government to an accounting. Per-
haps not, because the spenders know
that there is constantly increasing
number of political suckers, mulch
ing the bait thrown upon the waters.
During the fiedgling days of re-
form in Wisconsin when most peo-
pie were being fed up on golden
promises of relief from corporation
aggressiodt the people were told
that the railways and utility com
panies should be brought under con-
troll Of the state. The right of the
state to establish rates and services
was benevolently assimilatedly and
after more or less of protestful as
well as political camafage in the
legislature, Wisconsin was given
what at that time was considered the
most drastic regulatory law in ex-
istence. 1t was the good medi-
cine of the political panacists, de-
signed to revolutionize industry and
to legislate thrift and prosperity to
our blessed people.
What has been the result? Every
pound of freight moved over Wis
consin roads today is carried either
at higher classification or upon a
greater rate than existed before the
political MASTERS, largely for poll
teal results, made their lurid prom
ises of betterment to the people.
Every passenger upon Wisconsin
railway is paying bigger price for
the service and the service itself, is,
in many instances, far less efficient
than it was when the reform ideas
took root in Wisconsin.
We were told that the public uti-
lities should be brought under state
control. Street railway service,
telephone and lighting companies,
should be placed in the same category
with the steam roads. Telephone
rates, light and power rates have
also been increased and inefficient
service submitted to-
1t is indeed strange that the pro-
ponents of these systems have escape
ed political punishment. In every
instance their tinkering plans and
political effort has resulted in harm
to the state and in no instance has a
substantial benefit resulted. Wis
consin government is not only wan
tonly expensive, wasteful extraNa-
giant but has become automatically