Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-07-19
BIGPROGRESSIVEMEETING

l..
by, and Viroqua town and city. Ar
executive committee was elected as
follows: Mrs. Dan Beck, Mrs. Bert
Cunningham, Mrs. Will Beaver, Mrs
K. M. Grimsrud and Mrs. Harold Proc
tor. The chairman Of each local or
ganlzation is also a member OF this
committee.
Mayor A. E. Smith, nominee of the
Vernon County Progressive Confer
ence for Member of Assembly, gave q
very good address that was received in
flne spirit by the audience.
Congressman J. D. Beck addressed
the meeting and discussed few of the
political issues of the day. He, men,
toned the Newberry case saying it
would take $4,000 acres of oats at the
price oats sold for last year to buy a
United States Senatorship, or the wool
off of $4,000 sheep, 10000 cows or
the hides off of &c. 100000 cows to buy
one OF these Offices. Then he went on
10 lay down the proposition that there
are but two schools of political thot
IN htis country, the one, those who be-
aeve property rights are supreme, the
other, those who believe human rights
are above all else and the great strug-
gle now IS between these two groups.
The latter, the wealth producers, are
struggling for little larger share of
tne things they produce to do with as
they please instead of giving it up to
the other school of political thinkers
who believe property is the chief end
OF man, to do with as they please.
Mr.. Beck then went on to discuss
the tax situation in Wisconsin saying
in part:
"The Committee of AZ is now an
pealing for votes on the ground that
taxes are too high and they promise
reduction. Taxes are too high but
the Committee of Al will not remedy
lt. Some of our tax money is wasted
NO doubt about that. That has al
ways bee true and perhaps always will
De. We as individuals waste our mon
ey. But waste in taxes in Wisconsin
is insignificant compared with the
waste in other states. Eighty-fve
per cent of our state taxes goes for
good roads and schools. The way to
reduce this $50 is to cut down on our
good roads and schools, and I'm sure
we do not want to do that. But the
real kick seems to come from the fact
that we have too many boards and
commissions. Now if the people are
going to rule this state they must do
1t through officials. They must do II
through boards or commissions of
some kind. But if the railroads and
other corporations are going to rule
then we can abolish our boards and
commissions. The Railroad Commits
sion costs us about $250,000 a year and
before Governor Philip got control
OF 1T, 1t was saving the people about
S3,OOO,OOO year in railroad rates.
Since then this commission has NOT
been of much service to the people and
who is to blame? The people them
selves. They listened to the same oilv
tongues that are now going around
crying high taxes and raising false is
sues. SO the people turned the state
over to big business and the taxes in
creased from $42 100000 to 100000
OO0 during the time Philip was Gov
ernor. But by the time Blaine is Gov
ernor long enough to get control of
the Commissions they will again be
rendering a service to the people.
The. Tax Commission costs the
state about $250,000 year and thru
their work the taxes collected from the
railroads have increased from a few
thousands to over $5,000,000 a year.
Is not that worth the expenditure of
$250,000?
1.-The Dairy and Food Commission
has practically put an end to adulter-
ated food in Wisconsin. What that
means. in health of the peaple can
never be estimated. But it has meant
millions to the dairy interests of Wis
consln. The Industrial Commission.
nve years ago when / left it, was saw
ing to injured and crippled workmen
OF Wisconsin over $5,000,00O a year
tnat used to go into law suits and in
surance companies, and the value of
the work of the Industrial Commission
IN protecting the women and children
OF Wisconsin who must go into fac
tories TO work for living, can never
De estimated. So these things do cost
money out 1t IS more costly to do with
OUT them. We can see the increase
~ our tax receipts but we do not see
trouble.
But the chief reason why our taxes
are high is the fact that wealth has
been able to escape its lust share of
the burden. Last winter Governor
Blaine discovered that corporations of
the state were Withholding millions in
taxes and he called a special session
Oh the legislature to get laws that
would enable him to recover this mon
ey before it was outlawed, and to de-
wise ways and means of stopping such
withholding of taxes in the future
tie advocated making income tax re-
turns public just as your tax returns
are pupnc, as a means of compelling
payment of these taxes rather than to
60 TO the expense of engaging a large
force OF accountants. The legislature
refused to make these returns public.
put they did increase the number of
accountants, and up to date thew have
uncovered nearly $2,000,000 in back
taxes with held by these corporations.
ana the Tax Commission SAYS that if
the present ratio continues they will
recover in the neighborhood of $780,
ooV;Oo0 before they get through. That
Is the chief reason why taxes are high.
EVERY dollar those fellows escape paw
ing you have to paw.
MRS. CARL B. FORTNEY. Secy.
DID You EVER STOP TO THINK
THAT the pessimist isn't as num-
efous as he seems but where ever he
Is, ne makes an awful noise.
THAT ability plus tact, plus clev-
erness, plus honesty,makes SUCCESS,
ana that is what we are all striving for
that some men think they know
1t al, but DO THEY?
THAT many business men advertise
IN the newSnapprs hecailgn thew believe