The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-03-30
TAX LAW
SECRECY CLAUSE
SPECIAL SESSION OF LEGlSLA.
TURE VOTES DOWN RE-
PEAL BILL.
GOV. BLAIN'S VETO STANDS
Political Move Charged by Opponents
of Administration 49, More Time
Provided for Probe Of In
come Tax Returns.

Madison-Decisive votes in both
houses Of the legislature in special
session rejected Gov Blaine's bills to
repeal the secrecy clause of the in
come tax law.
/ The senate killed the Severson bill,
calling for repeal of the secrecy clause,
and by vote Of 10 to - adopted the
Skogmo substitute, opening income re-
turns to all public officials in their
official capacity.
The assembly by 81 to SO vote,
defeated a motion to reject the Catlin
substitute to the Dahl repeal bill. 1t
adopted the substitute by a 81 to 80
vote and the amended bill was then
. passed, IS to 30.
7 The amended bills open income rec.
ords to any state, county or local
officer in so tar as the same pertains
to his official duties" and not to the
public generally, as asked by Gov.
Blaine in his call for the special SEES
sion.
Gov Blaine announced that he would
veto the amended bill and word from
opposition leaders was to the effect
that there would be no attempt to pass
the measure over the governors veto.
Seek to Alter Bill.
Defeated in the first skirmish, ad-
ministration leaders offered amend
ments to the amended bills to open in
come records as all other public reCs
ords.
Senator Severson, who introduced
the senate amendment, declared the
secrecy clause fight would be carried
into the next election on this issue and
described the Skogmo substitute as "a
humbug and a fraud"
The senate voted, 10 to r. to reject
the SeYerson amendment to the Skog-
mo substitute. The Seyerson amend
ment provided that the income re.
turns, or copy thereof, or any papers
or records in connection Herewith Of
any person, corporation joint stock
company, or association shall consti-
tute public records and be open to in
spection as such under the same rules
and regulations as govern the inspec.
lions Of public records generally"
Political Move Charged.
Opposition legislators asserted that
Gov. Blaine's veto of the Chaplin bill,
giving all public officials authority to
review income tax records, will estab-
lish that his motive in calling the spe-
cial session was to create a political
issue for the coming campaign.
Administrative leaders in both
houses let it be known that the poll
teal fight was under way with every
member of the legislature on record.
They assert that the amendment ac-
cepted by both houses in no way
meets the objection of the governor
to the secrecy clause and that his
fight will be carried to the voters.
More Time to Probe Returns.
Under two other measures enacted
at the special session, the tax COM
mission is given authority to investi-
gate income reports of corporations
and individuals in the state over
period of six years, and is provided
with an aprronriatior ne se5 ooo an.
nually to prosecute this work.
Elover feId auditors Of tho com.
mission will be- placed in the field per-
,,,oroptI,, IA ,rnba ra+rrrs ,,odo ~,
tbo 1,rgor erI,s 20 tha sto+a r,it, .
,,io,, -, racoya,'f,,,, ,,5Iitiaraf ,',rarart
od ta,.s for ma soIdior,s honus frnd
and s,r1,o,,s od,,otio,oI honns rnnd
and tbo gana,,r inoo,na tow frnd ~
nor cont ~ ,rhIcb ,.oos ~ tha aitfas
% uer cent To counties and 10 uar
cent to fine state.
From fine rcfurns of field investi.
rators IL is oypec,ad nv Gov Rlaino
that sufficient funds will he made
available In paruft construction of
the Wisconsin General bosnital ON
which establishment of q fo,r med.
zeal coprss ,t m. T,riyorsit,, or we.
cop.;p 5.p,nds Already s75o 0oo ~
tha s1 q,o ouo needed IA conrleto tbis
proiart f.. oysirabla fron tba soryico
r.coprition ,nrd
rnd,r ,nnth,- noasrro r,ssod nv
tbo enarIaI secession ossassmante viii
ba dopbIpd ,yh,r, n ia evident mat
report of carninps.
Where CORPORATIONS have gone into
banbrupicy sill. owing tavae IN tha