Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-11-09
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1922
SPEAKING OF TAXES-SOME COMMENT
AND COMPARISONS

The leading article in this issue is devoted to dis
cussion of the tax problem We feel 1t Will be OF netes
and there are certain facts therein regarding state taxes
which will be surprising to the average reader Summed
up that state taxes are but small factor IN
the tax bill and hence but small factor IN furnishing
the remedy for high taxes. -,
During every general election the air is filled with
demands that be cut and many candidates promise
that under their administration and when they get TO
the legislature they will be cut In addition to that there
the usual cry for reducing the number OF COMMISSIONS
boards salaries employees etc. For thirty years we nave
heard the same thing and yet the number OF commas
sons boards has been reduced have the taxes
Outlines these statements are mace III ignorance u VIC
facts of the case.
Getting down to brass tacks, what commissions
cou,d he eliminated to advantage eliminated without
hindering function which the state should perform?
Is there anyone who would out the railroad commits
sion and leave the fixing OF rates and otner regulatory
measures to be bated about political lines Dy the legls
ature whose members cannot be expected to be INFORMED
on the subject and whose actions would proDaDy De
quickly taken into the courts and nulfed! Woud any
one wipe out the state industrial commission with the
splendid work that it is doing under the compensation
act and in promoting sanitation and safety Tor employees
Would it be in the interest of the people OF Wisconsin TO
wipe out the state highway commission and go back TO
the old local system OF handling highway improvements
Then there the conservation commission propagatng
fish, conserving wild fe controlling public parks Tor the
people-a commission which pays it's own way from the
license fees collected and turns excess into the state
treasury Would the farmers OF the state permit the
elimination of the state agricultural department and the
marketing commission? Chaos would result if the tax
commission were eliminated supervisory body in the
matter of taxes throughout the state equazng assess
ments controlling such important matters as taxation
Obviously it would be impossible for the legislature to
handle this The civil service commission is performing
an important function We have heard of the state treas
ury agent who we believe gets salary OF Sz4oo year
and turns thousands of dollars into the state treasury
beyond his salary and expenses The TACT That modern
life has become complex that it is necessary to nave
expert bodies perform certain functions for the prote
ton and the interest of the public We do not expect
to any of the commissions or boards OF major import
ance eliminated There may be from time to time shift
ing about readusments but whole the bureaus or
commission functionlng in Wisconsin are justified and
will continue to function.
The same applies to taxes State taxes of which we
hear so much are small factor Seventy per cent of our
taxes are voted locally by the local people, the outcome
of local demand While adjustments may be necessary
there has been good sound for the increase IN
taxes 1t costs individuals more to live today than form
ery. Prices higher Labor is higher. Every RETAIL
jobbng and manufacturing is carrying heavier
load of expense today due to the increased cost OF labor
and material Obviously the state which is merely unit
made up Of aggregate of 100000 people carrying
certain functions behalf of the people subject
the increase in it's cost of operation The salaries
of school teachers higher 1t costs to build schools
1t cost to build and maintain penal and charitable
institutions and to feed and cohe the inmates 1t costs
to build roads, The motor vehicle and there
100000 of them in Wisconsin, has choice OF paying
tire tax gasoline tax depreciation on his car tax
road tax and he finds it cheaper to pay the latter We
living in an era of higher prices which are reflected
in the taxes we pay.
many functions that did not perform years ago because
of present demand the part of the people The in
dustrial commission established in 1911 and has
saved hundreds OF thousands OF dollars to the working
of Wisconsin The securities division of the railroad
commission has saved thousands OF dollars to the people
of the state by protecting them against wildcat financial
schemes. We building tuberculosis sanitarums,
thing unheard of years ago. We doing many things
that modern conditions require for which there
desire some years ago.
Finally, those things which have been the normal
function of the state for years being done larger
scale and in better way than they years The
people demand them Individuals living better than
they did years ago. The farmer has better roads He has
the telephone He has the tractor and motor equipment
his farm. The laborng is living better than he
ever did. We are living in
toll Of 10
federal taxes pay Yet the federal taxes paid by the
people of Wisconsin three times the cost of state gov
eminent in Wisconsin Figures just made public by the
federal government show for the fiscal year ended June
go 1922 that the income and profits paid for that
period by residents of Wisconsin amounted to 36686000
GOOD ROADS