Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-04-21
With 6p IN
Wisconsin,
Legislature. 8

Madison, Wis.-Unexpected develop
ments in the Wisconsin senate during
the last week clearly indicate that
neither wet nor dry legislation will be
passed by the present legislature.
This is the view taken by political
leaders here following the defeat a
few days ago of the Peterson resolu-
ton memorializing congress to lib
eralize the volstead act to permit the
manufacture and sale of beer.
1t now appears certain that the
Sachtjen search and seizure bill, re-
garded as the most important wet
measure of the session, Will be de-
feated by one or two votes Sen
ators W. a. Titus, Fond du Lac, and
Marcus A. Kemp, Superior, who had
been counted upon by wet legisla-
tors, will vote against the measure
it is said. If they do, the bill is
doomed.
The net result of the vets efforts,
according to the present outlook, will
be nil. Their only consolation, as
neutral observers view it, is that they
can pass almost anything in the as
sembly, but these victories avail
nothing when the measures are put
up against the stonewall dry defense
in the upper house.
Prices Blamed for Tax Boost
The increase of taxes in Wisconsin
can be explained by "the great adj
vance in the price level" and by the
extension of activity in highway
building and education, Thomas E.
Lyons, chairman Of the tax commits
sion, advises the legislature in a
summary of the state tax system.
His survey shows that in the four
years from 1918 to 1922 taxes in
creased 91.5 per cent. from a total of
S64 ,488, 661 to $117,921,73S.
The commissioner points out that
according to a highway commission
report highway improvements cost
S20,081,414 in 1918, increasing to S54,-
GIL, $50 in 1922, or 172 per cent. Sim
liar statistics of expenditures for edu-
cation show an increase in the cost
of schools from s23,35O,256 in 1916 to
S50,3S5,853 in 1920-21.
A table was presented pointing out
that the state retained and used but
1876 per cent of the tax levy in 1914,
Jos per cent in 1918 and 11.3 per cent
in 1922. The remainder went to local
units for their use.
Budget Reductions TO Be Small
The joint finance committee Of the
legislature has almost completed it's
budget hearings, with only the appro-
priation requests of the state board
of control to be considered before the
final formulation of the budget, Henry
Huber. chairman OF the committee,
announces.
Committee hearings have been so
expedited this year, he said, that the
work is several weeks ahead Of that
two years ago. 1t is his opinion that
the visiting committee of the legisla-
ture will complete its inspection of
state charitable and penal institutions
within the next two weeks, and pre-
sent its report to the committee
When this is done, the final budget
hearings viii be held.
Members of the committee reassert
that the people of the state need not
expect any drastic cut in appropria-
tons for 1924 and 1925 over
those of the last two years. Some
reduction is expected by the commit
tee, but the total is not expected 10 be
great.
The total cost of running the state
government. including all depart
ments; university, normal schools and
other educational items, amounted to
approximately S34,O00,00O last year.
The committee recently agreed to cut
the appropriation to the National
guard $345,000 annually. This cut is
the largest single reduction.
Hirst Favors Gasoline Tax
The gasoline tax will be the only
me bod of raising revenue for high
ways in future years according 70
predictions by A. R. Hirst, state high
way engineer.
He contends that the gasoline tax
assesses autoists in a proportion to
the use they make of the roads and
the benefit that they get from good
highways.
The trend of highway construction
is to make those pay for the roads
who use. them and as Hirst explains
the gasoline tax such measures would
make those pay most toward road
construction whose cars do the most
damage On this theory with heavier
cars doing more damage than light
machines ii is pointed out that the
difference in the amount Of gasoline
consumed is also proportonate.
Debate in the state senate on the
Huber unemployment prevention bill