The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-06-14
THE DEFEAT OF THE TAX BILLS.

Xhe defeat of the five tax bills on the floor
of the state senate on Saturday, is encourag-
ing. It indicates that the snake Of radical
attack upon industry has been scotched, but it
has not been killed. The men who make up
the supporters of the administration are still
rarinl to go and make new tax legislation.
They can give no reason for such legislation
other than the fact that they think that the
political ambitions of few men can only be
satisfied by the passage of a tax bill.
1t has been clearly pointed out in the con-
sideration of the flood of tax bills, that Wis
consin is not suffering for new tax legislation.
1t has been shown conclusively that there is no
reason at this time for the REIMBURSEMENT of
the tax burden" The people of the state are
not asking for more laws in regard to taxation,
but they are asking that the present laws be
impartially enforced The Governor has been
given his pet Weapon-the repeal of the secrecy
clause as it applies to the income tax returns
and he has repeatedly declared that with such
weapon he can largely increase the collec-
tons of the state.
Bitter dissention has arisen over the passage
of these bills and it is not based on eonsidera-
ton of the merits of the bill, but rather on
consideration Of which faction of the faction
in power shall engraft it's views upon the state.
1t is difficult to see what good can be gained
by the state and it's people by the triumph Of
either faction.
This discussion has gone far enough to show
that the making of tax bill is no job for poll
tical tinkerers. If Wisconsin is to be benefited
by new tax legislation that legislation must
be the result of mature thought on the part of
men who are capable to think and who can
think without having their minds biased by
some one who sits on the side lines at Madison
or in Washington and demands that fnan-
cial problem be converted into political prOpa-
ganda. The absolute absence of intelligent
consideration of the question Of tax revision
has been repeatedly shown on the floor of the
House and the Senate. 1t is admitted by the
members of the tax commission and by every
business man who has gone to Madison in hopes
that he might be able to protect himself and
his business against unwarranted and unneces-
sary tinkering with the tax laws.
Men of all political factions, who have been
willing to look at the question without the bias
of political or personal prejudice are agreed
that the tax problem is one that must be
studied by experts and they are just as agreed
that it is impossible to have such study with
the present makeup and the present control
of the legislature
Another tax bill drawn with the same in
interests of the state
The only answer is the appointment of
non-partsan and non-political commission to
make the proper study of this problem and
bring to the legislature when it meets two
years from now. an intelligent suggestion as
to how the tax laws can be bettered. There
should be enough intelligent men in the Senate
and the Assembly to demand such a considera-
ton. Senator KuckulI attempted to point the
way in the argument on Saturday, but he did
not get even decent hearing in the body to
which he belongs. The Senator should not
weary in well doing He should put his ideas
into written form in the way of resolution
and insist that this resolution be placed prop
erly before the Senate and the Assembly.
Members of the legislature should be given
this chance to take the intelligent course The
people Of the state want no tax legislation I'M
less it is necessary and they want no tax legis-
lation unless it is fair to all concerned
Encouragement of industry does not take
dollars out of the pockets of the capitalist
alone. The man who works suffers more than
the man who furnishes capital to keep him
working. This fact seems to have been
strangely overlooked in all consideration of
1.-THE tax question. Making new tax laws af-
fects the pocket book Of every man and woman
in the state and no law passed by lagisla
ture can divide the Burden of taxation SO
that all of us will not pay the share that is
necessary.
We are all entitled to consideration and the
only way to get that consideration is to have
an impartial and intelligent commission TO.
study this great question
Perhaps it would help some if the schools