The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-05-31
BLAINE CALLS
FOR TAX FACTS
Asks for Facts Furnished
Finance Committee
Recently.
KUCKUK SCORES BILL
Senator Who Failed to Sit in
on Draft Declares Committee
Failed to Show Fairness.


(By Associated Press Leased Wire) p
Madison, Wis. - The tax commits
sion announced today that in reply
to request from Governor Blame it
is preparing a statement to show the
method used by the finance committee
IN determining rate schedules in its
new tax bill. The governor is under
stood to have intimated to the COM
mission in letter that the new meas
ure would fail to produce the revenue
needed to meet the deficit caused by
repeal of the mill taxes.
When members of the tax commits
sion appeared before the finance COM
mittee to furnish information with re-
gard to the new tax bill, they are
said by committee members to have
explained that the information fur
nished was much the same as that
available when Governor Blaine drew
his bill. 1t is reported to be on this
basis that the commission drafted the
rate schedules in its measure.
Whether Governor Blain has indi-
Gated any opposition to the committee
bill, commission members would not
say.
Kuckuk Saves Bill.
Senator Kuckuk, Republican lead
er in the upper house scored the pro-
gressive Republicans for tl.eF w 4,
in drafting a new income tax bill
bearing the finance committee name
without giving conservative Repub-
licans any voice in its construction.
After expressing his opposition to
the measure Senator Kuckuk said that
Il am still inclined to the belief that
if a full and free discussion could
have been had by all parties who are
interested in taxation in this state,
that bill can be drawn which is just
and equitable to all parties and which
will furnish the finances needed by
the state to meet the demands"
He announced that he is preparing
a substitute amendment to the finance
committee bill, to be offered when
that measure is reached on the floor.
This amendment, the senator said, will
not call for repeal of mill taxes for
state purposes nor will it repeal the
personal property offset to the in
come tax 1t will, however, he ex-
planned, sreadjust rates.
| Senator Kuckuk in his statement
said that the finance committee had
met last week without mentioning the
time that new tax bill would be
drawn
Many Members Absent.
con Friday afternoon, shortly be-
fore four o'clock the committee went
into executive session and it was de-
cided that we should take up the
drawing of a new tax BILL" the SEN
Ator's statement said. in looking
over the members of the committee
found there were absent Senator Po-
lakowski, Mr.. Rufing, Mr.. Summer
Vile and Mr.. Matheson.
| 81 protested that the time was short
for such an important undertaking
and upon inquiry it developed that q
conference had been held the evening
before by certain members of the fl
nance committee to which conference
some of the persons mentioned, in
| Guiding myself, had been invited.
Il was then informed that the i'm
portant features of this proposed bill
had been decided upon by the confer
ence and would again, be presented to
the committee and there was\ was no
reason why the bill should not be act
ed upon and recommended for intro
duction that evening.
Il was unprepared to present my
views and those of my colleagues who
were of the same opinion and as
would not be a party to- the consider
alton of any arranged plan in
which | had no hand in the making
decided to withdraw from the com
mittee room"
Huber Makes Statement.
Senator H. A. Huber, chairman Of
the joint committee on finance issued
statement today in reply to the
statement by Senator Kuckuk, saying
that an effort had been made to notify
all members of the finance committee
except Senator Kuckuk that consider.
alton would be given to the drafting
of new tax measure last Friday.
Senator Huber declared that there
was nothing irregular in the proceed.
| ings Of the committee of its consider.
1nl