The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

Lansing 1870
The franchise tax at the rate of
$50 per 1000 of capital and surplus is
employed in the state of Michigan,
with minimum and maximum provi-
sion from $4,000 to 100000 respec-
lively. In my computation I have add
ed $10,000.00, the maximum, that the
Nash Motors would have to pay. The
rate in Kenosha is $31.00 per 1000, and
for what we call our milwaukee
plant" (Which is not in the city of
Milwaukee, the rate is something
over $1,000 per 1000.
Nash Pays On All Here.
Nash Motors company is a foreign
corporation, but it pays taxes on its
entire income in the state of Wiscon-
sin. The present officers of the COM
pany moved to Wisconsin with the in
tention of making it their home, and
remaining. We have never attempted
to build up outside of the state. We
have never threatened to leave the
state, nor do we have any intention
of making such threat. But, if our
capital can be more profitably en-
sirable thing to move.
My computation of taxes which we
will have to pay for the year 1922 is
based on the present mill rate and
income tax rates. Both of the bills
which are proposed materially increase
the amount required under the present
law, and is further Encouragement
to our company. 1t may be stated by
the proponents of this bill that if we
did not make the profits, we would not
have the tax to pay, and that having
made the profits, it works no hardship
on the company to pay the tax. This
is very true, and we have always been
able to pay our taxes without great
strain, but the question we are dis
cussing is whether or not industry in
! Wisconsin has to bear heavier burdens
than 1t does in other states. Profit
/ able industries most assuredly do, and
it is just question whether the state
of Wisconsin wants to have a few
bankrupt, poorly managed, poorly
equipped industries (from which it re-
ceives no income), or a number of
strong, profitable companies that have
substantial earnings and are able to
pay substantial taxes.
No Encouragement to Industry.
In the six years have been in Wis
consin, it has never come to my notice
that single solitary bill has been
introduced in the legislature that
would encourage capital to come in5o
Wisconsin. Some reference has been
made that Mr.. Nash built a factory
and brought Lafayette Motors corn
pany from Indianapolis to Milwaukee.
1t is true, and the Lafayette Motors
company is now domiciled in it's new
plant at Milwaukee, and we have hopes
that it will be profitable and yield
profit to its stockholders and taxes to
the state. But wish to say to YOU
gentlemen, that when the decision to
bring the Lafayette Motors company
to Wisconsin was made, it was for the
purpose of placing it where it could
be under the close supervision of Mr..
Nash, without the necessity of his
/ spending two nights on the sleeper 20
spend one day at the plant; and also,
at the time the decision was made, We
felt that inasmuch as Wisconsin was
already placing heavier burden on
our companies than we would have 90
stand in the state of Michigan, that
it could certainly become no worse, hut
that the legislature would in time
recognize the worth of industry to the
state and lessen the burden.
Vast Business Shown.