Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-04-23

users of said highways and not as
at present, upon the entire public,
whether users or nonusers to any
degree.
6. Continuation of all progress
sive state. activities which have
proven themselves sound and ben
eficial to the people and the elm
NATION on the other hand of such
activities as should be purely local
or such as experience has demon
strated to be unwise, unsound and
expensive to the state and its peo-
pie.
I. For fair, reasonable, COM
mon sense and fearless administra-
ton of all laws.
| agree with your statement of
what constitute the issues before
the people at this time. Within
the short limits of this response
to your call / will not make an
extended discussion of them. l
think it proper, however, for me
to comment briefly upon the sew
eral issues as stated by you in the
order in which they appear in your
call:
1st. In the words of your call,
the burden of taxation in Wiscon-
sin has become almost unbear-
able" 1t would therefore be my
first concern as governor, to make
a careful study and survey of tax
alton with the end in view of Sc
curing such substantial reduction
as could possibly be made with
out reducing the efficiency of our
state government or leaving I'M
done any genuinely useful or nee
essary service now rendered to our
people.
End. 1t is apparent to every cit
izen in Wisconsin who makes any
study of it's affairs that the num-
Der Of offices and office-holders
can be substantially reduced, and
economy of administration and re-
duction in taxes thereby secured
A survey of state administrator
and state needs should be prompt
ly made, and useless offices and
commissions promptly eliminated
through legislative enactment.
3rd. 1t is likewise apparent to
every observer in Wisconsin that
the administration of our state
government is not only cumber-
some, but that common sense and
business-like methods are not US
ually employed.
1t seems to- me that business
principles should be applied to the
public business. | believe this can
be done. In fact, until business
methods are adopted in the admin
istration of our governmental af-
fairs there can be no hope of sub
stantial tax reduction.
4th. From the standpoint of
expenditures the highway problem
is the most important question
confronting our state. 1t has been
a large factor in the recent rapid
advance in general taxation. We
have built hundreds of miles of
serviceable and permanent high
ways. Good roads are modern
necessity! The question of sound
and intelligent financing of the
original cost and of the upkeep
of our highways is vital ques-
ton. A careful plan should be
worked out to produce the neces-
sary revenue without placing too
much of the burden upon the al
ready overloaded general property
| and income tax sources. | believe
this can be done by placing a fair
share of the burden upon the us
ers of the highways. | agree with
your statement that Sound,
comprehensive and business-like
management of the highways and
highway finances Of the state
should be instituted and put into
effect at once. In this way an in
teligent, fair and common-sense
program of construction can be
lplanned and the revenues for the
same provided with a substantial
resulting lower cost and reduction
in the burden of general property
taxes.
In this, connection | consider the
issue presented by you in the fifth
paragraph of your call of vital i'm
| portance.
| 5th. Il am strongly in favor of
gasoline tax.in Wisconsin. | do