The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-01-10

creased federal expenditures represent principally
ments for past and preparation for future
When burdens rather than the total expenditures
of the governments compared, Wisconsin also
appears in good light 1t that by the issuance of
bonds to finance good roads and soldiers bonuses many
states for the time being have kept their tax evies be-
low the of their government Even however,
the total of all taxes collected in Wisconsin in recent
has been usually little lower proportion pop
=laton than the total of the collected in all neigh
boring states except Illinois, which has been meeting
large part of the expenditures gov
ernments by bond issues.
The total amount of taxes including the real
sstae inheritances incomes railways railways
seeping freight lines express telegraph telephone,
insurance. and all other forms of taxation that
he support of the state including the uni
versty and normal schools in the last fiscal years.
or for first biennium. totalled s244572ss, s12
2SS.644 per IS average.
State taxes on general property actually less
than ten years ago-S6,110OS9 compared with ST.
65531s in 1914 and year the levy property
will be than million dollars less than 1929 due
to remission of sl15000 of possible
by the rigid economies practced by progressive state
government.
As Governor of Wisconsin 1 have constantly urged
that burdens should be equalized by reducing prop
ery and increasing taxes inheritance
railroad and public utility and the license fees
automobiles. For this have been bitterly denounced by
those who would defeat tax revision; and to date have
been able give farmers and househoders all the
relief to which they equtably entitled But despite
the that during neither of the of the
egis ature been have the
sves had clear majority in both houses, glad to
be able record that beginning has been made in this
direction though the increase in inheritance taxes the
adoption of graduated license vehicles the
collection of back income wrongfuy, and
times fraudulenty withheld in former years and the
duction of state property taxes Moreover have
vded for the exemption of by settlers
encourage farm development of northern Wisconsin, and
have provided exemption of $500 exemption for
improvements every homestead. Nor have given up
fighting for the entire program of equalization; and
confidently believe that the people will next year elect
a legislature which will carry out this program
But while the present progressive administration of
Wisconsin has stood for revision not sought
increase in On the contrary, not only
talked about but has practiced economy Since became
governor in 1921 stop has been put increase
state expenditures which has been going genera
tion and actual decrease has been brought
total of all state taxes general property
when took office
This record has not been easy make When
took office found out that while there was balance
in the state treasury the appropriations made herefom
far exceeded this balance Practically every state de-
partment asking for money and many of them
had overrun their appropriations Dozens of plans for
state expenditures presented in the
legislature of them by the very men who talk
most about and grumble about high taxes
Many of these schemes spiked by announcing that
would not give serious consideration bill providing
for material increase expenditures unless it
also provided for raising the additional
also announced that would stand increase
whatsoever in the tax burdens of the home
owners Nevertheless of these proposals for new
expenditures passed by the legislature During the