The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-04-03

| by secured. A survey of state admin
istration and state needs should be
promptly. made, and useless office and
commissions mptly eliminated
through legislative enactment.
3rd:' 1t is likewise apparent to every
observer in Wisconsin that the admin
istration of our state government is
not only cumbersome, but that COM
mon sense and business-like methods
are not usually employed.
1t seems to me that business prin-
ciples should be applied to the public
business: l believe this can be done.
In fact, until business methods are
adopted in the administration of our
governmental affairs there can be no
hope of substantial tax reduction.
4th: From the standpoint of ex-
penditures the highway problem is the
our state. 1t has been a large factor
in the recent rapid advance in gener-
al taxation. We have built hundreds
of miles of serviceabte and permanent
highways. Good roads are a modern
necessity. The question of sound and
| intelligent financing of the original
cost and the upkeep of our highways
is vital question. A careful plan
should be worked out to produce the
necessary revenue without placing too
much of the burden upon the already
overloaded general property and in
come tax sources. l believe this can
be done by placing fair share of the
burden upon the users of the high
ways. l agree with your statement
that Sound, comprehensive and bus
iness-like management of the high
ways and highway finances of the state
should be instituted, and put into eff
| feet at once" In this way an intelli-
gent, fair and common-sense program
of construction can be planned 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 l consider the is
sue presented by you in the fifth para
graph of your call of vital Importance.
/ Favors a Gasoline Tax.
| 9Th: l am strongly in favor of a
reasonable gasoline tax in Wisconsin.
/ do not care to criticize any policies
or acts of the present governor of
| Wisconsin. / do believe, however, that
his veto of the bill providing for a
two cents per gallon gasoline tax, as
passed by the legislature, was wholly
unjustifiable and serious blow at the
highway program in, this state. The
absolute fairness of this tax is appar-
ent.
The man who drives his automobile
ten thousand miles a year uses about
ten times the gasoline that the man
| does who drives but thousand miles
| year. The man who drives ten thou
sand miles uses the highways ten
times as much and does about ten
times the damage to the highway that
man does who drives but a thousand
miles.
1t has been estimated that during
the summer months there are COM
monty over one hundred thousand cars
from foreign states using the roads
| of Wisconsin. Their owners contrib
ute nothing to the cost of the high
ways which they use so freely. 1t
would be only right to require them to
do so. I believe it unjust to place the
entire financial burden of highway con-
struction and maintenance upon prac-
| tically all our taxpayers, whether US
ers of automobiles or non-users, when
the revenue from tax on gasoline
will distribute a part of that burden
upon the users Of the highways, wheth-
er residents of Wisconsin or not, in
proportion to the>use which they make
of them. From, the standpoint of fair
ness and equity no fairer tax could
be proposed.
9th: In my discussion Of previous
paragraphs of your call have al
ready referred to the issue presented
in paragraph six. l am in favor of a
Continuation of all progressive state
activities (which have proven them
selves sound and beneficial to the peo-
pie, and the elimination, on the other
| hand, of such activities as should be
purely local, or such as experience has
demonstrated to be unwise, unsound
and expensive to the state and its peo-
ple."
7th: I am also in favor of the fair
and fearless administration of all our
/ lays. Our government requires the en-
forcement of all laws. Unpopular
laws, or laws not supported by public
sentiment should be repealed, and not
| ignored. Too many useless and un-
reasonable laws today are upon our
statute books. These should be re-
pealed, and except where absolutely
necessary new laws should not be add
ed to the already excessive number
(which we now have.
There are other issues of Importance
| to the people of our state which might
probably be discussed at this time,
but reserve such for future occasions.
Believing that am in harmony with
the views and wishes of the men who
have signed the call addressed to me
and of the thousands of their constitu-
ents in Wisconsin whom they repre-
sent, I hereby accept your call, and in
response to the same announce myself
as candidate for Governor of Wis
consin on the Republican ticket in the
coming September primaries.
Always Been Republican.
/ have always been Republican.
The Republican party in the nation
and in Wisconsin, have been the in
strufnents of the great reforms Of the
last fifty years: think ! know the
quality and high character Of our cit