Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-11-22
Income Tax Again
To the Front
Believed That Next Legislature viii
Wrestle With the Matter of
Higher Income Tax Rates.

Naturalization of the present
state income tax law and the enact
ment of a gasoline levy will be
among the first problems that will
confront the new Wisconsin legisla-
ture when it convenes here next
January.
After having his measures defeat
ed at the last two sessions. Governor
Blaine will for the third time at
tempt to put through the admins
tration tax program, which includes
an increase Of the rates on incomes
in the higher brackets. From a
survey of the membership of the
1925 legislature, administration
leaders an confident that they hold
working majority in both houses.
The gasoline tax also will be an
important issue. The governor
vetoed the bill passed at the last
session on the ground that most of
the revenue would go to state trunk
highways instead of to the COM
munities where is was raised Ad-
ministration leaders take the position
that the state roads already get SUI
ficient funds from motor vehicle IL
cense fees and federal and state aid.
A gasoline tax bill embodying the
governors ideas undoubtedly will be
presented.
An attempt also may be made to
limit the powers of the state high
way commission and give more auth
ority in the matter of local highway
projects to the county boards. In
the primary campaign, Governor
Blaine declared that the highway
commission was spending far too
much money on roads and that the
highway programs proposed were too
severe strain on the pocketbooks of
the taxpayers, particularly the
farmers
Besides codification Of the insur-
ance laws of the state, three impor-
tant insurance measures are likely
to come before the legislature. One
is a plan to compel all automobile
owners in the state to take out Ii
ability insurance. Under present
conditions, it is pointed out, the
victim of an automobile accident may
be unable to collect damages because
the owner or driver has no money. If
the measure is enacted into law,
damages always will be collectible,
ra,,ardlass Of the Motorists finan-
cial condition.
Another proposal is group insur-
ance for Wisconsin National Guards
men. The insurance, presumably,
would be taken out by companies,
and the insurer, under the plan,
would be the state life insurance
fund. A third insurance bill that
NAV be brought up would raise the
81. 900 limit on policies issued oy
the state life insurance fund to 81
600 or $4,000.
If the legislature can concentrate
on a short program such as this, one
state senator believes the session
will be over in comparatively
short time, possibly three or four
months. A flock of unimportant
bills, however, and the appearance Of
such controversial subject as prohibi-
ton and the investigation Of alleged
scandals" in the state house may
prolong the session into the summer
months again.
Although one count Of Legislators
shows an apparent moist" majority
in both chambers, there is plenty Of
uncertainty as to just what the leg
stature viii do with the prohibition
enforcement laws now in the state
statute books. More memorials urg
ing Congress to legalize beer ant
light wines are possible, but in sons
quarters it is doubted that any ser
ious attempt viii be made TO over
throw the state enforcement act.
It's q rare child that grows VI
- -. 49, fte Innocence an