The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-02-26
BURDEN HEAVY
FOR INDUSTRIES
Committee Told State Must
Lift Tax Burden Off
of Industries.
ARE LEAVING STATE

Madison, Wis. Wisconsin's bien-
NAL income tax fight is now on in
earnest. Opponents of the admins
tration plan to revise the present law
and repeal the personal property on
set have formally launched their
counter offensive in the shape of the
Morris bill reducing all income levies
Is per cent. Just before fiery hear
ing on the measure in the senate
committee on corporations and taxa
ton, Governor Blaine challenged his
foes to cut real and personal proper
ty taxes 20 per cent instead of income
taxes. The executive took the posi-
ton that the real burden lay in the
property levies.
The hearing on the Morris bill was
marked by a sharp clash between
Senator o. H. Johnson, Gratiot, chair
man of the committee, and L. B. Lam
from, Milwaukee attorney, author of
the reduction proposal sponsored in
the legislature by Senator Oscar Nor
ris, Milwaukee, and Assemblyman
George w. Blanchard, Edgerton.
Lamfrom made an impassioned ap-
zeal for the removal of the tax load
on the people of the state and its in
dustries. Industry is struggling I'M
der the burdens and large concerns
already have moved out, Lamfrom
said.
Have Segregated State.
you've segregated this great state
and you have put it in path in which
it travels alone" Lamfrom said in
reference to tax laws in other states.
When the Milwaukee attorney con-
tinued his attacks upon state poll
cies, johnson interrupted him.
"Why heap abuse on the legislature
for the extravaganza of local units,
the senator said. Il want you to
confirfe yourself somewhat to the
truth. You are coming in here and
trying to make it appear that it is the
state government that is extravagant."
"I'm not trying to heap abuse on
the legislature. I'm telling the truth,
and / can prove it," Lamfrom replied.
Lamfrom then explained that the 20
per cent reduction in state income
taxes would indirectly force economy
upon local governmental units. They
will not raise real estate taxes to
make ND for the loss in income tax
revenues because they are directly re-
sponsible to the people, he said
Therefore, Lamfrom said, the local
units will cut~dewn their expend-
lures.
Senator Morris declared there was
general demand throughout the
state for the passage of his bill.
"Pass this" he told the commit
tee, "and you can go back home ana
sleep we'll. Your consciences won 7
be bothered. You will have accom-
plished something"
This is the first time direct effort
has been made to lower taxes gener-
ally. the Milwaukee senator said.
Assemblynan Blanchard asserted
that practically all income taxpayers,
who would benefit by the reduction,
are paying taxes on taxable incomes
under $4,000. The general property
taxpayers received the benefit OF re-
missions last year and in 1928 and
will, in addition, be helped by the new
highway bill, which puts the road
building burden on the gasoline tax,
motor vehicle license fees, and feder-
al aid, Blanchard said. Blanchard
cited 100000 surplus in the state
treasury to show that the state could
easily afford to remit one-fourth OF
the $9,000,000 it expects to collect In
income taxes this year.
Industries Leaving State.
William L. Pieplow, Milwaukee, de-
clared that @debauchery in public ex-
penditures" must be stopped soon.
"If you are going to ask corpora
tions to bear unjustly the burdens
that corporations in our sister states
don't have to bear, you are going to
drive them out OF the state-and you
have driven them out already" Piep-s
Z ..