The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-03-26
SAYS TAX BILL
Is A LEMON
Shearer Comments on the
Tax Bill Now Before
the Assembly.
WILL BE BOOMERANG

AS we pen this letter, the Senate
by vote of 10 to ID passes on to the
assembly a lemon-tax bill 1925. II
is declared to be the most drastic
piece of tax legislation ever Offered
to any law-making body. II passed
by the lower house and enacted into
law, it will arouse the antagonism OF
the people against the present adj
ministration as nothing has hereto
fore.
1t is generally conceded that it will
take strong pressure to gain for the
measure a majority in the assembly
But we have seen strong opposition
melt time and again under the whiI
Of the administration, and in this
case the same is possible.
AS a housekeeping compound fol-
the capitol, such a law should prove
humdinger. 1t is. bitter medicine to
swallow. 1t will make the taxpayers
sick. It is a big price to pay for q
new Wisconsin and yet it may pay in
the end.
Assemblyman Gwidt has a bill which
proposes to impose a tax upon ciga-
rettes. 1t is designated as No. 215A
and was at first regarded as a joke
The lobby is heavy against the meas
ure and yet it went to engrossmen t
Tuesday by vote of 81 to "a. Mem
bers of the lower house now take the
matter more seriously, many believe
ing that the bill stands a strong
chance of passing. However, the
lobby is working overtime and may
prove effectual. Petitions against
No. 215 A are coming to the legisla-
cure from all sections of the state.
Holly Bill Succmubs.
Final disposition of the fapious bill
No, GA resulted in killing vote of
44 to AZ. No measure presented to the
lower house during the present session
has occasioned as many roll calls. No
bill has been as near passage and met
defeat. It's purpose was to permit the
maintenance and operation of eleva-
tors, warehouses and cold storage
plants by towns, villages, cities and
counties. At the outset, the commit
tee ON Commerce and Manufacturers
recommended the bill for indefinite
postponement. On March 8, the lower
house refused to postpone by a vote
So to 20. A motion to reconsider was
lost and the bill was ordered engross-
ed, ayes so, noes 26. Another motion
to reconsider was also lost, but later
the rules were suspended, so to 20. A
motion to lay on the table was lost
Indefinite postponement was refused
by a vote of 80 to 81. The bill was
then read a third time and passed,
ayes So, noes 80. A motion to recon
slider caused another move to suspend
the rules. This was lost So to 35.
On March 5, the vote for reconsidera-
ton carried 81 to "a, but indefinite
postponement was refused by go ayes
to 81 noes. By so to 81 vote, action
was deferred until March II. On this
date, the long wearisome battle ended
with an unexpected narrow margin
for defeat.
Most vexing of all problems of the
session is that of taxation. In meas
ure of Importance to the people of the
state, it outshadows everything. In
an interview with citizen of our city
the governor is reported to have re-
marked: az slept with that Highway
Tax bill for months" In reply, the
Kenoshan said, Governor, down oui
way we cannot sleep thinking OF
takes" 1t would not be half bad il
the people could feel that the legisla-
tors at Madison were earnest in their
endeavor to produce perfectly fai,
tax measure. Politics and taxation
make poor mixture, and when mem
bers of the law-making bodies SET
about to make the one dependent upon
the other, the result is rank injustice
1t is high times that Wisconsin adopt
permanent policy regarding the sub
ject of taxation and relieve the people
of this perpetual two year hazing. II
makes the finest kind of a political
football, but it's rebound strikes the
taxpayer squarely between the eyes
About Salary Raise.
Two months Of the 1925 session has
passed and some members have gone
through more than half of the salary
While five hundred dollars is not q
large sum, it ought at least to cover
four months of strenuous Madison
life. Two legislators were found com
pairing the stubs of their check books
as they travelled on the train towards
the Capitol. One admitted that he
was dipping into his last hundred; the
other, perhaps more frugal, said he
still had couple hundred shekels
After the close of the session, another
salary resolution will go to the peo-
pie This legislature asks that the re-
enumeration be made one thousand in
stead of five hundred dollars. The
1923 body, set the amount at fifteen
hundred dollars, and got it; as the say
ing goes, where the chicken got the
ak. Compared TO Illinois where each
legislator draws $500 and free trans
portation as often as he cares to GO
home, our request cannot be deemed
unreasonable. It is just possible that
at the time when statutory enactment
fixed the compensation at five hun
dred dollars, it came nearer meeting
the needs than what it does today
Conditions have changed materially
forcing upon Us situation to be con
sidered.