The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-11-05
WIsCoNsIN-THE HORRIBLE EXAMPLE

WISCONSIN-THE HORRIBLE EXAMPLE
Seeing ourselves as others see US is very
often most embarrassing proposition. Even
though it is embarrassing, however, it is often
very helpful for it holds out possibilities OF
consideration of the views of others to aid in
solving our problems.
It is of value therefore for Kenosha asa
part of Wisconsin to consider views from other
states regarding the income tax law OF this
state. At the present time Illinois has been
bitten with the state income tax bug and
apropos of this a Waukegan newspaper has
pointed to Wisconsin as the horrible ex-
ample" of how state income tax may be used
to hamper the development of industry.
The Waukegan paper says:
1T may prove prudent and provident to
keep in mind what the tax reformers did and
are doing to Wisconsin from which q great
Milwaukee factory moved to Waukegan, while
an immense Kenosha factory is reported to
have optioned land at Waukegan. The Sim
mons offices have left Kenosha. There is a
reason
Westward Ho. is the Yankee factory
watch word Illinois in general and Chicago,
including Waukegan, in particular, is the CEN
ter of the worlds greatest trading empire of
over 100000 consumers of big buying
power.
"The freight rates so handicap the Yankee
factories that they must move westward to
hold or have fair share of this rich trade
From one New England city, q factories
moved westward; % reported to have
moved to Illinois.
"When all roads lead to Rome in Florida,
which has excluded an income tax forever,
what would Illinois gain by following the ex-
ample of Wisconsin?
"The tax reformers assert that personal
property in Illinois escapes taxation to too
great a degree and that realty pays 80 per
cent of the taxes. They claim that half of the
wealth of Illinois is in personal property; that
much of it is not on the tax books and that
those who do make returns, pay little in taxes.
"How is the Constitution to blame for such
a condition?
"Can not the voters, if they so desire, elect
assessors who will reject the unwritten law
which permits realty to bear the greater bur-
den?
''The tax reformers do not appear hardly
fair in their professions?
rs not what they are really after, an in
come tax, which was rejected?
DO not industrialists, generally feeLthat a
federal income tax is enough? They under
SCanQ C1aC realty, TAX does not Invade Cno
privacy of business by ,appointees of state
politicians who under state income tax must
be paid for by more taxes.
''In the long run, taxes can not be shifted to
sting one person or class at the expense of an
other. Regardless of the method of taxation,
none can evade taxes in some form because
whatver the community wants and gets, has
to be paid for by taxation.
"The chances are that if an income tax is
added to the Illinois realty tax, the realty tax
will be no less but the aggregate taxation will
be greater by the amount of the new income
tax levy because the politicians will never be
able to resist the temptation to vote for things
that require more money and provide new
jobs
What Illinois really needs and wants is less
taxation, less public expense, fewer Office
holders more work from public servants and
a minimum of tax reform which means new
and more taxation
"Waukegan welcomes factories and Wauke-
gan votes for whatever brings power, pros
perity and plenty to industrialists, hence the
propagandlsts will have to show cause before
Waukegan will cast it's vote to amend the
Illinois constitution on taxation and thus open
the door wide for state income tax which
seems to be wrecking Wisconsin industrially p
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