The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-12-31
BLAINE DEFENDS
HIS TAX PROGRAM
Statement by Governor
Saws Decrease Has Been
Misrepresented.
CITES GASOLINE TAX
Calls Attention that for First
Time Towns and Villages
Get Their Share.

Madison, Wis Al Governor
Blaine today issued defense of the
financial record of his administration.
In letter to the Oshkosh (Wis.)
Daily Northwestern he declared "the
decrease in state taxes" has been mis-
represented He enclosed copy of
an article published in the National
Income Tax magazine describing Wis
consin's finances and chow this ad-
ministration was enabled to remit
the entire state tax on real and per-
sonal property"
"You will observe from that article
that through economies practiced by
this administration we were able to
take $2,500,000 out of the general fund
in the state treasury and apply 1t
toward the reduction of real and per-
sonal property state taxes the COVER
nor wrote. His letter, in part, read
"In your editorial of December FL
and in prior news items, you take
great pains to misrepresent the de-
crease in state taxes.
Recalls 1920 Assessments.
"In 1920, the year before became
governor, there was assessed, payable
in 1921, for state purposes and the
common school fund, against the
farmers, home owners and business
men, on their real and personal prop
erty, $6,037, 103; against income tax
payers, $46s,1O0; total of $6,5O5,2OS
"In the year 1925 there was assessed
payable in 1926, for state purposes
and the common school fund, against
the farmers, home owners and bust
ness men, on their real and personal
property, $6,037,109; against income
tax payers, $46S,1OO; total OF
$6,O50,203.
Sin the year 1925 there was as
sessed, payable in 1926, for state pur-
poses and the common school fund
against the farmers, home owners and
business men, on their real and per-
sonal property, not single dollar
or a reduction in real and personal
property taxes of the sum OF
$6,037, 103 from the levy of 1920.
"This means that the farmers and
home owners and business men OF
Winnebago county will save, in real
and personal property taxes, in 1925
their proportionate share of those
taxes that they formerly paid.
"The Winnebago county farmers
and home owners and business men
had assessed against them in 1920, In
real and personal property taxes, for
state purposes and the common school
fund, $165, 432.78, while this year, for
the same purpose, not a single dol
lar Of property taxes is assessed
against them.
1926 Income Tax $4,4OO,OOO.
s'In 1925 the income taxpayers will
pay into the state treasury, in round
numbers, $4,4OO,OOO, and that means
that there will be a total tax, both
real and personal and income taxes
of So, 100000 less than in 1920.
81 want the farmers and home own
ers and business men of Winnebago
county to know that their state taxes
on their property, payable in. 1925,
are not single penny, while in 1920,
such taxes were $165, 432.78.
"The income taxes, for the first
time in the history of the state, that
applied to the reduction of the real
and personal property taxes on farms,
homes and business. The state gets
none Of the income tax any more, for
the state government. Heretofore the
state received ten per cent of the in
come tax for the state government.
"Then again, you state that the gas
tax of two cents gallon will net
the state $5,000,000 or $6,000,000. The
fact is that the state receives not one
cent of the gas tax, and you know
it, and you should be honest enough
to tell the truth about it.
Where Gas Tax Goes.
"The towns, villages, cities and
counties get all the gas tax, for their
streets, roads and bridges, for main
tenance and construction. The state
even pays for collecting the gas tax,
and does it most economically, for
$4,000 a yer.
at is the first time in the history
of the state when the towns and vii
lagos received any OF the funds COM
ing from automobile license fees
or gas tax.
"The towns and villages in Winnie
bago county, for the maintenance of
their roads and streets, for the year
ending June 80, 1925, will receive
$15,925 out of the highway funds, of
which the gas tax makes up part,
and the cities of Winnebago county
for the same purposes, and from the
same source, will receive $11,788.
Winnebago county will receive out of
the gas tax and auto license fees, for
the year ending June 80, 1925, not
less than 1920, 1886, which is distributed
to towns, villages, cities and the
county, under the law, the city OF
Neenah alone receiving $4,000 out of
the highway funds for larger bridge.