The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-04-30
REVEALS NOTES
ON TAX BILLS
Assemblyman Shearer Re-
veals BIaine's Letters
On Tax Bill.
HARD TO UNDERSTAND
One Letter Is to a KenOsha
Business Man and the Other
to an ASsemblyman.

Editors Note Most interesting is
the comment made by Assembiyman
Conrad Shearer of Kenosha in his
weekly news letter from Madison when
he touches on the new tax bill and
makes public some letters from Gov
ernor Blaine regarding the measure.
The letter is published below.)
(By Assemblyman Conrad Shearer)
Excitement again held the boards in
the lower house Monday evening when
Hon. A. E. Smith of Vernon county, at
tackled the validity of the rules under
which teh assembly is operating. The
gentleman from Viroqua registered
special protest against joint resolu-
tion No. as, which covers the subject
of introduction of bills at this time.
Each objection of the member from
Vernon county was overruled by the
speaker. Appeal from these decisions
were taken, but in each case the chair
was sustained by a two to one vote.
Had the assembly refused to sustain
the decision of the speaker on this
subject it would have affected the val
idity of at least 100 measures pending
before the legislature. Assemblyman
Smith expected to receive an adverse
decision from the chair, and it was
chiefly for the, purpose of placing OBJ
lection OH record that an appeal was
made from the decision. If in the flu
ture, court action be taken to test the
constitutionality of any Of these laws
originated through resolution No. as:
the record of protest will play an i'm
portant part in deciding the case.
Vincent Lost His Bet.
AS was generally expected, the gov
ernor signed tax bill No. 1928, abol-
ishing the personal property offset and
changing very, materially the distriou-
tion of the funds to city, county and
state. Colleague Vincent, of this coun-
ty, was one of the few assemblymen
who believed that Gov. Blaine would
veto the drastic tax change measure.
In fact D. j. was so certain that he
wagered box of perfectly good cigars
which his colleagues thoroughly en-
joyed Our suggestion is that before
Dow bets again he holds conference
with his CHIEF executive.
That the governor does not wholly
approve of the measure is quite evil
dent. In his statement or explanation
of his action in signing the bill he en-
deavors to saddle the responsibility
upon representatives of the conserva-
tive Republican and Socialist parties.
He seizes upon the opportunity to re-
= - IS
Phillip on the removal of the Offset on
personal property. Seldom does the
governor see anything of merit in the
acts of any of his conservative prede
cessors. At heart he probably knows
that ex-governor Phillip would never
approve by his signature tax bill re-
sembiing 1925. Governor Blaine also
quite cleverly resorts to the subter-
fuRe that conservatives in the state
senate, by voting against the proposed
six per cent deduction on all income
tax producing property, helped pass
the bill in it's present form. half
truth is oftentimes most deceiving.
He fails to say that at no time in the
progress of Bill 1928 was it acceptable
to conservative members Of the legis
lature. In the senate vote to kill a.
mendments, was seen the initial move
ment towards killing the bill itself.
Socialist senators seized upon this
opportunity to strip the bill of chan
ges Objectionable to their group. This
accomplished, they united with the
progressives in passing the bill.
The Blaine Letters.
It may be of interest to taxpayers to
note the views Of the governor, as set
forth in letters relative to tax bill No.
1925. Two of his communications are
here reproduced:
Go a prominent Kenosha merchant)
Madison, Wis. March 25, 1925.
"Dear Sir:
Replying to your letter of March
gath, beg to advise you that the tax
bill as passed by the senate, was
amended by the conservatives and So
cialists. The effect, Of their amend
ment was to absolutely repeal the per-
sonal property offset. l do not know
the motives that actuated their pur-
pose, unless it was to follow the rec
concentrations of Governor. Phillip in
his message in 1917, wherein he rec
commended the repeal OF the personal
property offset.
II personally favored the six per
cent deduction on the assessed valua-
ton Of ineome-produeing property.
However, the conservatives and social
lists, as / stated, brought about the
absolute repeal of the personal prop
erty offset.
your very truly.
(Sgd.) "John j. Blaine,
Governor"
ITO a member Of the Legislature)
k~riI TOOK