Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-09-19
From the Milwaukee Democrat.
TERRITORIAL DEBT.

The people Of Wisconsin have but an
inadequate conception Of the amount Of the
debt saddled upon them by the defalca.ions
Of public officers, and by injudicious and
careless Iegislatlon.fesulting from the want
of a proper degree Of responsibility on the
part Of the representative TO his constitu-
ents.
The requisite documents to enable us to
give a correct statement of the amount of
this indebtedness, for the payment Of
which the people OF the territory must be
taxed, are not at present within our reach.
II may be proper, however, 10 present all
the information upon the subject to be
CLEANED from sources at hand, promising
with the remark that whatever inaccula-
cies there may be, will not be those Of
exaggeratioR.
On account ofttc Capitol.-To complete
this building, the legislature two or three
years since authorized the issue'and sale of
bonds to the amount of 81 900, redeemable
in two years, aad bearing an interest Of 7
per centum These bonds, seventy in
nn::5er OF 500 each, were issued and dis
posed Of in the early part Of l64l. Not
over l5 or l6 of them have probably been
redeemed, and the amount yet outstanding
against The territory, interest and all, is
not less than $4,000. 1t may be in place
here to remak that although it was suppos-
Ell the sum thus provided would be amply
sufficient to complete the Capitol, and the
work, indeed, contracted to be done for
this amount, yet, after the expenditure Of
~ Eln haf fha inf hoc ha
doned--the building in an unfinished con-
dition. and likely TO require farther ex-
penditure of thousands to complete it.
For thepayment fbuilding commission
ers, attorneys fees in territorial suits, and
ether costs incident TO these suits, not less
than $4,000.
Making the Indebtedness of the Terrific.
ry on account of the Capitol, not far from
SIT, 900. The amount Of the defalcation
of the first board ofIbuildng commissioners
is about $4,000; there are also damages
claimed for the contractors; but as these
claims will probably never be collected,
they need not be stated as Offsets.
Interest on certificates issued for thepay-
ment Of Legislature erpenses.-The whole
amount of these certificates issued for the
payment of the expenses of the special
summer session OF lS40 and the following
regular session, could not have been less
than $4,000, bearing an interest Of ten
per cent. per annum. About one-half of
the sum of these certificates was paid in ls
months, the interest 10 that time, which
constituted a charge against the territory.
amounting TO $3.50. The other hall
is yet unpaid-the interest to this time be.
ing ovcl 80, eco In the shape then, Of in.
terest on certificates, there is an existing
debt Of not far from $4,000.
Items of Legislative appropriations no
: dllowed by the Z. S. Treasury Department
This amount, for which the territory is re
sponsible on outstanding certificates an,
> scrip, is doubtless large. The items dis
allowed by the accounting officer Of tn
treasury department, as not legitimatel,
4 pay able from the Congressional appropria
ton, were numerous, and some heavy
: The whole amount-comprising extra pa
:, TO members and officers, unauthorized az
preparations TO the Secretary, and for tn
;. payment of hostages, &c.,-cannot be les
that $4,000.
r Expenses of the mrecogni:cd sessio
IS last ,rinter.-These, unless a special az
ID preparation be made by Congress for ii
3 purpose, will be made against thelterritory
The amount we know not, but supposed
,r to be not less. including mileage and pt
n diem of members, pay of officers, for prin
o ing, and other inc;dentals, than $1,000
Nilrdukee and Rock Rirer CanaL-C
y. the bonds authorized TO be issued to aid
n the construction of this work, but clever
le we believe. of $1,000 each, were sold.-
=, The Legislature, however, has refused
RS recognize a territorial liability of over 81
III 900; the proceedings in the sale Of ten
Of the bonds not having been considered lega
lie To what extent bonds issued for the pa
u men, of building commissioners. attorney
fees in territorial suits, Sc, may have bee