Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-01-18

tdetIS4ull7 d HidAiinuh pFlce 10 DC PAID. Ihls
will prevent oppressive combinations prejudicia
TO the interests of the State. The accounts OIL
the members of the Canal Board and of public
instruction have been stated for the year ending
Decembar lSt, 1913, and the amount found due
to be Si0,5l3 90. This amount has not vet
been forwarded by the Treasury Department OF
the General Government but is expected daily
The account of this fund for the year 1919. will
be stated to you during the present Quarter
The amount due will probably be equal to the
year preceding.
The statute laws of the State were reyis ID
and consolidated by the Legislature at lis last
session and took effect on the LIST of the present
month, the necessity of much general legisla-
ton at this time will obvate, at least it would De
wholly impOlitic to make any great change in
the code so soon after il has gone into operation.
That there may be defect is quite probable bat
a sufficient time has not elapsed to test their mag
nitude or Importance.
Serious evils have resulted in our legislation
from the frequent alteration of the Statute Laws.
Existing laws are not untrequently changed and
modified IN their whole context, even before they
are published and distributed; the practical el-
feet OF which is to produce embarrassment in
their administration, and to render uncertain and
dubious individual rights, which is the main OBJ
JCtt vi me law 10 project.
Permanent laws, well known, defined and GER
tain, although defects may exist, are preferable
and more beneficial 10 the great body OF the pao-
pie, than those with more WHOLESOME provisions
subject 10 constant changes TO rem Ter them more
perfect, the tendency of which is to destroy tn.
certainty Of individual rights, and to produce u
iachng OF uncertainty, where confidence in the
permanent security OF our rights should prevail.
Our Statute Laws having just been submitted
to revision, trust that but few alterations will
be made IN them at your present session. and
that such as may be found necessary viii be
confined to cases of most urgent necessity.
Only one ortwo subjects Of general legislation
occur to M u be sufficient Importance to the
pubic veal to direct your attention for the pur-
pose OF legislative action, The present law de-
timing the property ta be taxed subjects credits
or chooses in action to taxation. The evident Oh
Iect OF the Legislature in taxing this kind OF pro-
pcrty was to reach the money lender and specu-
lator with the view of compelling him to assist
III supporting the government that gives him
protection in pursuing his vocation. This GER
talnly was very laudabe object if the means
adopted, accomplished the end intended. In my
opinion the result is not secured but on the COLI
trary an additional burden in most cases is i'm
posed upon the borrower and debtor, and does
iaally pay it, still an unreasonable charge or rate
OF interest will be cXacted from thh dcbgor.
Again, taxing OF credits produces double taxa
ton. For instance if farm is sold upon cred
II. the farm itself is taxed in the hands OF the
purchaser, and its price is Ia ed in the hands OF
the seller, which produces double taxation, al
though the amount of property is not increased.
The correct basis OF taxation is property which
should be taxed wherever found and not its rep
re>eutagivc.
Thc tangible substance and not the phantom
is the object from which the revenues should
be derived. would therefore submit the pro-
prlety OF modifying the existing law to CORES
pond with the views expressed.
The subject of taxation, generally, as it cx-
ISIS at present in this State, is brought TO your
notice and is entitled to Your careful examina-
ton, with the view of ascertaining if possible,
the cause of the enormous taxes with which the
people are this year burthened and Justly com
plain, and then TO apply the remedy. \ rigid
economy should peryade every branch Of public
expenditure, from the state government down
through every municipal corporation or govern
mental subdivision, tuat draws its revenues from
the property of the country,
An examination into the organization Of the
authorities that control the expenditures and f.
and 1t Is believed thata reorganization can be CT
teced that will lessen their expenditures AM Gre
ate greater economy. The power of these and
all other subordinate authorities to levy taxes
should BE- clearly defined 1t is not strange that
the People, actuated by an anxious desire to con-
fine all expenditures within the most economical
limits, should complain of onerons taxation. |
trust therefore, that this subject will receive at
the hands OF the Representatives of the People
that consideration its importance requires.
The act organizing county courts requires mo-
dlhcatlon TO establish it on correct basis, and to
make it less burdensome to the people The
importance of this court to be invested with pro-
bate powers, was fully discussed in NV last an
nual message to which | would respectfully re-
fer.
The Court exercising Probate powers should
be one of more importance than the Courts of
Probate heretofore organized in this state. 1t
should be Court of Record, with u Clerk to re-
cord its acts and doings, and should hold its ses-
sions at stated terms, not too frequently at the
place Of holding the Circuit Court This will
give its proceedings greater publicity. and pre-
vent the most important Probate adIUdicatlons
from being made in 4 corner. The amendments
necessary to place this court upon proper foo
ting in my opinion, are 10 reduce its common law
terms from monthly to quarterly. or semi-yearly
with power 10 bold terms once every olher month
TO adjudicate upon Probate matters if necessary.
4 second defect in the law organizing the
county and probate court, is the manner in which
the compensation of the Judge is paid. Instead
of allowing him fees for stated services he should
receive an annual salary, to he paid ont of the
County Treasury. To create Il fund to pay this
salary, docket fee should be laid on each suit
brought in the Court, and tax OF given per
cent levied upon the appraised value OF all estates
settled through its agency, and paid into the
Couuiy Treasury, sufficient to meet the disburse-
nents on its account. This system of compcn-
sation would b. less corrupting and really more
economical to those who have probate business
than the system Of fees.
No judicial officer OF the importance Of this. or
the Probate Court, should receive his cotnpensa-
ton BY way of fees from the hands OF those
whose business he is TO decide and adIudicate
These amendments. il is believed, will place the
judicial tribunal upon proper basis and make ii
acceptable to the people.
the act providing for the publication of the
Revised Statutes made il the duty OF the Execu-
tive, in the name OF the state. TO subscribe for
and take, when printed, bound, and completed,
as in that act provided 1000 copies Of these Sga-
lutes for the use Of the state. at sum not cy-
ceeiiag Sl.75 per volume. Entertaining the
oruic~ .E.- - xr-aS bz this mad the duty at the