Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-01-22
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Gentlemen Of the Senate and assem-
6ty::


In calling the attention of the legis-
lature, at it's last session, to the fnan-
ces of the State, | referred to the man
ner in which floating debt against the
State had been gradually accumula-
ting for several years, by over-esti-
mates of the revenues, and under-est
mates Of expenses from year to year by
the secretaries of State. That officer,
in his estimates for the year ending Sep
.tember 3Oth, 1853, showed q deficit of
$7O,34O56, and assumed in order to re-
duce the indebtedness of the State to
that sum, that the taxes for the fiscal
year ending Sept. 80, 1853, would all
be paid, and that the amount of $32,-
25S.54 due from Edward FL. Jansen,
former State Treasurer, would also be
paid during the year. The State taxes
were not all paid that year. The sec
retary's report states that on the 3Oth
Of September, 1858, the arrearages due
from the counties, for delinquent taxes,
amounted on the sum Of $78,756 ST.
thus showing al actual deficit, assum-
ing the secretary's estimate Of the year
before to be correct, Of 518l, l,361.G4.
The Secretary estimates the expen-
ses to be betrayed from the Treasury,
at the sum Of $448, 1858 for the wear
ending Sept. 30th, 1859. This est
mate includes salaries and permanent
appropriations, sos, 3,o25; Legislative ex-
penses, $52,l5O, and miscellaneous,
embracing stationery, postage, compen-
sation of clerks, contingent expenses
and repairs, laborers, County Agricul-
tural Societies, Benevolent institutions,
State Prison, wood, gas, and lights IL
terest on State loan and exchange, r.
yised statutes and town laws, sunIry
expenses in finishing and furnishing the
new wing Of the Capitol, and claims
not yet presented, amount due individ-
uals, and over payments from State
Treasury, S333, 3,57O.07. The resources
of the State to meet this indebtedness
and these expenses, much of which
should have been paid long ago, are es-
timated at SG64, ,412.39, leaving an cs-
timated balance in the Treasury Of
S2l5, ,669.41. This sum may be de-
creased by the ordinary failure ofsome
counties to pay their taxes, and by the
certain failure of Jansen to pay what
he owes the State. Some portions Of
the revenues for the current fiscal year,
have already been paid, since the Sec
retary's report was made, and some
portion of the expenses and indebted
ness of the State paid and cancelled.
I have obtained from the Treasurer
q statement in relation to the actual
sconditon Of the general fund on the 1st
of January, A. D. 1859, bringing down
the statement Of that officer to that
point, 50 as to include the transactions
of the year 1913. From his figures and
estimates it appears that the amount for
which the State was liable, including
appropriations and audited accounts,
balance for Capitol enlargement ($3,-
o75.l8); Revised Statutes ($16, ,400);
balance for Town Laws ($2, ,64O); over
payments from general fund, salaries
due January lst, 1859, and all other
liabilities was 1892 ,896.7+.
The total resources Of the State, prior
to the time when the State tax is due
and payable, are given by the same Of
fcers as follows:
Arrearages from counties (St taxi $42, ,562 10
r. r. tax from Racine Il Miss. r. r. 2,O36 81
Balance of Bank tax, due Jan lst,
1889, remaining unpaid, 4,04e 50
SIS, ,497 50
Showing that the amount of past