The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-26


| ces at least to equal the present amount of ar
rearages due frem counties. viz: $3.50, $3.50 % -
which the probable receipts of the year will
lack of meeting the anticipated calls upon the
Treasury for the same period.
The most obvious sources of relief are: lst,
loan to equal the amount of bonds maturing in
| 1862 or, I'd, placing to account of the Gener-
! al Fund the proceedings of the lilo mill tax,
now amounting to $53,366 70, which has been
levied from year to year for the object of pro.
vidine township hbraries-a project which has
not hitherto found sufficient favor with the Leg
islature to induce the appropriation Of money
therefor Hence large and yearly increasing
fund has remained in the treasury unemployed,
except as the action of the last Legislature per.
mitted its temporary use for war purposes
In estimating the expenses OF the next Legis-
lature, calculation is made for session of only
sixty days. In the present condition of the IL
nances of the State, and taxation weighing upon
the people, it is confidently hoped that the
patriotism of our representatives can be relied
upon to bring about this coming winter that
long desired ard much needed reform, short
economical, ,oOrking session Of The Legislature.
WAR EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES.
The expenses for enlisting, organizing and
fitting out the severa! regiments furnished by
Wisconsin 10 the defense of the Government.
have been managed by the proper military of,
GERS, acting by appointment and under direc-
ton of the Governor; and all accounts there
for ha We been audited above and paid by and
through such officers. For detailed statements
Of transactions in the War Fund, and full in
formation of the liabilities of the State ac
count of such fund, the Legislature is referred
to the reports which will be submitted to them
by the Governor, and by the Adjutant General,
Quarter Master General, Paymaster General,
and Commissary General of the State.
No estimate is therefore attempted Of the liza
bilities existing against the State fol- expenses
arising out of The war. Whatever may be the
amount of such liabilities lit is to be hoped that
the government, in aid of whose protection and
defense they were incurred, will probably re-
imburse the State therefor.
AID OF VOLUNTEERS.
By CHAPTER s, of the General Laws passed at
the late extra session of the Legislature, it was
provided that
1.-THE non-commissioned officers, musicians
and privates mustered into the service of the
United States or of this State in pursuance of
any law of this State, shall receive from the
time OF being mustered, i'll addition to the
pay provided for like nOn-commissioned officers
musicians and privates in the army of the Uni
ted States the sum of five dollars per month to
all volunteers having families dependant upon
them for their support. ;-tara -
All claims for aid, as provided by this act, are
by further provisions of the same act, present
ed by the Secretary of State, to be by him ex-
amined and audited, and warrants drawn upon
the treasury in payment, as for other audited
accounts. The duties devolved upon this office
in consequences Of the passage of this act have
proved exceedingly laborious- while with all
the watchtulness and care it has been found
practicable to exercise, it is feared the State has
not been entirely protected against abuse ofits
munfcenee.
In passing upon claims for aid under the pro-
visions of this act have from time to time
adopted constructions of its meaning and intent,
as follows:
1st. Only volunteers in the Infantry service
are included by the terms of the act. Those en-
listing i'll cavalry or artillery companies, not be-
ing mustered nto service "in pursuance of eng
lao of this State, cannot receive the extra pay
without further legislation.
I'd, The term volunteers having families de-
pendent upon them for their support, is held
to include married men, and such others as have
INDECENT and aged or invalid parents, or orphan
and dependent brothers and sisters actually re-
lying upon them for support But the depend
ence must be actual as upon the head Of fam
lily.
Sd. But one individual can be entitled to the
extra pay by reason of dependence of the same
family.
4th. Volunteers enlising in companies or
regiments of other States are not entitled to the
extra pay provided exclusively tor soldiers mus
tered into service under the provisions of the
laws of this State
9th. Volunteers from other State enlistng in
the Wisconsin regiments, are not entitled to
ezra pay for dependent families residing i'll 9TH
er States.
By the first day of January next, it is antci-
pated that Wisconsin will have eighteen full
regiments of Infantry mustered into the service
of the United States, under the, provisions of
the laws of this State" Equity and justice de-
mand that provisions made by law for the aid
of volun teers in the Infantry service, when In
fantry were tho only troops called for by the
Government, should be extended to all volun-
teers from this tate who have responded to the
subsequent calls of the government for cavalry
and artilleryn:en. This demand will, without
doubt, be cordially acceded to by the Legisa.
tnre Three regiments of cavalry and one OF
artillery are now being organized in the State,
These in the held, the whole number of volun-
teers from Wisconsin, serving as non-commis
stoned officers, musicians and priyates, will not
be less than $4,000. 1t is safe to estimate that
not less than 5000 of these will be entitled to
the hive dollars per month extra pay, by reason
of having families dependent upon them for
their support. This will require $4,000 per
month or $3.50 GOO per annum,
1t is left to the wisdom Of the Legislature to
devise the means for continuing the aid virtu-
ally pledged by the State to her volunteers who
leave dependent families behind them, during
their continuance in the service of the country.
The legislature must also provide the means fer
defraying other expenses constantly accruing for
services not required by the rules and regula-
tons governing the military service of the Gen
eral Government, but which have grown up
with and become interviewer with all our mill.
tary operations in this State or take the re-
sponis bility to discontinue such services alto
gether
ARREARAGE DUE FROM COUNTIES,
Through the excellent management of the
State Treasurer, the balance of arrearages due
| from counties has been largely reduced during
| the past year, and it now stands at lower fig
| ure than for many years past. A statement of
the condition of the account with each county
of the State is appended to this report, marked
"a" The net balance due the State from all
| the counties is shown to be $33, $3.50 %. In
| the present condition of the finances of the
State it is important that this amount should be
paid. The attention of the legislature is re-
specially invited to the necessity of making all
| the revenues provided by law to defray the ex-
penses of government available to the Treas.
ury.
BeIOit CoIIege.-We have received the An
nual Catalogue of the officers and students of Be-
lott College for the Academical year 1862. Itis
a very neatly printed pamphlet from The Btloat
Journal office. The College is evidently in very
prosperous condition, if we may judge by the num-
Der of the students. The following is the Summa-
ny of attendance during the past year:
Seniors, -------------- ---16
Sophomores, ---.--------..IO
Freshmen.