Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-01-17
Governors Mess age

n eIO1C ClttZenS CT me Senate ana as
Senabiy: The circumstances under which
we meet can scarcely fail to impress espe-
cial awe OF the respons bilities assumed
with our respective trusts. Grave duties
| are to be discharged amid extraordinary
difficulties, while unusual importance al
taches to the manner of their discharge
The m nagement of the interests confIed
to US will be watched by our constituents
with eager solicitude.
Fortunately, the independent action of
tie people in the late election, permits to
their representatives an uEsusl freedom to
accept the guidance OF personal convic-
tions Of duty upon all measures of public
policy.
No previous Legislature has convened
under equal incentives to disinterested
zeal in the public service. The occasion
pleads with you in rebuke Of all the mean
er passIons-admonishi to the exercise
of conscientious patriotism. becoming the
representatives of Christian people called.
in Gods Providence, to pass through the
furnace Of a great trial of their virtue, and
of the strength of their government.
1t so happens that the first duty devol-
wing upon me AS Executive, is compliance
with the requirements Of our State Consti-
tuition, that the Governor " shall commu
nic4te to tie legislature, at every session,
the condition of the State, ana recommend
such matters to them for their considera
ton AS he may deem expedient."
The condition of the tina1ces Of the
State, of its currency. educational interests.
and public institutions, is clearly set forth
in the annual reports from the several
StateDepartments and Institutions support
ed from the Safe Treasury, which are
herewith presented, printed aud in readi-
ness for your enumeration. These reports
will be found 10 be full and particular in
their statements, especially AS regards the
expenditure oflhe public mouey,and to sug
gest some important measure OF legislation.
The recommendations submitted, and the
appropriations asked for in these reports,
have, generally my cordial endorsements,
would respectfully suggest that each
report be referred 10 some appropriate
committee, who shall be charged with The
duty of its critical pxaminatIon-the pre-
paration of The legislation asked Tor in the
form Of bills, for your prompt action there
on--and. particularly, that such commits
tee themselves conduct all Investigation IN
to the management Of the Department or
Institution w ence the report emauated
am promp.ed to this suggestion by The
conviction that the joint Committee Of
Investigation, now provided by statute
ard your rules, has outIived its use illness.
if, indeed. it be not degeneraled to all
abuse The special call Tor investigation
into the affairs of the Departments, which
first naug this committee gave To
lis Iabors sufficient interest to command AT
the time the pei sonal attention Of its mem
bers, and justified tie employ Mt Of as
sisSants competent to thread the lntricacies
Of large and involved accounts. All e>pp-
cial interest in investigations OF the Ordl-
nary business and accounts Of the S ale
seems to have tranSpred Members ap-
pointed upon this committee do nol tnd it
consistent with due alteulion to the bu>i
ness Of legislation, 10 make personal ex
aminationS OF the transactions, entries and
vouchers of whole year in all the Stale
offices Indeed, the labor of tho ough
examination through all the Sale Depart
ments is too great to be imposed upon
one committee The laborS Of investig
alton have hence come to be devolved al
most entirely upon clerks, of whom this
committee may employ an indefinite num-
ber-and hence ii has become the last re-
sort for the crowd which annually gath
ers at the opening of a session, to seek
employment from the legislature. The
committee have not always selected men
qualified to sit in Judgment upon the pub
lIc conduct OF officers, or possessed OF tie
corefulneSs JUSTLY ing their being turned
loose among the records aud files Of pub
/ lie rffice.
The representatives. of the people should
! hold all Stale officers to rigid accoumIa-
bi6ty-and to proper discharge of this
! duty, yearly review of the transactions.
accounts, ard vouchers in the STATE Offices
is indispensable This precautionary meas
ure was too long omitted. in the early his
tory Of the Stale and should never again be
neglected But investigations. with The re-
sultng censure or approval of the Conduct
OF men in office which go forth under The
sanction of legislative authority, should be
! in good faith conducted by the legislature,
/ through lis committees. This requires a
reform of the present system, which reform
to be operative at the present session, must
| be undertaken before your committees are
appointed.
By provision of the statute, the reports
submitted accompany ing the NJ .ssage. are
for the fiscal year commencing on the first
day OF October. and ending on the thirlleth
day of September following. The summary
statements rustomarl!y presented in the
Massage, are for the calendar year ending
the thirty first day OF December plecedn NC
its delivery. Following this custom, pro
ceed to give, in brief, the cor dition of the
various funds of the State up to January
1St with such intimations Of needed lrgis-
lation, and provision OF money, as the facts
suggest.
The transactions of the year in the Gen
eral Fund provided for the current expen-
/ ses of State government, are as follows:
REcEIvEn-From counties. Estate tax.
and tax on suits. Is
From banks. bank taxi --- 7S.I74 y
From railroads. license. -- 25,056 20
(liccnse. ---------------- IA 29o So
From all other source of revenue 1876 81
/ On hand December 31St, lSe0-- 56-705 So