The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-01-22

| IL - MS h4SNAA Ia = CAtN I'll ~
come Of S17, G29 80, but did not yield only, u
to the first of January. 1863, $l4,I02 90, til
deficiency arising from forfeitures OF Universi
ty lands, The University Fund lncome Of
the 3Ist day of December stood rs follows.
Balance Dec. 31st, 1861 1888 q
Receipts during the year 14,I02 8!
Total amount $l5,O95 9
DISBURSEMENTS I4,448 a
Balance in Treasury Dec. 1852 $467, 81
Of this iucome there was paid to the Stat
last year for:
Clerk hire in Land Office $500 o.
Share of expenses for land prOtec-
ton Joy o.
Printing q OF
Together 1919 2.
After deducting the interest on The Gniver
sity Fund Indebtedness which has no, Jet bee,
cancelled as provided by a law Of last winter
there will according TO the report OF rhe Res
gents remain an stimaled productive capital O
$106,683 70. yielding an income OF only$7
100 SO, from which deduct charges made By III
State for care of the furd, 1915 25 would loav'
a net income of Sc, 1856 Ga. This amount wil
be entirely inadequate for the support of tn
University.
The constitution of our State prescribes tina
Provision shall be made by law for yhe estab
llshment of a State University at aud near tn
the seat Of State government" and that 'ih
proceeds of all lands granted by ,iho Unite
States TO the State for the support of a Unlver
sity, and shall be Appropriated to the gnppo'
OF the State University" l seems 10 me so b
a very plain deduction from these provisions
that it was the Intention of the ~fraHTers OF tn
constitution to provide that the University, . {
the necessary buildings, &c, should be estab
lished by the State, aAd that the income OF thS
University Fund, a donation from Cosgsess
should be used for the maintenance and supper
of the University so established. Instead u
this, the Stat tie has, hsweveI, neyer paid on'
cent either for the establishment or the sIppor
or the maintenance of the University but it has
compelled the University to erect the buildlng'
on it's own credit, the debt to be yaid from It's
own fund. THIS has led to the embarrassment
under which it is now laboring. In addition
to that, the State has for many years pa5t charg
ed the University Fund with the expenses Of
lis management.
/ am credibly informed that the Stete OF Iowa
gave to its University, its old capitol, "utbaiIdtnGf
and as well as $25 $50 fer erecting u new college
editce, and the State OF Michigan in 1898 loaned
$500 600 TO It's University and has never required
it to be repaid, nor even exacted any interest Tor
several years. Wisconsin, l think, has not acted
the part OF a kind parent in eXaonng the pay
ment for the management of q fund so Literally
bestowed upon the University, which by the con
stitution it was in duty bound to establish, but
for which it never paid out one cent.
In the present financial difficulties the money
paid annually Tor several years to the Stale iol
the management of this fund, would he d great
aid to the University, and would therefore rec
ommend that the law e~xaGting this payment be
repealed, and restoration be made Of the money
retained by the State for this purpo~> since the
date when the provisions ofthe Revised Statues
on the subject were put into operation. The same
policy should be pursued in regard to the School
Fund, but as the common schools are mostly sup
ported by t~axatiOn, a change in that respect will
make but little difference.
l feel it also my duty TO urge upon you the pro
priety of engrafting upon the University Il pro-
fessorship of military engineering aud tactics,that
our young men may have an opportunity 10 study
military science, a study unfortunately too long
neglected in the Northern States, aud the uecessl-
ty of which has become so apparent during oul
present national struggle.
CapiLoL Extension.
/ congratulate you on the prompt completion u
the west wing of the State Capitol TIE Work
has been faithfully, we'll and. cheapIy d,ne. The
cost of the west wing, Including ell extras
amounts to $S7 ,58l, 50, being 81 ,408 90 !ess tnHu
the appropriation made for that purpose, and $40,
042 "a less than the cost OF the east wing, which
is considerably smaller III size than the west wing
The continuation of the work of building the
Capitol seems to be very desirable. pne old build
ing is at present OF little use, and without consld
cradle repairs viii probably soon become entirely
unfit for occupation. Without it, however. there
would not be sufficient DOM for the present and
coming wants of the Stale. ! am informed by ihe
architect that Inc south ur north wing 81 The Gap
itol, commencing where the south OF north waIie
Of the old building are now standing, wouid cos'
only 800. COO, lfeither of these wings were nnIah-
ed. here would be sufficient ~ccomm0dutiQ t0l
all the State Offices, and / therefore respectfully
commend this matter To your careful cosnidera
ton. 4 committee appointed by you for tins
purpose, should receive accurate information iron
the architect upon the whole subject.
Tar0 IN the Rail- oads, Plank R0ads, &c.
A decision of the Supreme Cogrt. made d0rin-
the session of the Legislature last Winter, in the
case of KDeeland VS.. the city Of milwaukee. pro-
nouncing unconstitutional all the law taxing rail-
roads ana plank roads, by requiring them 10 pay
a:per ceutage on their1gross earnings, In lieu OF ali
other AK, as and thereby declaring void all taxes
assessed and levied in this state, FOR mFny years
past, threw the Legislature INTO great eBIparrd5s-
meut relative to the course 10 be pursued 10 reuN
edy the past, and to make legal the future levy
OF taxes. A joint committee was finally appointed
by both houses to digest he necessary Legislation,
and an adjournment OF lie Legislature had. be-
fore its re-assembling, however, the supreme
Court, upon q motion for Il re~hearlng III the case
in which that decision had been MADE, alter caro-
full consideration came to The conclusion chat, while
their opinion as TO the uuconstI;u liunatity al tbe
law taxing railroads and plank rOtds remained
lnGEdu0eG, q SOuQ1 ADpllCdttbn OI the iul6 Jl
stare declSIS, demanded that, IL view OF tbe lear
full consequences to the State, they should fall back
on a decision understood TO have ben made by
their predecessors iu 1865. holding he Jaw to be
constitutional. This last decision made ACTON OH
the part If the Legislature, unnecessary 30 far as
the past was concerned and to remedy any defect
in The law, for future taxation, was lcst 20 the next
legislature. The Chief j Justice. in delivering bis
opinion upon the last decision, uses the toll wing
language:
"Besides, it is not as if we were fixing by our
decision on the future policy OF the state. go long
as the constitution remains unchanged. III we
were-it we were binding the Legislature or the
people to an unequal or an uDJusttuie OF faxa>
ton hereafter, the question would be 0t iaI
greater moment. But we are not. Our views OF
The constitutional provision are well known, and
the legislature can adopt them or not, 80 1t Bees
fit. There is, therefore, ample remedy for the fuS
fure. and the return by legislative e~aactments to
the requirements OF the fundamental law, viii be
easy and attended with none Of these disastrous
results. This, in my Judgment, is 3 very impor.
tant consideration and one which should deter~
mine my action in the premises"
From this extract it will appear that it is not
safe for the State to retain the system Of taxation
as to railroads, and plank roads, and / deem II
YOUR imperative duty so to change the laws on
The subject of taxation as to bring them within
: the rules laid down by the Supreme Court, ana 70
obviate alldoubts as TO. the constituhonai'y Oh 4o>
ture taxes. III
Institutes ofLhe Blind, and Of the Doat a"G d"mo
At nv visits to the eleemosynary institutions u
10 500 wss mich pleased win the profcienN
nv Of the anfortunate pupils in the institute Tor
The education Of the Blind. and that Tor I'm me . ecu a.
cation Of the Deaf andsDrmb, Bo,h ins'I nred
&c IN excellent order, well managed, ana q Gfea-
are ~ ba humanity Of the State, and proof OF the
z ~ si n fainess and fitness of the trustees and officers
nn n whose immediate care they are placed: Up,
on careful IN Investigation, it will probably be found
/ tbat both institutions have managed Their OWL al
70 ;rs economically during the past yesr, and :ha'
in the appropriations which they ask for the ensu.
no wear. they have had due anu proper regarc
f,T7 The embarrassed and unhappy state Of ou'
country and have only asked Tor 30 much AS seem'
absolute y necessary TO continue tie institution