Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-20


L. = very defective, and should be thorough
X revised IL State banking Is to be continued
10 anv considerable extent.
This suggestion should receive your early
attention. -.
siderstion OF chapter 400 Ofthe General Laws
If 1855. which provides for taxing NATIONAL
Banks. 1t is claimed by that class of corpor-
atoms thas the state Tax 10 unjust ana uhcoh-
stitutional
Banks thus taxed have in some instances,
mad into the State Treasury the amount
reduired of them, under protest. with the
exbectation of decision By the Supreme Court
Of the United States generating them from
such liability.
a fest case ia now before the highest Judicial
tribunal, taken up from ole Of the state
Colrrts of the State of New York, where the
tax vas declared constitutional. Il Is also
expected that the question viii be decided IN a
few months by the Supreme Court OF THIS
IF it's held By the Cousts that this tax is
unconstitutional, the Banks will demand
return of the amounts psid by them into the
= Srsse Treasurer, and the state treasurer
should be authorized TO repay them.
The securities f1r outstanding bank clTcu-
lafi0nr ON the 3lst day of December last.
amounted to S229 COL IL OF which Sli5,5cO
were bonds and SII6 40t.t5 were Treasury
notes and coin. The bonds are depOsltedWlth
the State Treasury, while the notes and com
= desirable that the money should also be
removed to the wants OF the State Treasurer.
lie il the officer TO whom the duty OF keeping
III. publIc money naturally belongs, and he
can discharge that duty more securely ana
economically than the Bank Comptroller.
. Tie state claims to be the substantial owner
of portion of these mOIes=. E..en The
bonds ofthe State were sold to the bankers
upon a credit for a portion 81 the pmcnase
money il was agreed that the bonds were to
lati0n Of the banks making the deposit, and,
secondly as security TO the State ( T the UE-
paid balance Of the purchase money.
Many OF these bonds have been sold by the
Bank Comptroller TO redeem the bank clrcu
lslioa. and residue Of the proceeds after re-
deeming such bills "a have BEEN presented,
remains in the COmptrOllers safe, part of the
mOrey OH hand as above stated This Is sub
iect 20. and will be absorbed BY the lien of the
State. and should be IN the possession, and at
the disposal Of the State Treasurer.
THE STATE CAPITOL, ETC.
4 sufficient appropriation sluuld be made to
provide for the Immediate completion Of the
State Capitol
The four wings are already finished. The
dome and rOtunda alone remain unbuilt.
The damage that Is sustained by the inner
walls of the building, which, in its present
unfinished condition, are exposed 10 the
weather; the increased danger of fire, while
amass of temporary woodwork stands in the
Totunda; the discomfort Of cold halls aud the
added difficulty OF heating offices aud Legisla-
tive Chambers are all reasons why the com
p'etiOn Of the building should not longer be
delayed.
would recommend also. that an aFpIopri-
alton be made TO provide for the introduction
Of some approved heating apparatus into the
building. This viii lessen the cost of heating
the building al least s., 600 per year.
There has been exp nd Il, to this date, fUr
the building Of the Capitol.
From the State Treasury ~ s25S, C9G Ct
Madison City Bonds -...--.-.---.- 5O,OO0.O0
Proceeds OF Capitol Lands ..---.-- Il, 5S9.56
Total cast ofCapitol to date 49,. S52i, 295 %
Authority should be given TO some ono OF
the state officers to direct public sales. from
tine to time, "a the Interests OF the State de-
mand it, of such half-vOrn furniture aud ntheI
property as acCumu.ates about the Capitol.
This property i useless, and, if kept, soon be-
comes yalueleSs.
NoTARIEs TUBLTc AND COyT5ITssIOSFEs OF DEEDS
Sector l of Chapter - OF the Revised Stat
utes provides that the Governor NAV appoint
one or more Not tries Public vino shall be con-
sidered state officer, but does not authorize
the payment of any fee to the State for such
appointment, nor Is the number linn ted -
About one Thousand are appointed annually;
indeed, it has come To be the common practice
to appoint all who apply, WI hOut proper
knOwledge Of their character ar fitness for
the office recommend that the number TO
be appointed be limited, by law, to certain
number in each town and city. and that their
Official bond be approved by tie County Judge
OF the county IN which the appOntee resides,
AMI that reasonable fee be charged by the
state for each commission. The law author
izinS the appointment of Commissioner Of
Deeds to reside m Other States hoes rot pre-
vide for the payment Of fee to tine State for
commissions Il should be- so amended as TO
authorize charge Of at least live dollars for
each commission.
RAILROADS.
The number OF Railroads mixing reports to
the State is 3, having total lcrgth OF SIS
miles.
Capital actually subscribed -. $50 So, i-3
Number 81 through passengers 2SJ, 205
Number Of way passengers 1922. tiSs
Amount reed for transportation. Sl0 $50 5l7 SO
Amount reed for passengers 1904 i,4j.G0
Amount Of taxes plid -. -. 362 OSS is
The duty of tlispOsiDg of the lands granted
by Congress tn this State, to aid in the
construction of Railroads wall devOive upon
you.
/ deem it advisable that this duty be per-
formed, aud that the lands be finally disposed
of during your present session
Give them TO good, responsible companies,
and require sJch guarantees as Will Insure
their sale az reasonable prices, aud insure the
speedy construction cfthe roads contemplated
between such points as will best serve the in
terests of the whole state.
From various parts of the State are heard
great complaint of the unjust exactiOns OF
Railroad companies IN relation tO prices
charged for freight, and unjust determinations
against some localities IN favor of Others
These complaints and protests are entitled to
your earnest attention, and IL ynu find. upon
careful ex animation. and / understand snch
examination Is invited be- the Railroad com
paniss. that cOrpOI ate bodies of snv kind are
for their own benefit, abusing their powers
aud privileges. depressing the people or seri-
ousy iEcOnveniencing the business men aud
farmers of the State, or any large portion
thereof, II vii be YOUR m Rnifsst duty to enact
laws which will fully remedy tlIeevil.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
suggest such a change in the law as viii
require all Insurance Companies to make their
reports TO the Secretary Of State.
There are so Fire. Marine and Life /. suTancs
Companies doing business In the State the
past year, with total amount OF
Capital stock. So. 7O7, 265 81
Total assets -. ......-...--. 50 9i5. 1SS 81
Total liabilities 49,. -..-..-.- IS. 043,4I &c
Total amount of premiums re-
ceived IN this state during the
wear 18Th Observation-Disclosures 92l.l5A 81
Amount OF state tax paid daring
The past fiscal year -. 3I,4I9 40
Twentv-eight Companies have deposited
Wisconsin State Bonds with the State Treas
urer in compliance with the provisions Of
chapter 320Of General Laws of 1855.
FOur Companies made doposites after the
time named IN that law, had passed, the State
Treasurer giving receipts therefor, subject to
yOur action.
The total amount Of bonds so deposited by
all sOmpanies is $500. 600. 80
STATE Prison AND CHARITABLE INSTRUCTIONS
TEereport Of the State Prison Commissioner