The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-01-16
KENOsHA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY JANUARY 49, 1868.


moment doubt. AS they are now executed
a very large proportion of the value of al
property entirely escapes taxation. quot
from the valuable report of the Secretary
of State on this subject:
THE lamentable fact stands out, that tn,
!, Assessors do not govern themselves by til,
: plainest provisions of the law The assess
: ment returns of nine-tenths of the countie,
OF this State exhibit evidences of papable
:. violations of the law, in Gates where there
;, Is no danger or possibility of misapprehen.
sion. Not only is a large amount OF prop
: erty omitted from the rolls but in most ca.
SEES; what property is assessed at only hall
It's real value. And these assessments are
made, under their official oaths, by men of
. the highest standing in the communities
, where they reside. The most perfect law
In the world would prove most miserable
failure.
"As examples of the value placed by AS
SCISSORS upon their official oaths may be
mentioned the following facts:
I'm one county the County Board of AS
SCISSORS. after having taken the oath to as
sess all property at it's actual cash value, as
provided in the law, immediately passed a
resolution to assess all property at fifty per
cent OF its value. In another county, the
i Assessors agreed to assess bank stock worth
par, and personal property at forty cents
on tie dollar, AMI Zeal estate in proportion
In another county, horsos were valued at
thirty dollars, cows at eight dollars, and
sheep at twenty cents each. In very few
counties was there even preteDce of asses
sing property OF auy kind at more than one
half or two thirds of It's actual value. All
this was done in open and deliberate. def
ance of the law and of instructions issued
| from this Office
The suggestions and recommendations of
the Secretary in this connection merit your
serious attention. and hope you will re-
place the dresent imperfect and inadequate
law by one at once equitable and efficient
LANDS.
The Legislature, by chapter 537, General
Laws OF 1865, provided for an equal divi-
sion OF the swamp lands then Unsold and
the proceeds OF such land previously sold, |
between the Normal School fund aud the |
towns IN which they were located--the lands
set apart to the towns to be sold by the |
State, and the proceeds to be paid to the
towns each year. During the last fiscal |
year there was paid to County Treasurers
for towns. on account of sales, the sum of /
$68,26S, 38. Since the enactment of the
law referred to- others have been passed by
the Legislature making appropriations, for
special purposes, of lands belonging to
towns. Such appropriations [ am convinc
ed, should not have been made without the
consent of the towns owning the lands. and
trust no more will be made, unless the
wishes of those directly interested are
known and consulted The lands belong to
the towns and they are entilled to c0utrol
their disposition
There was sold by the State, during the
past year, 81, 945 acres school land, $3.50
acres University land, 81, 9Ol acres Nor
NAL School laud, and 6, 686 acres Agricultural
College land
LAWS.
feel it my duty to call attention to the
condition Of our statutes, and the impera-
tive necessity for their speedy codifcation
or revision. They have been amended with
such frequency as to render in Impossible |
at this time TO ascertain, without long and |
iaborious research, the law in force upon
any given subject. The difficulties thus
presented to all who have occasion to con-
suit the statutes are exceedingly annoying
and burdensome. The index Of all amend
tnents, for the publication of which provision
is made by joint resolution No. II, 1867,
will be of very great service, but l recon-
mend that you provide for the complete
and immediate revision Of the statutes, I'M
less you are of the opinion that Constitu-
tional Convention Will be shortly called.
have heretofore very freely expressed
my opinions regarding especial legislation,
and yet cannot refrain from relterating the
belief that it is great aud growing evil,
which calls for check at your hands. Our
volumes of private aud local laws have be-
come monuments of Legislative folly, and
it is not at all strange that the people com
plain of the time and money spent by the
Legislature each year i'll granting relief for
which adequate provision has been made 10y
general laws, This class of legislation is
not desired by the mass of the people, and
those individually Interested should be com
PEELED TO seek relief in the mode pointed 1ut
10y tile statutes In addition to the ohjec-
tions indicated, fully believe that much of
the legislation relating TO private character
Is an evasion of section l, Of article IL of
the State Constitution. trust you will in
augurate reform in this direction aud will
leave to the courts and Board Of Supervisors
all matters coming within their jurisdlc-
ton. Should you do this | feel confident
that, while int, epted individuals may decry
the improvement, the people will receive 1t
with entire satisfaction.
EDUCATIONAL.
The promptness and cheerfulness with
which the people respond to every demand
made by the educational interests of the
State opou both purse and sympathy, is
source of qualification to all who have at
heart the permanent well being of our Com
monwealth The almost universal appre
citation of the value of an enlightened plb
he opinion. and the thorough belief that
such can only be obtained by means Of pop
ular education, augur well for the ultimate
success of both State and nation. Tue un
firing energy Of our educational Inen, with
the hearty corporation of tie people, have
laid the foundations broad and deep, ana
Wisconsin will soon be leader, instead of
d follower, i'll all matters pertaining to
schools and colleges. The able report of
the Superintendent of Public Instruction
shows that.
The number of children in the
State between four and TWEEN
ty years is. Observation-Disclosures. 81 0S3 |
Number who have attended pub
tic school during the past year 239 945 |
Number oil teachers requred.... 5,059
Numuer OF schools visited by
County SuperiutendeDt....... 1928 |
Average number OF days each
attended achool....--......... 71L
Total value oil school houses and
Observation-Disclosures. s2,592, 726
Total amount paid for school pur.
poses ..................... 1909, 37S
The increase III expenditure for school |
purposes is nearly one half million of dol |
lars in excess OF any pas year. AN pleas
ed to note another increase in the reuumer !
atiau OF teachers The mission to which
the teachers Of the land have dedicated them
selves is a noble, and in very many instan
ces self-sacrihciug one, and they should
be generously repaid.
have deemed it my duty, 80 1t certainly
was my pleasure, during the past year toll
-. I'D L. he uarInns c.Iuc atinnai I---tIi1,-