The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-01-16

ISL 1SOS, uIICcn nODJnS, as 1OliOWS
Salaries and permanent appropriations 81 400 0G
Legislative expenses 81 SUi u,
State Prison and charitable institutions $4,000 ot
Appropriations not paid 11I.13S 0t
Clerks and employees IL eas, 0t
Miscellaneous appropriations 69, $50 0t
State debt and interest 172.aU0 on
War fund 1900 Ot
Expenses for last quarter of 1868 6S,00o w
Total estimated expenditures Ss5T I3S oO
ESTIMATED revenue tor the same Pc
Rod
Balance in the general fund st9i 13
Insurance companies 4O.0W 90
Railroad companies 2lG 900 90
iTelegraplis plankroads and peddlers 500 90
/ Tax on suits 5000 00
1nstallnent bonds from banks 5000 OU
Stale tax tor 1867 COS sc
State tax for previous year 25.3 .353 SO
Total s973,O5e 81
1t is estimated that no more than sIo,-
900 remain due to soldiers on account of
extra pay. The war fund as distinct
fund, Is no longer necessary. therefore
concur IN the recommendation Of the
Secretary OF State, that it be closed and
all claims growing out Of the war be here
after paid frc:n the general fund.
Persistent efforts have been made to
secure a final settlement of the claim of
the state against the general government
on account of expenses incurred in con-
nectlon with the war, but mp to this time
such settlement has not been ofcctca
In addition to the sums heretofore paid
Sl3l, 431 24 have been allowed the state
during the past year, leaving unadjusted
accounts to the amount of about $24S,
600 90. 1t is possible that portion of
the claim will finally be disal!owed by
the treasury department. under the strict
rules which govern in the settlement of
such accounts. Should this prove true,
recourse must be had to congress for re-
iiet This claim Is in every respect a
Just and correct one. and | do not doubt
its ultimate liquidation by the govern
nlent, In the defense and support of
which Wisconsin made the disbursements
which form it's basis.
There was expended from the Gov
ernors $ contingent fund during the past
year 81, 1853 II, leaving balance OF 81
80 "A in the fund
OF the appropriation of $500 90 made
last winter for the support, at the char
table eye and car infirinary, of INDECENT
Wisconsin soldiers suffering from dis
eases Of the eye or ear, contracted while
in the service, there has been expended
1891 OF.
In transporting from Germany to this
place the Tank library collection it was
found necessary to expend 1919 80 of
the $500 90 appropriated for that pur-
pose. 1ucluding this valuable addition,
numbering 5,lS6 volumes, the Historical
Society library now numbers 3! SIT vol
umes- 6,5I7 having been added to it
during the last year
TAXES
The aggregate valuation of taxable
| rfv in tho CT 70 1t1a1 hx,
the State Board of Equalization, is
$2lI .47931936, being an increase since 1868
Of S57 ,2l2, 699.O6. The last legislature
Failed. much to the detriment of the
| the public interest, to agree upon any
change in the laws for the assessment
and collection of taxes. That these laws
need amendment and revision, no one at
all familiar with their working can for a
moment doubt. As they are now exc
cuted, very large portion of the value
of all property entirely escapes taxation
/ quote from the valuable report of the
Secretary of State on this subject:
THE lametable fact stands out, that
| themselves by the plainest provisions of
the law The assessment returns of
nine-tenths of the counties of this state,
exhibit evidences Of palpable violations
of the law, in cases where there is no danger
possibility of misrepresentation. Not only
is large amount of property omitted
from the rolls, but in most cases, when
property is assessed, is assessed at only
one half its real value. And these asses
sments 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, if executed
upon the same principles, would prove a
most miserable failure
AS examples of the value placed by
assessors upon their official oaths, may
be mentioned the following facts:
In one county the county board of
assessors, after having taken the oath to
assess ali property at its 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 assessors agreed to assess bank stocks
worth par, and personal property, at forty
cents on the dollar, and real estate in pro-
portion In another county, horses are
valued at thirty dollars, cows at eight
dollars and sheep at twenty cents each
In very few counties was there even a
pretence of assessing property of any
| hlilu dt lIiOlC t-ldu OHS-udh VI WV uo
of its actual value All this was done in
open and deliberate defiance 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 l certainly
hope you viii replace the present imper-
feet and inadequate law by one at once
equitable and efficient.
! LANDS
The Legislature, by chapter 537, general
laws of 1865, provided for an equal divls-
ion of the swamp lands then unsold, and
the proceeds of such lands previously
sold, between the moral school fund and
the towns in which they are 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 Durlnge.the last
fiscal year there was paid to county treas
urers for towns, on account Of sales, the
/ sum of Sos, 26S. So. Since the enactment
of the law referred to, others have been
passed by the Legislature making appro
priations for special purposes, of lands
i belonging to towns. Such appropria-
tons, | am convinced, should not have
been made without the concent of the
j towns owing 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 entitled to control their dis
position