River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-01-23
STATE AFFAIRS.
First Annual uGessage Of Gov
VIM. R. Taylor.
Necessity Of Internal improvements to
Secure ChGaDiITalSit,
Retrenchment in the Administration Of State
Government Recommended


verses affecting all classes OF industry and
largely modifying the standard Of values. The
financial classes Of Wisconsin are entitled 70
commondation for the foresight which has
enabled them measurably to resist the cur
rent ot disaster. Tue prudence and integrity
OF our business men in the principal cities
generally, and the vast extent ot our natural
rTbUuiceh, - Ag,--,-,.,4- .l-..l>a i..--ty to
the restoration uf mutual confidence, and
ayerted many Of the evils apparent elsewhere
To great extent, however, this condition OF
things is the legitimate consequence Of a
healthy reaction, and may be regarded as
comparatively permanent
Accompanying these financial disturbances,
has come an imperative demand from the
people for purer political morality, more
equitable apportlUnmsnt Of the burdens and
blessings Of government and more rigid
economy IN the administration OF public at.
fairs. Il does not become me to discuss. IN
this place. either the direct or remote intlu.
cnces which have led 20 this reasonable de
mand. We have to deal with facts as they
are admitted to exist, and TO apply such rene.
dies. within the sphere ot our constitutional
duty, as your Legislative experience and WIS.
dom NAV suggest. IN the execution of the
popular will IN this Iarticuar, 1t IS certain
that no evasion and no compromise will be
patiently tolerated.
ASNUAL REPORTS or TREASURER AND SECRETARY.
The fiscal year ended on the 3Oth day OF
bepteinbor last. Tue Treasurer aud Secretary
Of state have furnished YOU full details OF OK.
penditure for the support ~ the state govern.
ment during the year. ! commend the several
items of this expenditure 20 your critical cx.
animation with view 10 positive legislation
IN behalf Of retrcnchmcnt.
Total RECEIPTS AND DI,BCRsRHENrs.
The total receipts into the State Treasury
during the year, Including all sources Of I'M.
fff = Il n al Ia. 4
ments, Tor all purposes, were sl.79s. 023.14.
The balance 10 the Treasury at the commence.
mont Of tho fiscal year was 500 100 II. The
excess Of total disbursements over total re.
ceipts during the year was S23. i6l. So thus
leaving IN the Treasury, to Tho credit of an
funds, S2l5, CT 81. The excess of total die.
bursemcnts over total receipts was due TO an
excess oi expenditure from the general fund
as viii be seen by facts hereinafter stated
TIE GENERAL FUND RECEIrTs.
The total receipts of the general fuud dur.
ing the fiscal year were e. 095, S72. %. OF this
sum, tue amount Of 1881 SIS go was derived
nom direct State tax upon the assessed valua
ton OF property, t2l0 314 ~ from taxes on tb
gross receipts ofrailr0ad companies. fG3 .29g %
from taxes on ire aud HE insurance COM
panies, and the balance from miscellaneous
sources.
GENERAL FUND DIaBuRgLMENTs
fund during the fiscal year were 81. 1871. 966 q
an excess Of SOC, 093 ~ above the recon !,
Deductlng from THIS excess OF expenditure tho
balance IA the general fund al The commence.
ment OF tho fiscal September 30. 1872
aud the deficiency IA this fund f0r the wear
ending September 80, 1873, is found 10 be s6G
92360. The total disbursements W. re a, ytded
among the several classes Of current expnnd.
lturo. as follows Salaries aud permanent
appropriations skGl ,j12 36, lCgislatiev ex-
peuscs, tlO3 1922 state prison and char
table Institutions. 1901, 2i6.S} miscellaneous,
1925 ll6 co.
The dcdci. ney ia the general fund II sGG.
e1J.SV, IS an utcrpaymenl, n excess # an
proper resources Tor current exp mixtures
from the Trust fund ul The state. aud IL i'm
fact, an Increase Of the state debt b. the prc.
else amount at the sum thus distracted from
those funds; am not aware ct ans law an.
'horizing tins increase OF debt or tie diver
eion Of the trust funds from their Legitimate
and proper purposes beyond that law Of ne
cessity, which lrayCs The state government M
alternative ln the administration n public AZ.
ialrs but Co msapprupuile moneys held I'm
ttust ana e1crediy set APART for purposes of
charity aud education, rathc~ than 90 permit
dishonOr e. come upon the current obligations
q the TREASURY. VI an individual, appointed
20 protect the property interests 81 orphan mi
uofo or insane persons, we're TO divert % his
private uses the resources entrusted % his
keepinR his conduct would ind no apology
10 law or morals. The relation uf the .tate a.
IT'S trust funds Is not essentially different. and
IT'S violation OF good faitu uet lees ferrohrnsi.
bic. The praetir, BE- especially dcmoraligipc
and dangerous As pfeccd,uL Itis pos3tblo
that the past action oi the state m
borrowing Fem The rtuoui and
other trust iuuds, under special rirfufn.
etances, and 10y an exercise 0l Legislative
power, deemed 10 have been authorized ny
the constitution, may be- regarded as silrrdips
some sanction ior the present Procedure. II
hust De admitted, 'cwtycr, that the special
eXigoncy under which the indebtedness 10 Tho
trust tued was originally created. has wholly
disappeared, aud that the existing practice
has no real justification, resulting a. n docs
from special appropriations, made hy the leo.
islature, M excess Of the revenues provided
to meet them. No question a. % the proHt
ana tApedtucy Of further loan from the
tfnst funds 10 the Statt can under present
circumstances, be entertained II il sufficient
toI Us 70 know that an increase of the state
debt beyond It's present limits rs prohibited
bv the constitution We have sworn 10 spn
port, that this prohibition was wlstlytutspd,d
az restraint upcu the legislature. and a pra
lection 60 the people and that lt cannot n,
honestly evadod nor safely datcd
lnasmuch as ihc disbursements ft,r, a..
general iund during the last quarter "a m,
calender Ntur-h being the hrst 1uartrf 80 a.,
present hscal year are compensated bv n.
corresponding receipts into thai mpd d,,,n.
TOE SAINT quarter, the deficiency winch exist
ed 90 the SOth ~ Suptpmhef last H. ,,s,.h
iafctr Of the present date III Nh. aorp.I Nv
port the secretary II State t.itfnat,l a.,
this deficiency on the first ia, ol Jsny.,,,, -.
shut, would reach the sum II tltstit \, Nh
recommend such legislation .r.lI ,',',t,
,I-n w, lA'stul t'ss'uDy Hui prevent. ma
tutulc, the continuation al fh1.. .. ~
winch nUrTnhTtHff ffI.g 'tN ~ i.h