Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-22

tenlion to several items of expenditur
more or less subject to public criticism
some of which would seem to justif,
legislative action Tor the benefit of tn
treasury.
The compensation of all State off
GERS should be accurately limited anC
defined, and all fees, without excep
ton should be paid into the treasury
/ do not know that the ability and re
spousib lity expected from the head
OF the executive departments, are nov
too literally paid for; but any curren
impression that the salaries of thes
officers are uncertain in amount, ex
cites public suspicion, oftentimes I'm
Just TO the officers themselves, anC
certainly demoralizlng in its lnfuenc,
upon officers Of inferior responsible,
throughout the State. Any preceden
u example tending to encourage The
morbid spirit of speculation on th'
.pub ic resources should be scrupul-
1usly condemned and avoided.
The clerical force Of the several de
partments of the State government
should be paid a reasonable compen
sation for the labor performed, and nc
more, thus measurably providing al
antIdote against the existing greed fol
public office
Constructive compensation by way
of perqulslties, and the employment OF
supernumerarles, are palpable viola
tons OF public faith, and deserve the
scverest reprobation. 1t is the scan
dial of our State, that while the total
salaries and mileage of the members
of the legislature, as provided by law,
amount to about $4,000 per annum,
the legislative expenses, for employees,
postage and stationery, dur
ing he few weeks the legislature is in
average about an equal sum
1t may be claimed that the amount
in this and other sim
liar cases is comparatively insight
icant. But | know of no departure
rom public rectitude which can be
automatically measured.
1t al pears from the report Of the
Secretary of State, that the total
AMOUNT paid from the general fund
Turing the lat fiscal year, tor printing
md publishing, includlng 81 ,30l.64 for
he Legislative Manual, reached $685.
'l6.6l. | am not prepared to say that
he cost of this work was too much for
he quantity, nor do recommend any
deduction from the just wages of me
:hanical labor in this or any other de
The cost of this ser ice,
however, has become great burden
Ipon the Treasury, being for the past
ear nearly one twelfth of the entire
disbursements from the general fund,
cost apparently disproportionate to
he public benefits rendered While
he ample publicity of the laws should
re provided for through the establish
4 channels of communication with
he public, | submit for your consider
tIon the propriety of adopting
measures for the abolition of all ex
'enditures in this department not alb
outely essential to official business
nd public information.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The geological survey, heretofore
provided for by law, has been prose-
uted during the last year at cost of
8,2SOOO. | feel assured of valuable
esuts from this work, both to the
ause IF general science and the ma
erial progress of the State The vast
md unde0 eloped resources ofWiseon
in warrant a reasonable expenditure
n this ert rprise. The benefits which
Iccrue from a work Of this kind de-
,end upon the thoroughness and com
bitterness with which it is done. 1t is
'ery important for this fact to be kept
in mind, but in view Of the
Existing pecuniary Jarrassment of
AK payers and the deficiency in the
State Treasury, it is no less important
hat the present Undertaking be prose
,uted with the stricteSt possible econo.
ny consistent with the end to be at
aimed.
IMMIGRANT COMMISSIONER.
While am not convinced that the
,fice of Immigrant Commissioner can
,e prudently dispensed with, it is yet
possible that reduction in the expen
litures of that office could be safely
provided for, without prejudice to the
interests committed to his charge
The growth and prosperity of our
State is very largely due to the justly
LIBERAL provisions of our Constitution
n respect to immigrants from foreign
nations and neither in the light OF
public pol cy,of inst hospitality, can
we refuse any action necessary TO en-
sure ample guidance and protection to
hose from abroad seeking happier
homes on our beautiful soil.
REGISTRY OF ELECTORS.
The law providing tor the registry
Of ell ctors is costly, cumbrous, and
Inefficient. In towns and cities alike,
i is obnoxious to the people. The
purity OF our elections is to be sacred.
" guarded under all circumstances,
but trust that the wisdom of the
Legislature is competent to devise
more simple and effective means to
that end. Neither in this nor in any
other State in the Union has exper-
ence demonstrated that security from
fraud and corrul,ti"n at elections is
necessarily contingent upon compli
Gated elective machinery. The i'm
position of superintendent conditions
upon the exercise of the elective fran
chlse often opens the way for he very
evils intended to be prevented, is uni
formly odious TO the mass of elector:
of honorable intent, and is manifestly
in violation of the spirit, if not the ac'
tnal letter Of our constitution.
In the consideration of this genera
| urge a more liberal regarc
for the tights and conveniences o
worklngmen in our large cities. I'm
der existing laws, the polls at every
general election open at 9 o'clock ii