The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-01-22
THE TRUST FUND.

/
OF september, 1878, were $3.50, 65s II
showing an increase during the last fiscal
year of $04,46e,56. At. the same date
these fuAds were thus divided:
ecAooi sh0....,~ @............ 90, $40 lSl, 2l
University Fund ...... 2ls $40 "a
Agricultural College Fund $3.50. s25, 3c9. rs
normal school Fund. ........... els, 643 4S
STATE TAX.
The state tax levied for 1871 was $629 :
1&s 10; for 1879, $7c5, s91.55; fot 1878
$671 5s2.38. The rate per cent. of this
tax upon the assessed valuations for the
hres years named, respectively, is as fol-
lows: 1871, ! $500 mills; 1879, 90 Iso
mills; 1878. l 73.1e0 mills. The assessed
valuation for 1873 was $500, 454. 875.
Under existing laws, taxes on railway
companies are added to the tax on the
assessed valuation of other property, and
form considerable portion Of the annual
revenue. Whether tie amount paid by
these companies fully accords with the
principles of justice and the requirements
Of our State constitution, is to me mat
ter OF great doubt, and deserves your
earnest and careful consideration. The
facts set forth and the suggestions made
by the Secretary Of State on this subject,
in his annual report, should not escape
your attention.
Another matter Of great Importance to
our people, claims ysur consideration in
this immediate connection. | refer to
the taxation Of telegraph and express
companies. know of no sufficient rea-
SOC why these foreign corporations should
pot be made fully amsnapie tn the laws
OF the Stats which furnishes them pro
teetien, and be required to bear full
proportion Of the burdens of government
It Is notorious fact that the owners of
stock in these companies, enjoJir E special
privileges, realize large incomes from their
Ilnvestments within the State, and that
their business here is prosecuted to the
| pa scBl exclusion IF private enterprise
7iatAe sans directssn. on the part of our
own citizens. While net questioning the
fact of their necessity and utility, am
not prepared to cencede that the benz fits
they coufer are so far in excess Of those
conferred by ether corporations as to en-
title them to any exemption frem the or
binary obligations Of corporations under
similar circumstances.
TIME CD PAYING TAXES.
1t is worthy of serious reflection, wheth.
er the timc now provided by law tor the
payment Of taxes could not be changed
with great advantage to tox-paye rs.
Every prudent business man equalzes his
payments with reference to his AVAILABLE
resources. In business circles custom re-
qures the adjustment of annual balances
in Janusry. 1t is. apparently, unfortun
ate that the payment of taxes shosld be
added to all the other pecuniary burdens
of the population at this period Of tho
year, especially as the State derives no
benefit from any accumulation of surplus
funds in the treasury. In the State of
Ohio the law provides for semi-annual
payments,-ln June and December. l
ana informed by executive authority that
no Inconvenience has been experienced in
that State from this arrangement, since
the FIRST year or two Of its operation.
Should the present annual system con-
tinue. the alternative question should be
carefully considered, whether the State
ought not to derive consider able
income during portions of the year from
the use of it's surplus funds. In the city
OF Milwaukee interest is required and
received on all deposits by the city treas
urer, calculated upon daily balances.
learn that the receipts Of that city frem
this source the present year will exceed
$4,000, and that the method is regarded
~ wholly safe and otherwise satisfactory.
SOURCE OBJ RETREN CHMENr.
The cohditisn of the general fund, al
ready explained. and the existing de
preston in business enterprises, sdmsnish
us to consider we'll the sources Of re-
itrenchment. IT does net become me to
prescribe the details of legislation, ina
asdlately sommitted 10 ysur charge by
the constitution. ] venture, hswsver, to