The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-01-24


protection and be required to bear a full pro-
portion of the burdens of government. 1t Is
notorious fact that the owners OF stock IN
these companies, ENJOYING special privileges,
| realize large incomes from their investments
within the State and that their business here
is prosecuted to the practical exclusion of prl-
vate enterprise in the same direction Oh the
part of our own citizens. While not question
| ing the fact of then necessity ard utility,
| am not prepared to concede that the DEMENT'S
thew confer are so far in excess OF those con-
| ferred by other corporations as TO entltle
| them to any exemption from the ordinary
obligations of corporations under similar cir
cumstances.
TIME OF PAYING TAXES.
It is worthy of serious reflection, whether
| the time now provided by law for the payment
| of taxes could not be changed with great ad-
vantage to tax payers. Every prudent busl-
ness man eoualiZes his payments with refer
| ence to his available resources. In business
circles custom requires the adjustment Of an
| nual balances in January. 1t Is, apparently,
| unfortunate that the payment OF taxes should
| be added to ell the other pecuDlary burdens
u the population at this period of the year,
| especially as the state derives no benefit from
any accumulation of surplus funds IN the trea-
sury. In the state of Ohio the law provides
| for semi-annual payments in June and De-
| cember. | am informed by executive author
| ity that no Inconvenience has been expert
enced in that state from this arrangement
since the first year or two of It's operation.
Should the present annual system continue,
the alternative question should be carefully
considered, whether the state ought not to
derive consi derable income during portions
of the year from the use of its surplus funds.
In the city of Milwaukee interest IS required
and received on all deposits by the city trea-
| surer. calculated upon daily balances |
learn that the receipts of that city from this
source the present year will exceed $4,000,
and that the method is regarded as wholly
SAFE and otherw Sc satisfactory.
SOURCES OF INFRINGEMENT.
The condition of the general fund, already
| explained and the existing depression in busi
| ness enterprises admOnIsh us to cons der well
| the sources or retrenchment 1t does not be-
come me to prescribe the details OF legislation
| Immediately committed to your charge by the
Constitution. venture, however, to direct
| your attention to several items of expenditure,
| more or less subject to public criticism, some
| of which would seem to Justify legislative ac-
| tioa for the benefit of the Treasury.
the compensation of all State officers should
| be accurately limited and defined, and all fees
| without exception, should be paid into the
Treasury, l do not know that the ability and
| responsibility expected from the heads of the
| executive departments are now too literally
| paid for ; but any current impression that the
| salaries of these officers are uncertain in
amount excites public suspicion, Oftentimes
unjust to the officers themselves, and certain
| ly de noralizing in its influence upon officers
| of inferior responsibility throu9 hout the State.
| ANY precedent or example tending to encour-
age the morbid spirit of speculation on the
| public resources should be scrupulouslv con-
| demned and avoided.
The clerical force of the several departments
| of the State government should be paid rea-
| souabe compensation for the labor perform
| ed, and no more, thus measurably providin g
| an antldote against tie existing greed for
public office.
Constructive compensation, by way of per-
qaisitcs, and the employment of supernume-
raries are palpable violations of public faith.
and deserve the sevcrest reprobation. 1t Is
| the scandal Of our State, that While the total
salaries and mileage Of the members of the
legislature, as provided by law, amount 10
about $50, 900 per annum, the legislative ex-
penses, for employees, printing, postage ana
stationery, during the few weeks the e9sla-
ture is III session, average about an equal
sum. 1t may be claimed that the amount
rnlsapprOpriated IN this end other similar
| cases is comparatively insignificant. But l
know Of no departure from public rectitude
which can be mathematicaly measured.
| Il appears from the report of the Secretary
of State, that the total amount paid from the
general fund during the last fiscal year for
printing and publishing, including S7,301 Ga
| tor the Legislative Manual, reached S95, 516-
81. am not prepared to say that th3 cost of
| this work was too much for the quantity, nor
do | recommend any deduction from the lust
| wages of mechanical labor in this or any 9TH
| er department. The cost of this service, how
| ever, has become a great burden upon the
| treasury, being for the past year nearly one
| twelfth OF the entire disbursements from the
| general iurd,-a cost apparently dispropor-
| Tomato to the public benefits rendered. " hIle
| the ample publicity of the laws should be pro-
! vIded TOR through the established channels of
| communication with the public, submit for
| your considerable . the prorrIcty of adopting
measures for the abolition of ali expenditures
III this department not absolutely essential to
official business and public information.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
| The geological survey, heretofore provided
| Tor by law, has been prosecuted during the
| past year at cost OF S., 26009. | feel assured
of valuable results from this work, both to
| the cause OF genera! science and the material
| progress of the state. The vast and undevel-
oped resources of Wisconsin warrant a rea-
| sonable expenditure IN this enterprise. The
| benefits which accrue from a work of this
kind depend upon the thoroughness and com.
pleteDess with which it is done. 1t is very I'M
port mt for this fact to be kept constantly IL
mind. but III view of the exist ng pCcunarv
| embarrassment OF taxpayers and the def
cheney in the state treasury, ii is no less inn
portant that the present undertaking be pros
| ecuted with the strictest possible economy
consistent with the end to be attained.
IMMIGRANT COMMISSIONER.
W nHe am not convinced mat the Office OF
Immigrant Commissioner can be prudently
| dispensed with, yet It is possible that reduc-
ton IN the expenditures 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 yerv
| largely due to the justly liberal provisions or
our constitution i'll respect to Immigrant from
| foreign nations, and neither in the light of
public policy nor Of just hospitality can we
refute any action necessary to ensure ample
! guidance and protection to those from abroad
seeking happler homes on our bountiful soil.
| REGISTRY OF ELECTORS.
! The law providing for the registry of cleo
| tors Is costly. cumbrOus, and inefficient. In
| towns and cities alike, it is obnoxious to the
people. The purity of our elections is to he
| Saeredlv 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 of the Union has experience
demons trated that security from fraud and
! corruption at elections is necessarily contin-
| gent upon COMPLICATED elective machinery.
| The imposition of superabundaut conditions
| upon the exercise of the elective franchise
often opens the way for the very evils intend
| ell to be prevented. is uniformly odious to the
mass of electors of honorable intent. and is
| manifestly in violati Of the spirit, if not the
| actual letter OF eur constitution
In the consideration of this general subject
| urge more liberal regard FOR the rights
and cOnYenences of workingmen in our
large cities. Under existing laws the polls at
| every general election open at o'clock I'D the
forenoon and close at shutdown, and every
elector employed at day wages is thus practi-
caily debarred from the privilege of exercising
the elective franchise, except through the
charity of his employer or at the cost of a
pecuniary penalty equaling bis wages for the
whole or portion OF day. This Is gross
aud manifest injustice. In the exercise of the