Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-22
Governors Message.
Felloeo Citizens Of the Senate and As
Sembly:


You have assembled under pecu
liar circumstances. An era Of APP
parent prosperity without parable
in the previous history of the nation
has been succeeded by financial re
verses affecting all classes OF industry
and largely modifying the STANDARD
of values. The financial classes o
Wisconsin are entitled to commenda
ton for the foresight which has en-
abled them measurably to resist th'
current of disaster. The prudenc,
and integrity oil our business men in
the principal cities generally, anc
the vast extent of our natural re-
sources, have also contributed large
ly to the restoration of mutual con
fidence, aud averted many of the
evils apparent elsewhere. To 8
great extent, however, this condition
OF things is the legitimate conse-
quence of a healthy reaction, and
may be regarded as comparatively
permanent.
Accompanying there financial dis
turbances, has come an imperative
demand from the people for purer
political morality, more equitable
apportionment of the burdens and
blessings OF government and more
rigid economy in the administration
ut public affairs. 1t does not become
me to discuss, in this place, either
the direct or remote Influence which
has led to this reasonable demand
We have to deal with facts as they
are admitted to exist, and TO apply
such remedies, within the sphere of
our constitutional duty, as your leg
lslative experience and wisdom may
suggest. In the execution of the
will in this particala', it is
certain that no evasion and no COM
promise will be patiently tolerated
REPORTS OF TREASURER AND
SECRETARY.
The fiscal year ended on the Both
lay of September last. The Treas
,rer and Secretary Of State Lave
you full details of expend-
ure for the support OF the State
during the year. |
commend the several items of this
to your critical examin-
ltiCn, with view 10 positive legis-
alton in behalf Of retrenchment.
,oTAL RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
The total Receipts into the State
Treasury during the year, including
III sources of income, were 81 ia :
,58 50. The total disbursement, for
Ill purposes, were 81 1893, 023 II.
The balance in the Treasury at the
of the fiscal year
vas S239, 100 IL The excess of to-
al Disbursements over tho total re-
;eipts during the year was S23 1854.
80, thus leaving in the Treasury, to
he credit of all funds, S2l5 GA So.
The excess of total Disbursements
,ver total receipts was due to an ex-
,ess Of expen diture from the general
und, as will be seen by facts herein
after stated
THE GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS.
The total receipts Of the general
'und during the fiscal year 81 095,
372 30. OF this sum, the amount Of
1891 1915 go was derived from direct
State tax upon the assessed vaIua-
lion Of property $40 374 SO from
taxes on the gross receipts of rail-
road companies; S63 299 93 from
taxes on fire and life insurance COM
panies, and the balance from miscel-
aDeOus sources.
GENERAL FUND DISBURSEMENTS.
The total disbursements from the
general fund during the fiscal year
were 81 l9l 966.0I, an excess of $780,
O9372 above the receipts. Deduc-
ting from this excess of expenditure
the balance in the general fund at
the commencement of the fiscal year
80, 1872-and the def
cheney in this fund for the year end
ing September 80 1873, is found to
be 500 923 so The total diSburse-
ments were divided among the sew
era classes of current expenditure,
as follows: Salaries and permanent
appropriations. 1851 572 Sc; legisIat-
i've expenses, s1O3,730 %; State pris-
on and charitable iDstitu ions, 1901 =
246.83; miscellaneous, 1925, 416 60.
The deficiency 10 the general fund
of sec 923 so, is an overpay ment, IN
excess of al proper resources for
current expenditures, from the trust
funds of the state, and is in fact, an
increase of the state debt TO the pre-
else amount of the sum thus ab-
stracted from those funds, am not
aware of any law authorizing this
increase of debt or the diversion of
the trust funds from their legitimate
and proper purposes, beyond that
law of necessity which leaves the
state government. no alternative in
the administration of public affairs,
but to misappropriate moneys held
in trust and sacredly set apart for
purposes of charity and education
rather than to permit dlshonor to
come upon the current obligations
of the treasury. If an individual
appointed to protect the property
interests of orphan minors or insane
persons, were to divert to his private
uses the resources entrusted to his
keeping, his conduct would 6od
no apology in law or morals. The
relation OF the state to its trust funds
is not essentially different, and Its
violation of good faith not less re
prehensible. The practice is espec-
tally demoralizing and dangerous q,
a precedent. 1t Is possible that The
past action of the state in borrowing
from the school and other trust funds
under special circumstances, and By
an exercise of legislative power
deemed to have been authorized By
the constitution, may be regarded al
affording some sanction for the pres
ent procedure. 1t must be admit