Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21
GOV. TAYLOR'S MESSAGE.

vy,row.Crr1zESs OF THE SENATE AND Assem-
-. Thanking God for all His mercies con
safnlate YOU that order and peace reign through
~. tbe length and breadth OF our State. our ma
ial periy has not fulfilled our antlcipatlons
Sn, lei NJ remember that we bear no burden OF
ana,cial depression not common to all the
states and that the penalties of folly are the
fnupdation OF wisdom.
Vnn have been permitted to peaceaby assem-
HE in our beautiful Capitol and to organize the
Isyi.lature of Wisconsin with none TO dispute
| your authority or question your choice. 1on are
| ;be indges of the qualifications OF members,
| and from your determination there Is no appear
! Under our State Constitution and laws the Ex-
scutiye Department may summon the military
t,rres of the State TO enforce your DEGREES. IN
Snr The National Constitution the Federal Gov
ernment is bound TO guarantee our republican in
stifntion against invasion, and on the apptlcation
~ the Legislature, or of the Governor when the
| Jegislature cannot be convened to protect US
rom domestic violence. Within the restrictions
have named all the powers of the State and
Federal Government are the servants OF the civil
authority and the right arm of our power. But
know of no principle of free government by virtue
81 when our State may be assigned to military
department and its laws subordnated to the
Mil of an officer of the Federal army, or
by which its citizens may be subjected
10 the DEGREES OF military com
mission in q time Of peace. Nor do ! know Of
any rule of law under which any portion OF the
Federal army may be thrust into your presence
by the executive authority of the State or of the
United States to revise your proceedings and de-
Iprmlne the validity OF your organization ny the
unreasoning arbitration of the bayonet and the
sword do not wish to prejudice the facts. but
if authority exists in any branch OF the Federal
Government for what appears to be assumed by
the recent proceedings in the State OF Louisiana
and in the extraordinary proposals OF the Lieu
tenant-General of the United States army in his
dispatches from New Orleans. believe the time
ha. come for all OF US to bury partisan spirit in
common effort for the preservation of our con
stitutonal sovereignty and the inherited liberties
of the American people.
Complete statistics furnished you in the able
and conscientious reports of the Treasurer and
Secretary of State, and by representatives of
other State departments, affirm the gratifying
truth that during the past year all forms of State
tax have been promptly paid, and that our State
debt mostly due TO the State itself, is OF com
parative insignidcance in proportion to our re-
sources and population; that the cause Of popu-
ular education has progressed; that our institu-
tons of public charity and bcnevolence have
been conducted with marked efficiency and econ
omy: that our public lands have been watchiully
protected from encroachment; that in nearly
every department the expenses of the
State have been considerably reduced:
that agricultural production has been
sufficient for the necessities Of the year; that our
business men have been free from the more seri-
Gus consequences of financial depression, and
that the burden OF taxation for all State purposes
Is both actually and relatively less than at any
previous period during many years.
GENERAL FUND-REcEIPTs AND DISBURSEMENTS.
The total receipts of the general fund during
the fiscal wear were 81, A The total dis
~
the general fund at the commencement of the ifs
cal year S669!3.S0, and the excess of total re-
Ceipts over total expenditures during the year
was Sl92, 10, thus leaving in the Treasury to
the credit of the general fund on the Both day of
September, 1874, the sum of Sl25.53l.7o.
TRUST FUNDS,
During the past fiscal year the total increase OF
trust funds was Sl25,9i2 divided as follows:
School, S55.6il "a; University, Si,33.6S; Agri-
cultural College, $l0s24.a; Normal School, S55.-
1872. So. The total amount belonging to the trust
fIin a.. n .Hl. nt fh.a HGn al
%. divided as follows: School, S2,565S2 9.16;
University. S2eos806; Agricultural College,
$3.50 l3i01; Normal School, Sy13,SO6.34. The total
disbursements OF income Tor the year We're S3os
12573 divided as follows: School, Slss2i2.2t
University. &43,0S2T: Agricultural College, SIS
6i20s: Normal School, SOL ,l2s7O.
GROSS RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
The total receipts into the Treasury during the
fiscal year, including all sources of income, were
SlS2ss5,.43. The total disbursements for all
purposes were 1885,, 1867. The balance in the
Treasury at the commencement OF the fiscal year,
on account of all funds was $2l5,644.52. The cX
cess of total receipts over total disbursements
during the wear was Sl62 s01. As, thus leaving in
the Treasury, to the credit of all funds, on the
3Oth day of September, 1874, the sum of S31S,-
3AgS.
STATE TAXES.
For the year 1873 the State tax amounted to
sb,l5S23s. For the year 1874 the State tax levied
and collected was S526,606.35. or one and one
quarter mills on the dollar-less than one-half
the average of county taxes and less than one
quarter the average for town purposes; while the
aggregate taxation of the people for all purposes
including State. county. town, school and road
taNes-averaged less than 215 per cent on an as
sessed valuation not exceeding one-halfthe actual
cash value Of taxable property.
The detailed estimates Of the expenditures OF the
State Government submitted to you by the Secre-
tary OF State, III accordance with law, permit a
sll farther reduction OF the total State tax proper
the ensuing year to the comparatively nominal
sum OF about S3O.ooO-an amount deemed ample
with the receipts from special sources to cover the
current expenses OF the State including all the
ordinary expenses of the benevolent and penal in
sututlons. Extraordinary appropriations Tor the
construction OF new buildings not already confem-
plated by law are not included in this estimate,
but these should not, and probably will not,
sensiOly Increase the rate of taxation.
FUTURE ECONOMY.
However gratifying these facts may be, the rep
'esentaiyes OF the people are thereby in no degree
released from their obligations to promote addi-
uoua economy in public expenditures 10 the full
extent permitted by prudent regard for the pub
nc interests. All efforts to this end will receive
The unrtse-yed approval ~ the Executive Depart
ment The bulk Of State expenditures necessa-
MY depend upon legislative discretion. The ap.
preparations Tor the support OF the charitable and
penal institutions usually amount TO nearly or
tulte ohe-hali of all the disbursements from the
general fund The cost of the machinery OF leg
-atIon itself often equals or exceeds one
.ehIh OF all annual expenditure. lmpor-
'sht reforms were inangurated at the ses-
ZION oflsst winter by which the last item of cost
was considerably reduced, and provision made
Iof equally important reductions IN other depart
Mtnts, without any apparent detriment to the
Puoilc service, ] especially recommend TO you
we merit Of brief and pertinent legislation only
and upon such subjects only necessarily claim
your consideration, and ii CORES ponding brevity.
~ the present session. rigid adherence 10
'1ose provisions OF our Constitution which limit
your action 10 enactments of a general character
""i facilitate this purpose and command the un-
1o4hted appreciation of the people
TINE or PAYING TAXEs.
lNs Irnn I no
ION Of the Legislature 10 the expedieucy of
changing the time for the payment OF taxes, and
aso @! providing either for the collection oftaXe-
sTnlannually or for an occasional deposit Of sur
gtas Iund- upon interest. Subsequent observa-
LoL and reflection have served TO confirm the
views then expres sed. TO REQUIRE of the people