Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-10-28
STATE FINANCES /!
A Bankrupt Treasury, as Shown by Treasurer
Keuhn.

From the State journal.
We have heretofore shown that
there was in the general fund, at the
close of the fiscal year, September
Both, 1875, only the paltry sum of
$l,S45 SO +! and we have stated that
that fund would be overdrawn on
the first of January next fully
100000! Facts have now come
to light, that show, that we are en-
trely too lolo in our estimate, as to
what would be the condition of the
general fund when the Republicans
will assume control next January.
Mr.. treasurer Kuehn will certainly
be deemed good authority by the
Democrats! He reports the amount
in the general fund, on the 30th of
September last, as above stated, at
$l.846 So! In estimating the
amount that will be required to
meet the drafts upon the general
fund, previous to the first of January
next, Treasurer kuehn, in his report
for this year, says: "The amount
thus not provided for, a0jU reach about
1918, 900, while the revenue get to
"be derived may not exceed $4,000,
"tteredy placing the Treasurer under the
'suopledSant Alternative either to drd0
'from other funds, WITHOUT AU-
"THORIrY OF LAW, or allow the
scredu of the State to be impaired :"
Such is the language of Treasurer
Keuhu, in his report dated October
9, 1875. Instead of there being a
deficit of 100000 in the General
Fund. on the first of January
next, Treasurer Keuhn says it
will reach $4,000 This GER
talnly looks like bankrupt treasury
This has been brought upon the PEG,
pie, by this Bogus Reform Admins
tration. To show that Treasurer
Keuhn is not mistaken, we find 10 his
report that the amounts remaining
due the several charitable, penal and
other institutions of the State, on
account of the appropriations made
to them during the year 1874" reach
the gross sum of $IO5,727 "a!
That leaves but $4,000 to defray
all other expenses till the first of
January next. in order TO reach
Treasurer Keuhn's estimate Of
$173,00O, which the general fund
will be overdrawn at the end of the
present year, or before the treasury
can be replenished from the State
tax levied by the last Legislature.
Now why is it, that the treasury
presents this bankrupt condition?
1t is due to the extravaganza of the
Taylor administration, and to neglect
Of duty on the part of the Secretary
of State. That officer is authorized
by law to add to tax levied 10y the
Legislature, a sufficient amount to
''meet all authorized demands upou
the treasury" if the tax levied by
the Legislature lsir sufficient for that
purpose 10 defining the duties of
State officers, the statutes provide
(see Taylor's Statutes, page 270O as
follows:
"Whenever it shall appear at the time pre-
scribed by law for the apportionment of the
annual State tax, among the several counties
of this State, that the appropriations made by
the Legislature and by existing laws exceed
The amount of State tax levied to meet the
expenses of the year for which such tax was
levied it shall be the duty of the Secretary of
State to levy and apportion such additional
amount as may be necessary in connection
with the amount previously provided for, to
meet all authorized demands upon the
Treasury of the State, up to such time as the
succeeding State tax shall be due and pay
able"
That Secretary Breese performed
his duty, in this respect, is shown by
the fact that, at the end of the fiscal
year ending September 80, 1874, there
was balance in the general fund of
s125,531.3o! This was the result of
the last tax levied while Republican
was Secretary of State. All wants of
the treasury were provided for. Now |
comes the first tax levied under Sec
rotary Doyle. 1t fails to meet the |
wants of the treasury, and will show
a deficit on the first of January next |
as Treasurer Keuhn estimates of
$4,000, These facts show both ex-
travagance and neglect of duty, on
the part of the present Democratic |
State officers. The State Treasurer,
in order to meet the demands upon
the treasury, must "draw from other
funds, ,oithom authority Of lac, or
allow the credit of the State to be
impaired" So says Treasurer Keuhn,
and so official figures show. Is there
longer doubt in the minds of any |
honest men, that the present bogus
reform administration, is humbug |
and a fraud