Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-01-21


state, county, town, sc5ool ana ROAD
taxes-avcrage less than two and
one-third per cent. on an assessed
valuation not exceeding one-hsll
the actual cash value of taxable prop
erty.
rho detailed estimates of the ex-
pendtures Of the state government,
Submitted to you by the Secretary
| Of State, in accordance with law,
permit still further reduction OF
the total state tax property the en-
| suing year, to the comparatively
nominal sum of about $500, 000-an
amount deemed ample, with The re-
coipts from special sources, to cover
the current expenses OF the state,
inclading all the ordinary expenses
of the benevolent and penal institu-
tons Extraordinary appropriations
for the construction of new bnild-
ings not already contemplated by
law, are nol inciuded in this estimate,
but these should not, and probably
will not, sensbly increase the rate
OF taxation.
FUTURE ECONOMY.
However gratifying these facts
may be, the representatives of the
people are thereby in no degree re-
leased from their obligation 10 pre-
mote additional economy in public
expenditures, to the full extent per-
mitted by prudent regard tor the
public interests. All efforts to this
end VII receive the unreserved APP
prevail OF the executive department.
The bulk OF state expenditures T e.
cessarlly depend upon legislative dis
cretioa. The appropriations for the
support of the charitable and penal
institutions usually amount TO near.
" or quite one-half of all the dis.
bursements from the geDeaal fund.
The cost of the machinery of legis-
Iation itself often equals or exceeds
Ona-tenth OF all annual expenditure
Important reforms were inaugnrated
the session Of last winter, by which
this last item Of cost was consldera-
bly, reduced, and provision made for
equally GpQrtant reductions in 9TH
or departments, without any appar-
ent dotriment TO the public service.
especially recommend to you the
merit Of brief and pertinent legisla-
ton only, and upon such subjects
only as necessarily claim your con-
sideratioD, and . corresponding brew
Ivy III the present session, A rigid
adherence 10 those provisions Of our
constitution which limit yonr action
to enactmeuts Of a general character,
will facilitate this purpose and COM
mand the undoubted appreciation OF
the people.
TINE OF PAYING TAXES.
la my last annual message, | call
ca the attention of the legislature to
the expediency Of changing the time
for the pay ment of taxes, and also OF
providing, either fer the collection of
taxes semi-annuaIlg, or for an occa-
aional deposit Of surf las funds upon
interest. Subs quent observation
and reflection have served to confirm
the views | then expressed To re-
qure Of the people the payment into
the treasury OF large sums Of money
many months before its use il ordin-
arily required, aud this, at u period
OF the year most inconveuient for
neai " all classes Of tax-pay rs, il an
exaction wi lhout apparent excuse.
Bat if insisted upon, the people
should at least receive q partial com
pensation tor the Inconvenience thus
unnecessarily imposed upon them
10 the earnings to which the use OF
th err idle money is entitled in the
market TIE change proposed is
sanctioned by example and exper-
ei c. esew here, and no consequence
could be anticipated from its adop
ton here more serious than the inn
position of this additional restraint
upon lavish appropriation and ex-
penditure.
EXEMPT PROPERTY
The returns of property exempt
from taxation are again incomplete,
and comparatively valuelcss as
basis of legislation the present year.
Therefore, ia accordance with the
suggestions of the Secretary of
State, | recommend the enactment
OF law on this subject the present
session, similar to chapter 43, Laws
of 1874, with view to more accur-
ale and reliable statistics for future
reference.
SALES OF MoRTGAGED LANDS.
Tho report Of he State Treasurer
refers to cases of extreme hardship,
occasioned during the past year by
the sale, without notice, OF lands
mortg ged to the ST 70 and forfeited
by purchasers for the non pay ment
of nominal sums of interest. No
principle of justice can sanction pro-
ceedings Of this character, and
urge prompt amendment of the
law in the manner indicated by the
| Treasurer.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The sun paiI from the general
fund for the prosecution # the geo
logical survey the past fiscal year,
wss sl3 900. The Importance OF
this work to the complete develop
ment OF the state cannot be exag-
gera,ed. | recommend a careful
CONFEDERATION of the progress already
attained, and of the propriety Of
further legislation, with view to a
more prompt and complete utliza-
ton Of the results accomplished
APPoRTIoNMENT OF TAXATION.
Next to the question of prudent
expenditure l. that Of an equitable
apportionm ent of taxation. The to-
tai assessed value OF taxable roper
ty in the state is about $3.50 000,00
upon which the taxes of 1874, Tor
state aud local purposes, averaged
about two and three-tenths per cent.
1t is believed that the actual valae
OF the total taxable property of the
| state If spch proDertY were fairly