Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-17

are upon safe foundation.
PUBLIC FINANCES.
The reports of the secretary of state and
state treasurer filed with valuable informa>
tion con cerning public affairs, and showing
the condition Of the public finances, will be
laid before you Immediately, and refer you
to them for the details in regard to the sew
eral funds:
The receipts into the state treas
ury during the fiscal year ends
ing September 80, 1877, from all
sources, were. ......... ,789 ,626.l2
Balance September 30, ls76.... 3l5,S66 81
AOtdi.. 1883 %, 400, 4Sl.I5
The disbursements during the
same period tor all purposes
were. Observation-Disclosures. 81 1927 ,227 80
Balance September 80, lS77..... 27S.264 "a
The amount on hand September 80, 1917 is
credited to the several funds as follows.
General fund.-. ........ 81 COLA 40
School fund. .................. 74,l95 %
School fund income. ...... :. 1850 %
Normal school fund. ..... -. 45,O56 "a
Normal shool fund income. $3.50. 1852 As
Drainage fund.-. .............. 1925 %
University fund. .... -. 1851 GO
Agricultural College fund. -. 1875 10
Delinquent tax fund. .......... l.s77 90
Deposit fund. ................ 1881 go
st Croix and Lake Superior L. r.
trespass fund. -. -. =. s5,s27 os
st Croix and Lake Superior R. R.
deposit fund. ............... 1864 so
Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan
canal fund. ................. 1874 SO
North Wisconsin r. r. aid fund LAS SO
Commissioners contingent fnnd 173 IS
Allotment fund. -. ... e65 81
Total. ...... ................$ SITS, 1854 "a
GENERAL FUND.
The receipts into the general fund
during the fiscal year were. Isl ,l99 1854 Sc
Balance from previous year.. 1o,959 "a
teE
Total ............' ,2l0,9l4 80
Of this sum there was derived from:
Direct state tax & 736899 Is
Railroad companies. ..... $50, 1928 26
Fire and life insurance companies 47,t13 46
And from miscellaneous sources. 36,2I5 %
The total disbursements from this
fund have been. 81 ,204 900 40
Of this sum there was paid for
salaries and permanent appro.
priations, including interest on
the public debt. ............. 254, 54S As
Legislative expenses. ........ 9O.57S OIL
Benevolent and penal institutions 522,0s7 IL
And for miscellaneous purposes. 377, 1876 ~
TRUST FUNDS. f
The condition of the several trust funds at
close Of the fiscal year was as follows:
At interest On hand.
School fund. 80. So, 596,36l OF $74,l95 %
University fund.... .22s,240 80 1867 81
fund. :. -. 24o,s7l 90 1895 10
Normal school fund. 9S5,6sl a.: 45,05e 81
Total educational
fund .........-.$4,o46, O74 So 1922, 1876 SO
The decrease during the year in the amount
at interest is 1885 10, and the increase in
the amount on hand is $22,612.28; net in
crease of $l7,7b6.55.
STATE DEBT.
The state Indebtedness remains as at the
close Of the preceding fiscal year and is repre-.
sented by:
Bonds outstanding. -. .......$ $4,000
Currency certificates .......... 81
Certificates of indebtedness to
trust funds. .............. 2,23S, 900
$2,252,057
In addition to this the secretary Of state re,
ports the total indebtedness of the counties,
cities, towns, villages and school districts in
the state as amounting to So, 658, $500 which
added to the state debt proper, makes the to-
tai public indebtedness of the people of Wis
consin, Sill ,9l0,602.04 being somewhat less
than three and oneshalf per Get. of the total
assessed valuation.
ASSESSED VALUATION.
The value o. all property in.the state subject
to taxation as returned by the assessor is:
Personal property. ...$77, 362, 481
City and village lots. ........... 81, 62l ,992
Land. .............. ......... 1S2,s95,SSl
Total. ............... ....$36l ,780, 1854
This is, unquestionably not to exceed ONE
half of the actual market value of the same
property, notwithstanding the strict provisions
of law requiring assessors to attest the correct
ness OF their reports by oath. This serious
and willfu disregard of law is very properly
criticised by the Supreme Court in the late
case of Schettler against the city of Fort How
ard, and the disastrous consequences likely to
result therefrom very clearly indicated.
There is, too, another aspect Of this matter
and still more humiliating, because Indicative
of the fact that the public conscience seems to
tolerate want of due regard to the sanctty
of an oath. Indeed observation leads me TO
the conclusion that the prevailing tendency in
legislation, requiring so many returns and re-
ports of various kinds under oath. and the
manner in which the oaths are too frequently
administered, have done very much to beget
a contempt for their solemnity, and to de.
grade on act which is in theory and should be
in fact, one ofthe most impressive ceremonies
in which men can engage. commend this
matter TO your careful consideration and sug.
gest that it would not be improper for you to
provide for the discontinuance of oaths in
many cases, substituting therefor returns and
reports upon honor or otherwise that YOU
make it obligatory upon all officers adminis>
tering oaths to observe that due form, without
which the ceremony degenerates into farce
PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION
In connection with the general subject of
assessments call your attention to the valnes
of the different kinds Of property exempt from
taxation reported for the year 1876. as fol.
lows: e
United States property. 657,535