The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-01-26
PUBLIC FINANCES.

Universe fund Observation-Disclosures. 1861 So
Agricultural college fund ............. 975 70
Delinquent tax fund. ............. 1,977 :. 9
Deposit fund 49,. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1891 60
t. Croix and axe Superior X. R. tres
pass fund. -. ........... 95.s27 Os
st. Croix and Lake Superior r. r. de
post fund. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1864 60
Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan canal
fund ... 49, . 1874 SO
North Wisconsin r. R. aid fund ....... lis So
Commissioners contingent fund lz3 10
al otme mt fund. ..... ........ 955 81
Total .................... ........ s27S, 264 "a
GENERAL FUND.
The receipts into the general fund dur
ing the i4cal year were...........s 81, 199,954 Sc
Balance from previous year..........- 1859 "a
Total Observation-Disclosures. 81 ,2l09l4 80
OF this sum, there was derived from:
Direct state tax OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 735. 500 Is
Railroad companies. s. $40, 7l6 26
Fire and life insurance companies. Alb so
And from mi.cellaneJus sources. Sc, 2l5 80
The total disbursements from this fund
have bsen... ............-........s 81 204. $50 40
OF this sum there paid for salaries
and permanent appropriations in
Gliding ioterest on public debit. 254 $40 As
Legislative expentos...... ....-...... 9o,579 Vi
Behevo ent and penal institutions. 522,037 IT
And Tor miscellaneous purposes. 237 735 II
TRUST FUNDS.
The condition of the several trust funds at the
cloe of the fiscal year, WAS as follows:
At interest. On hand
School fund. S2E96,36l OF S74l 95 %
onlversisy fund d 2sS % 81 1857 81
Normal school fund.-. Jo5, 6St "a 45,056 "a
Total educational fund. si,t46, O74 81 sl227s5 SO
The decrease during the year in the amount at
int rest Is 4,85573 and the increase in the amount
on hand 10 e3l6l22o; net increase of $17,7y6 SIS.
STATE DEBT.
The state inde b:edness remains at the close of
the preceding fiscal year, ana is represented by:
Bonds outstanding. Observation-Disclosures. .....S 400
Currency cer;Ihc ties. Observation-Disclosures. 81
Certificates OF Indebtedness to trust fun s. 1888 600
s2,252, 1857
In addition to this the secretary of state reports
the total indebtedness of the counties cities towns
vi lases and school districts ia the state as amount
ing to S96 ,545 o., which added state bit
proper makes the total public indebted ness of the
people of Wisconsin, $i1,9l0 6O2.o4, being some
what less than three aud oDe-h4 az per cent of the
total assessed valuation.
ASSESSED VALUATION
The value of all property in the state subject to
taxation as returned by the assessors lie:
personal property. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IT. &c., 48l
Glty ana village lots ....-..-....... 91,52l,992
Total. Observation-Disclosures. 1851, 7sO.s54
Inns is. unquestionably, net to exceed one half
OF tie actual mark ct value of the anne property,
notwithstanding the strict provisions of law re-
curing assessors to attest the correctness of their
rep Jrts by OATH This serious aud wIful disregard
OF law Is very properly criticised by the SUI RENE
Count IN the late of Schettler against The CITY
of Fort Howard, and the disa strous conseouences
hkely TO result therefrom very clearly indicated
There is, too, another aspect of this matter and
sun more Illuminating, because indicative of the
fact that the public conscience seems to tolerate
want OF que regard for the tanctity of oath.
Indeed, observation leads to the conclusion
that the prevailing tendency in legislation rronir-
ing SO many returns and reports of various kinds
under oath, and the manner in which eaths are too
frequently administered, have done very much to
beget a contempt for their solemnity and to de-
grade an act which is in theory and should be in
TACT one OF the most Impressive ceremonies in
which man can engage. l commend this matter to
your careful consideration, and suggest that it
would Dot be improper for you to provide for the
dlscontlnuance OF oaths in many cases. substituting
therefor returns and reports "upen honor - or
otherwise that you make it obligatory upon all
officers administering oaths to observe that due
form without which the ceremony degenerates in
to a farce.
PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION.
In connection with the general subject of assess
ments, call your attention to the values of the
Inherent kinds of property exempt from taxation,
reported for the year 1876, as follows:
United States property. .................s 67,53j
County proper ty ............ llS2 Soc
IoWn, city and village property......... s8J,970
cemetery property Observation-Disclosures. 25S, 469
common school property. ,Se3,U17
railroad property. 7,467,6H
church property. ........... ........ 4,5I6,359
College and academy property ........ $50, 500
All other property. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. sis, 1913
MaKlnS.. -.-..............-..-. SIS, So, 1876
DeductiDg from this amount the value of rail-
road, telegraph, and ins urance prop rty which, in
the form OF licenses, pays what is regarded fair
proportion of the taxes, and also the several items
OF public property, and there remains less than
$6,00l,00O exempt from taxation.
TAXES.
The total tax levied in the state for the year
1876, was IS COZ 435 %. amounting to 81 % on
r1,Id dollars
The purposes TO- which these taxes were levied,
the respective amounts and rates are as follows:
Tax. Rate
state S78S, 942 .2i62
Douuts-..... 436, SAY 1899
Town 49,. - - 8 2204l7 $500
School .......... .....,....... 16l7.689 4434
Road - O33 53S 2S31
1t thus appears that the direct state tax is less
than One-tenth of the total tax. The entire ate
tax, direct and indirect, for the year 1871 is rep
resented by the receiDts into the general fund, /
ana amounts, before stated, to 81, 1919, 954 Sc
and is only about one-seventh of the total tax
paid by the people From this amount has
been paid all the expenses OF the state, in
Guiding interest the state debt official salaries
cost of charitable and penal institutions, legisa |
i've and miscellant Gus expenditures; which
SHOWS that these entrusted with the control OF
state affairs have exercised reasonable economy |
In the discharge oftheir respective duties
ESTIMATES FOR 1879.
The Secretary of State estimates that the receipts
for the ca endar year, 1879, will be, from
Railway eompanies..-..-. .Si0o, 600 90
insuf ance companies ---....--.- ooOuu w
Miscellaneous sources ............ $500 o. /
Taxes authorized by existing laws. 1858 Sc
Making in all. ............. *66l.lSS SO
He estimates the expenditures for the same per-
iod at $3.50, 1888 SO.
1t will devolve upon you TO provide for the |
deficiency thus exhibited amounting to $225 CO.
and in addition thereto such sum may be neces-
sary to provide for the publication OF the new re-
vised statutes should the labor of the re ysers re-
celve legislative sanction; ard such further sums
II any, as may be appropriated during the present
session in excess of the Secretary's estimates
III any propositions will doubtless come before
yo1 involving the expenditure of Considerable /
sums of money. These various prop ositiops will |
receive your careful cons Iteration The people of
the state of Wisconsin wi cheerfully paw all taxes
for the succeasful prosecution of the
public business, the protection of life and prom
erty, and the proper care OF its unfortunate and (
classes; but they demand from you and
from me that there shall be et1enchment in all
lines of public expenditure where retrenchmentis
practicable, and wise economy in all public dis
bursements. They realize that there is parsi-
mony which is waste, but hone less will they scru-
tiniZe and condemn any appropriation of the pub
lie money for any but the most legitimate pur-
poaes 1t viii be my highest privilege to cooperate
with you in all efforts to meet the reasonable
of the people In this behalf, u