Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-16

number eo4 are bound newspaper nIes, The
receipts into the general fund were S5044.25, and
theseXpendtures "a 997 81. The additions TO the
binding fund were $795 TO- making the. total OF
that fund $685. 81, besides $40 acres of land in
Texas the gift of the late Hon John Catlin
INSURANCE SUPERVISION.
The Secretary Of State calls attention to the
extent and variety of the duties required Of that
officer and 1T is quite manifest that the time has
arrived when the public good requires that he
ST all be in some manner relieved. Various meth
among them constitutional amendment creating
the office of Auditor of Public Accounts. 1 am
constrained to doubt the expediency of thus
changing the constitution. In my judgment.
changes in our fundamental law should be made
only in cases of extreme necessity, and multi
plication of Offices should be studously avoided
as long possible l. therefore, recommendsthat
the duties of Comm ssioner of Insurance be trans
ferred from the Secretary of State to the Raj road
Commissioner. l see no reason why the last
named officer may not have ample time to attend
to them without in the least neg Getting the duties
now devolving upon him. and that. too. without
any considerable extra expense for clerk hire er
office outfit.
RAILROADS,
The report of the railroad commissioner is not
yet published, and am, therefore, without in
formation to the details Of the work of that Of
icer for the past year 1t has not come to my
knowledge that any serious complaints havr been
made against any of the railway companies doing
business in this state 1t is now conclusively
settled that the state has the right to regulate
of trade and commerce seem to be using their
best endeavors to give the least possible occasion
for the state to exercise this right.
MILITIA.
There has been expended during the past fiscal
year for military purposes the sum of S2,261 90,
and of this amount $5,40 90 paid to the state
militia for rent of armOries. being al the rate of
1900 to each company. l consider a well regu-
lated and properly dis cplined militia as very eS
sential for the protection of life and property |
therefore believe that the formation of military
npDn Zat m n N
and brigades should be sedulOuSly encouraged;
that when thus organized they should be fur
nished with the best of modern arms, and
qured to meet for drill and inspection.
[ sincerely hope the day may never come when
the civil authorities in Wisconsin will be obliged
to call for military assistance but should that day
suit Il there were not well discipled and prop
erly armed militia to respond to such call. 1
therefore bespeak your earnest cooperation in
this matter. ..sp
SUPREME COURT.
The adoption of the constitutional amendment
increasing the number of associate justices Of the
supreme court, will impose upon you the duty of
providing for their election and classification. 1t
has been suggested to me- also. that with this in
crease in the number Of justices the present ac-
commodatons for this court will be quite too linn
tied If upon proper inquiry you find such to be
the case trust you will neglect to provide the
necessary additional room.
STURGEON BAY AND LAKE MICHIGAN CANAL.
The work OF connecting the waters OF Green
Bay and Lake chigan by ship canal, and
there bv very materially decreasing the distance
between the principal ports on Green Bay and the
ports on Lake Michigan, well creating
much needed and most available harbor OF refuge,
has been carried forward with energy during The
past year. Already more than one.half of the en-
tire work is completed, and the engineerin charge
assures me that the remaining portion will be flu
iShed withln tWOyears.
FEEBLE MINDED AND IMBECILE.
The last legislature directed the State Board of
Charities and Reform to make certain 1nvestiga-
tons in regard to the necessity and practicability
of providing for the education OF the feeble
minded. The result of their labors will be laid
before you. The state has undertaken to provide
for the blind the deaf, the incorrigible and the
the feeble minded and the imbecilc Other states
are meeting with very gratifying success in their
endeavors to educate this class of unfortunates,
and their experience should encourage us to tate
up this work possible. The necessity
for immediate action in this direction is not SO
urgent in my Judgment as in The case of the
chronic insane, but at no distant day suitable
provision should be made in their behalf.
PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES.
The facts and figures" herewith submitted
may wen impress upon our minds enlarged con-
eeptions OF the grave responsibilities to which we
citizens. We have been accustomed to regard
Wisconsin as only growing state. 1t is more
than that-it is great state Its financial edu-
cationa!. penal and charitable affairs involve the
annual collection and disbursement OF millions OF
dollars OF money; the support and care of thou
of long list of criminals; and the furnishing of
food, shelter, clothing. instruction and medical
attendance for the destitute, the unfortunate and
the afflicted.
These are indeed noble themes upon which to
dwell, calculated to arouse and maintain a we'll
founded state pride, and indicative of healthy,
vigorous and self-perpetuating civilization. Con-
templating them, should not forget, however.
that it is 10 the productive industries to the
agricuturiSt, the manufacturer and the miner,
their allies and assistants, that we are most
largely indebted for what we are and that our
principal reliance under God is upon them for
continued prosperity and development as a state.
Whatever tie DIS, therefore, the enlargement of
these industries and to the protection of the per
sons engaged in them should receive your en-
couragement and support.
AS contributing to the promotion Of these ends,
recommend that suitable provision be made for
the collection and publication OF full and accurate
states in relation to all the great interests of the
state, especially those cOnneuted with agriculture,
which is, and for many years must continue to
be, the most important industry of the state, not
only as furnishing employment to the greatest
number Of individuals, and utilizing in the ag
gregate the largest amount of capital, but upon
other Industries Whatever therefore, the state
can do in disseminating information in regard to
the results Of improved processes in agriculture,
and to the relative profits derived from the diff
ferent branches of this industry, it is not only
proper but important that it should do. The
state agricultural society was organized to assist
has rendered most efficient service IN this direc-
ton. To enable it to continue Its work in the
future, recommend that the usual appropriation
be continued and made permanent.
THE CURRENCY.
Intimately connected with state no less than
with national prosperity is the matter Of sound
and stable currency. 1t is the language of one of
| our most gifted and profound statesmen that
disorGered currency is OF the greatest polit-
ical evils. 1t undermincs the virtues necessary
for the support of the social system and encour-
ages propenSit SsdeStructive to its happiness.
1t wars against industry, frugality and economy,
and it fosters the evil spirits of extravaganza and
speculation. or all tue contrivances for cheating
the laboring classes of mankind none has been
more effectual than that which deludeS them with
paper money. This is the most effectual of lnven-
tons to fertilze the rich mans field by the sweat
Of the poor mans brow. Ordinary tyranny. OPP
preston, excessive taXation-these bear lightly
on the happiness of the mass OF the community
compared with fraudulent currencies and the rob-
| berries committed by deprecated paper. Uurewn
history has recorded for our instruction enough
and more than enough of the demoraliZing ten
dency. the injustice and the ntolerable oppres-
sion on the virtuous and we'll disposed, Of 2 de-
graded paper currency, authorized by law or any
way countenanced by government
The road to q resumption of specie payments may
be rough but there sloughs therein, and now
| that we have nearly reached the desired goal,
every backward step must be regarded public
| calamity. l do not, however, share in the opinion