River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-20
81 J4I, 967 -

81. 81, 767 - Sl72
These figures represent only tue d.
rect taxes levied upon property. The
total taxes paid by the people,
directly and indirectly. into the state
treasury. we're for the last fiscal year,
nearly $500 600 in excess of the amount
here stated Nothing like this proper
tioI obtains IN county, town and other
taxes, but the sums collected by way Of
licenses and fees are by no means in
considerable.
The state tax now being collected
amounts to S662, 05S So, a large increase
over the tax of the preceding year,
rendered necessary by extraordinary
appropriations among them those
for the building of the Milwaukee
county insane asylum, and the rebuild
ing Of the institution for the education
Of the deaf and dumb,
ESTIMATES.
The secretary Of state estimates that
the expenditures for the calendar
wear ] So will be 1855, 0O8.13, and the
receipts for the same period, under ex-
lsting laws, 500, 1868, as follows:
Taxes Observation-Disclosures. 1924 05S 63
Railway companies. ....-.... 400 000 90
! Insurance companies. -..... ........ 30 600 on
Miscellaneous sources ..., ....--... 80 700 on
This leaves $2S3, 250 00to be provided
for by the legislature 1t is my Opin-
ION that both the expenditures and re-
ceipts will be somewhat in excess OF
these estimates. The demand for cur
rent expenses and for special appro-
priatiOns. at many Of the state institu-
uons. viii in all probability consider
ably Jverrun the figures given by the
secretary Of state.
! have so frequently expressed my
opinions in regard to expenditures and
appropriations, that it Is unnecessary
torepeat them here The people de-
mand that the public business shall be
carried on in an expeditions and or
derry manner, that the greatest eff
cheney shall be given 10 all public in
situations, and that nothing shall be left
undone which may promote the gen
cral welfare. But they are, at the
same time, inquisitive and rightfully
demand TO know what ii costs TO accom-
lish these purposes. Would it not be
wise, therefore. ab0lishing all circum-
ocution, to let your appropriations
show the total amounts Of public money
devoted TO any specific object? The
/ present system Of maintaining the hos
/ Iitals for the insane and the industrial
/ school for boys, whereby a portion oi
I the expense j. charged to counties, and
/ the sums thus collected treated as a
/ separate fund. not under legislative con
| .r1l .ppearing in the annual appro-
/ PRATT NJ. appears to me to be cumber-
some. expensive and misleading.
1t Is the duty Of this legislature, as,
/ trust, II Is Its purpose, TO exercise
wise discrimination, not only in the
matter Of specific appropriations, but
also ia the consideration of all questions
involving the expenditure Of the public
funds.
EDUCATION.
The report Of the state superintend-
ent vii show that the total amount Of
money expended for the support Of
common schools during the past year
was = 1875 ,36S.43. an increase of near
" $4,000 over the preceding year, and
that or this sum ST ,567 ,870.32 were
paid fer teachers wages The whole
number Of children within the state,
Of school age, is reported at 1873, 1913, a
slight decrease from last year, but the
attendance at school has increased
nearly 5000 and Is now reported at
299, 25S. The number Of teachers en-
pluyed III the public schools of the
state the past year was l0,1l0. BY
the terms Of the compulsory educa-
ton Law, which went into effect Sep
tember !. 1879, all children between
the ages Of seven and fifteen years, not
excused therefrom for good reason,
are required to attend public or pri-
waite school at least twelve weeks in
each school year. The number of
children between these ages, in this
state. Is found to be 229,076 and TO-
4O2. or nearly three-fourths of them at
tended the public schools during the
year.
The state superintendent has been
most active in the discharge of the
varied duties Of his office during the
past year. and the impress Of his zeal
and faithfulness will be felt fol many
wears to come
There is a healthy rivalry, but no
unfriendly jealousies, between the pub
lie and private schools of Wisconsin
The friends and promoters of either
recognize that the field is broad enough
for all who may come. and each en-
courage: and supplements the work Of
the other. The report of the state SUI
perintendcnt will contain the most
complete and reliable statistics Of the
conlition Of all the schools in the state,
private aS well as public. ever compiled,
and in this and other respects viii be Of
unusual interest
the expenditures for the four Nor
NAL Schools were 81 015.$3. for teach
ers institutes. $7.21079, and for expen-
SEES # administration, S2.T094f The
amount paid to teachers at the sch pols
wss 81, $685. 90 and for repairs ST, 0o1. IS.
The whole number of pupils in attend
ance was $50 at an expense averag-
ing S40.Sl per pupil. The number at
tending institutes was 1866, gain of
542 over the attendance for the previ-
Gus year, and the expense of conduct
ing She institutes averaged less than
81 80 for each member enrolled The
of this most important
trust by the Board of Regents Is emf
nentiy satisfactory and merits high
commentator.
The number of students enrolled at
the State University in the different de-