The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-01-23
WISCONSIN.
Message of Governor Rusk to the
State Legislature.
Condition of the State Finances-The Trust
Fund and the Penal and Charitable In
stitutions-Re Recommendation
of the Executive.

1IO1 VI " AoCOLo1H was IGtu 10 UUGH
houses of the Legislature on the 15th
To THE HONORABLE THE LEGISLATURE: You
assemble after the lapse of a longer period
than any which ever before separated legisla-
tive sessions in Wisconsin, and it is fitting
that we first reverently and gratefully
acknowledge the blessings which under Proyi-
dence have come, in rich abundance, to us as
Commonwealth and as a people.
During the two years just gone we have
happily been spared the presence of pes
thence, famine, or other cause of general dis
tress. The commercial depression prevalent
in the country at large has touched us more
lightly than many other States. Peace has
dwelt continually within our borders. The
spirit of obedience to law has abided with
our people Justice has teen promptly and
faithfully administered Education the life
OF our Governmental system has gone for
ward with vigorous step. And all in all we
haze abundant cause for contentment and
gratitude.
FINANCES.
The state finances are in good condition,
and the trust funds, kept constantly invested
as far as possible in interast-bearino secllri-
ties, produce satisfactory income.
The general fund account. as reported by
the Secretary of State furnishes a complete
statement OF she cost OF maintainingth the State
government for the past two years, including
interest paid upon certificates of Indebtedness
TO the several trust funds.
OF the general fund there was on hand on
the Both day of September, 1882 1864, 220 49,
The receipts of the fund for the biennial term
have been S29O7.204,4, the disbursements
therefrom, s., s:32, 857 81, leaving balance on
hand September 30, 1884. of $ij3S, 567.15.
By separate years, and by comparison. with
the year ending September SO, 1872 the dis
bursements were as follows. For the year
ending September 80, 1888, 1925, Az. 40, being
SlO9, 6t4 81 more than for the year ending Sep
Sc, Ia; 4
the facts that the capitol extension expendi-
ture for 1888 was SS7,2T 20 more than in 1892;
the Legislative expenses $40, 004 50 more than
IN IeS2, and the expense of publishing the
by SIT, 262-03 than in 1882
For the year ending September So 1884, the
disbursements from the general fund were
SlG36, 3S5lT. being SEQ 422 81 less than for the
year 1882. The greater part of this reduction
arises from the TACT that, while III 1882 the
legislative expenses and cost of publ shing the
laws were Sli4, a 6,2S, the biennial system OBJ
waited the necess ty of any expenditure for
either purpose in 1854
TRUST FUNDS
There was to the credit of the School fund
III the treasury on December 80, 1884, SIS 1872. 81,
and the productive school fund on that day
amounted to $2,913, 612 49, and the school fund
income for the biennial term was 1898 1882.
The University fund has received during the
Two years S2l,&5G8; had Oh hand September
30, 1882, 81, 1868, and has pa d out for bonds
and loans 4933.38. The total amount of the
university fund producing an income On Sep
TENDER 30, 1884, was $2328, 909.30. The receipts
cal years were S152,05S, of which $3.50 was in
tereSt on the Johnson endowment, 800 332 20
We're received from the University. &27,S n
from interest on the university fund, and
Slo3,UI0.U5 rom the tax levied under the
statute.
The Agricultural College fund receipts for
the two years were $50, d2o65; balance on hand
September 80 1852 $5,N4. ~. The disburse-
mQnfS ~ 1o9x- folo
tember 30, 1884, of $66H. The productive
Agricultural College fund, now drawing inter-
est, Is $2S6,965.22, and the income Of the fund
Tor the biennial term was S34, 9I754
The Normal School fund las received dur
ing the two years, 1855, 81353 There was on
hand September 50, 1882, $l6969.62. There has
been d1sbursed during the same time 1862
33I.77 and there remained On hand September
~, 1884, Sl4, 45l.S8. The total amount of Normal
school fund now drawing interest is $Is9J.-
512.36, and the income for the period, includ-
ing interest, tuition fees, etc. was %17G ,223s6,
all of which was transferred to the Regents of
the Normal Schools
There was to the credit of the drainage fund
September 80, 1882, $4S,60829, and it has
There was on hand September 30, 1894, $4S,-
6l9.S2, and $l31, 1885 has been apportioned to
counties and dsbursed under the laws
VI the st. CroiX and Lake Superior Railroad
Gfespass tund there remained ON hand Sep
TENDER 81, 1884 $50, 092.79, and as the c0mpa-
mes nave completed their roads and are pro-
tecting their own lands and as but few lands
remain unpatented. this fund can now be ad-
JuSted between the State and the commands,
ana the amounts due them paid over and the
fund closed up.
EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES
The Secretary of State estimates that the
revenues received under the general laws will
De Su1hclent to defray the ordinary expenses
OF the State for the years 1856 and 1887. At the
end OF the fiscal year there was a balance on
hand of 1898 567.15. Owing to this large sur
plus the Secretary of State did not include
the item of $240,000 of State tax, which was
authorized by the last Legislature, in the tax
levy OF 1854, and it seems to me that no addi-
tlonal tax VIII be necessary for 1886 and 1881
STATE DEBT.
The account between the State and the Gen.
eral Government for direct war tax as stated
py the first Comptroller ofs the Treasury,
shows that the State is vet indebted to the
General Government to the amount of
$5l, l45 IS. The accounting officers of the
Government have from time to time, credit
ed to the State, upon the direct war tax, GER
tam sums which should have come to the
state as trustee, and have been passed to the
school and swamp land funds. Thus it has
come ABOUT that the State has paid a portion
OF Its direct war tax out of these trust funds.
AS think these funds especially the school
fund, should be carefully and jealousy MAIN
tanned, believe provision should be made
Tor reimbursing them the amounts so
credited.
CHARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The charitable, reformatory and penal in
situations of the State are, by the law as it
now is, under the control of the State Board
OF supervision, whose report will be laid be-
lore you. OF the whole amount appropriated
for these institutions for the years 1883 and
1854 there remained uneXpended on the 30th
day OF September, 1884, Sl25, S91. 80 and on the
474.10.
The total number of persons cared for in
the six State institutions under the charge of
this Board was 3,721, and the daily average
was 2,0l6; the total cost to the State for cur
rent expenses to September 80, 1884, was $751;
69l, and to. the LIST day of January, 1885, was
$721, 10S.40.
The State Hospital for the Insane has had
an average of 416 patients under treatment
Tor 1855, and an average of $40 for the year
1854, and cost 500, 535 20 for the year 1883, and
S9l, ~. ~ for the year 1854; weekly cost per
capita for 1883 of $780, and for 1854 of 1916
The cost OF subsistence, including farm prod
ucts for the year 1883, was $3692T.15, and for
the year 1854 was $37,566T The Board esti-
mates the expenses of this hospital for the
years 1885 and 1856 to be S104 600 each year, and
that there will be paid by counties
Tor the term SS2, II; there remains of this
last appropriation unexpended $4,000, and
TINS leaves to be appropriated by the Legis-
years $4,000.
The Northern Hospital for the Insane had
an average of 567 patients during 1888 and 613
during 1884, and the current expenses for 1888
were $ll4, 1885, AS. and for 1874 were SIT 1859,
a weekly cost per capita for 1888 of $3.50, and
1Or 1904 1904. Inc cost OF SQ DSlStonce proper,
including products of the fam, in 1883 was
S36 27 is, and in 1884 was SOL Al OF. The Board
estimates that the expenses of this institution
Will be S2iS,0O for the years 1885 and 1885:
that there will be paid in " counties $780,
1884, leaving to be supplied by the Legisa-
ture Tor current expenses S143,000
The Institution for the Education of the
Blind has had an average of 81 pupils Tor
1883, at an expense of S16510.4S; and an aver
age OF 63 for 1854, at an expense of ST, 525 81;
and the Board estimates the expenses for 1885
and 1886 at $4,000, and, with a surplus of
$500 from the last appropriation, asks
that there be appropriated for that
period SS3,500. The per capita cost is
S5.61 per week for 1883 and 1914 for 1884.
The Institute for the Education of the Deaf
and Dumb had an average of 1S8 pupils in
1883, and 205 in 1854, and at an expense of 49,
666 30 for 1888, and SIS 53657 for 1854 The per
capita cost was S365 Il week for 1883, and 1861
for 1884; expenses for 1885 and 1886 estimated
at $4,000; the probable receipts from sales at
$l,JD, and a surplus at the end of the present
year of 81 go, leaving a balance
TO be supplied by appropriation of SS1. $50.
am constrained in this connection to call
the attention of the Legislature to the adyisa-
blllty OF providing for the deaf muteS of the
State some other means of education There
were in Wisconsin, according to the census of
1850, l,079 deaf-mutes OF whom 800 were of
school age between six and twenty and less
than one-third of these were receiving fnStruc-
ton. This fact shows that large number of
deaf children in this State are growing up in
ignorance, and that the provision made for
the education of deaf-mutas is vet INADEQUATE
The pollcy OF the State and the spirit of our