River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-01-22

II VIII be observed That the NUMBER OF en- /
ployes of the two houses has nearly doubled |
and that the expense is now more than twice |
what it was twelve years ago. It does not
seem possible that this immense increase is
necessary.
There are many other places in which it is
the opinion of many that retrenchment is not
only possible but advisable, and where, if the
offices are not abolished reduction in the ex-
penses be made without impairlng the
eficincy of the public service or neglecting the
interests of the people. 1 call your attention
10 some Of these;
The Dairy and Food Commissioner.
The State Timber Agents.
Game Wardens.
Fish wardens, and the many boards created
for the furtherance of special interests. /
have elsewhere called your attention to the
State Board OF Charities and Reform and
the State Board OF Supervision and
earnestly urge you to take prompt
and decisive action in regard to these
matters, in order that the burdens OF our peo-
pie, instead of being added to. as has been the
custom for so many years past may be light
ened to the utmost possible extent consistent
with a proper business-like and efficient ad-
ministration Of governmental affairs.
Very little in this direction can be accom-
plished without the active, earnest aid of the
Legislature, but with that assistance am con
fident much can be done. In this connec
ton / would suggest that the engrossing Of
bills be done away with except where the
in such manner to make such engrossing /
necessary which in itself will cause a material /
decrease in expenditure and saving in time (
This can very properly be done by rule so in
structing the clerks of your respective bodies I
II must De remcm bercd thut all special in I
terests and individuals. disposed for private |
purpose to retain useless officials and continue
III, payment OF unnecessary salaries, Will at
tcid your sess.o uS. and By every means n
person and by Their agents. urge upon 1
you the necessity OF protecting their /
interests. while the whole people viii be |
represented by no paid attorneys or lobbyists |
and their interests wlH be wholly unprotected !
unless YOU fearlessy perform your duties aud /
see - il that impartial investigation and I'M I
biased Judgment take the place OF special Z
pleading and selfish interests. Let it lie demon
rated chat the cause OF the whole people is
saf in your hands
Tire last repOr OF tie Secretary Of State
showed a balai &c IN the Treasury TO tie ere il /,
OF the general fund on the 3Uth Of September
last OF 5,Sa50& On the 9Th Of January. AZ
noon when the aimini~t alton was cEaHg =d, +
there was turned over to the incoming State /
Treasurer. as the ba ance of the geaeral
fund. the sum OF S2,.599.3 80 appearing
uron the DO Ks Of the outgoing Treas +
erer. In point Of fact, however the general (
fund of the State more than exhausted !
AT that very moment warrants upon that fund !
10 the amount Of E6O96.s7 had been drawn by !
the outgoing Secretary of State of which those /
on the morning OF the 9Th OF January. and but a /
very short time before the transfer OF the Offices
10 the incoming administration. Besides /
these warrants arge amount Of unpaid obi I
gaticns Immediately due and entitled to dis /
cAarye, and for which warrants should have |
already been issued remain unaudited by the |
retiring Secretary Of State, and the additional !
sum OF SIS aS4H mas been necessarily audited |
by the present Secretary, and warrants
drawn therefor u0on the general fund In
1anlv
BILE receipts and expect none Of sub
stantial amount until about the middle OF |
February. In this cor1 ton Of things the
creditors OF the State are Their obliged TO wait
or the Treasurer is put 20 the risk. in order to
protect the credit OF he State, Of employing
other funds in his custody to discharge
rants drawn upon the general fund. II needs
not TO be said that such a condition Cf affairs /
ought not to be encountered The annual rev.
enues accruIng 4 the general fund are
sufficient to discharge all the annual
obligations imposed upon it unless
unwarrantable and extravagant appro-
priations be made and this difficulty has arisen
as believe, not from real insufaciency OF re-
ceipts TO discharge the obligations OF the gen
eral fund but from faulty practices in legislation
hitherto prevailing. " has been customary. in /
making special appropriations. to direct that
they shall be payable from any moneys |
in the general fund not otherwise ap-
propriated whereby an immediate liability for |
treasury Notwithstanding in many instances |
a considerable time may elapse before the |
money will be actually required and that /
when required, its disbursement should more /
properly be made in instruments as expended |
Another practice has added to the difficulty /
mentioned. and seems TO me to require correc- /
ton This is the payment in advance quarterly /
OF the regular annual appropriations for the 1
maintenance OF the various public institutions /
which derive support from the State /
This money should remain in The treas /
ury to be disbursed as needs require |
The general fund by these meth !
DDS can be kept at all times adequate to the de
mands made upon II. instead Of being periodi- /
cally largely overdrawn because moneys not
yet actually expended have been paid out in I
advance OF necessity, and often, perhaps. for /
the mere convenience or advantage OF special /
treasurers.
1t is respectfully recommended that this |
practice be corrected by carefully providing in |
every appropriation for the disbursement Of
the money from the treasury from time 20 |
time only as it shall be actually required Tor /
the purposes 20 which il is applied
It is obvious also. that If the policy shall be /
adopted that recommend in this message Of
making use Of the interest which may accrue
from the treasury funds for the benefit Of the
State, an additional reason for this course lies
in the additional gain which the people may |
thus enjoy.
The following is a statement Of balances in |
the several funds Of the State treasury at noon /
on Monday January 5, 1921