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

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The Legislature OF 1876 having ascertaiEed
by the report OF the State Treasurer in response
TO a resolution of inquiry that deposits Of
the moneys remaining IN the treasury 10
the credit - the various funds, had been
customarily made in various banks in the
State. and that the Treasurer had derived con
siderable sums OF interest every year from
the banks which carried these funds. enact
ed a stringent law. by which he was required 10
keep within the vaults Of the treasury all pub
lie moneys committed TO his custody. and in
compensation, so far as the Legislature regard
ed compensation justly due. for the deprivation
of interest and fees previously enjoyed
by the treasury. the salary OF that officer
was changed from s1.2Oa 10 5000, and
he was directed TO pay into the treasury all
fees and requisites received by him from
every source. This law Incorporated
with the revision Of 1878 and stiu remains
upon the statute-b ok, plain and unmistak
able declaration Of the policy Of the State as
determined by the Legislature and its
enforcement is charged upon the Gov.
ernor AMI Attorney-General as an additional
sanction. who are required. at least once in
each quarter year, and at such other times
as the Governor may think fit. 20 examine
and see that all money appearing by
the b. ohs OF the Secretary OF State and
state treasurer as belonging 10 the sew
eral funds shall be in effect VIII re the law re-
auired il be, in the vaults Of The Trca ury.
II was uuquestionai ~ the purpose 81 the L gis-
lature TO prevent The use OF pubic funds Ter
any purpose Of gain 10 the Treasurer TO any
favorit ;, or 10 the State itself NJtwithstaud-
ing i now appears that this law has bee / sys-
tsmatically aad continually violated for
FeRrs By the deposit OF - OF the
funds of the STATE. amounting 20
many hundreds OF thousands a. dol
ars. in various banks. and plb.ie rumor. 50
strongly confirmed by circuus a ices As 10 be
ont Y he n
banks ho ding thes deposits. Of paying int rest
or he use OF the money, either 10 the Treas
urer or 10 other per OnS whom h has peru tilted
to receive it. There a-e many reasons which
render il prudent and even desirable that the
ublic moneys should be kept in Repositories
OUTSIDE the Treasury. The risk which Il e Treas
Jrer and his ban ismen assume in the custody
Of so large sum Of money. il required 10 keep
il alt gether, both from fire and robbery Is such
would seriously Interfere with that officers
obtaining sureties for the high liability impos "a
by his Official bond. II would Ne some advantage
hat SO much currency should be Withdrawn
from common use and espeeia ly is il con-
venient TO the creditors Of the State that ay-
ment be made by drafts OF the Treasurer pay
able at commercial centers. These considera-
tons have operated TO check criticism of viola
tiOn of the law among those TO whom the facts
became known, and seem, with others, to in-
dictate that the policy declared by the Legisla-
ture of 1876 IS not the wisest for the State TO
pursue.
Chapter $40 OF the laws OF 1889. known as the
Bennett law, has been the source Of much dis
cussion and dissension in our State. in my
judgment this act so far as il refers to educa-
tional matters, is unwise and unnecessary In
many of its provisions il is an arbitrary and IN
iustihable interference with parental rights
individual freedom and the liberty of con-
science, and therefore recommend its prompt
repeal.
14,a raal ,,n5orivinr ,,rsnc;yra ~ tbis to,r q
not compulsory attendance at school nor a wise
advancement of popular education, but an
assertion of the ''strong government theory
opposed to that dearly priced principle Of per-
sonal liberty, which is the true foundation Of
our Government.
heat of political controversy by Its defenders
both as to the law itself and as TO the mott. es
and principles of those who oppose it, which
have tended TO bring our State into disrepute
among those far from the scene OF conflict and
ignorant Of the real matters in dispute.
Evidence exists that 10 some extent such mis-
statements and Misrepresentation, made by
mere political partisars, blinded by the heat
and glare of fierce party strife, i'll considered
and unfair. If not deserving of much sev-rer
criticism, have been accepted in some locali-
ties abroad as fairly stating the real sitna-
tion, and being the deliberate judgment
of those qualified to judge and
quainted with the facts. This should be
source of great regret TO all good citizens. The
principle asserted in this piece OF legislation
would not only destroy some of our private
schools, but would establish the right OF
the State or the dominant party in the State
to dictate what, and what alone all the
children within its borders should be taught,
leaving to the minority however large, no dis
erection or freedom in the matter principle
more subversive of the most important protec-
ton to individual liberty and the rights of CON
science could scarcely be imagined.
Such schools as are now supported by the
people at private expense should in no way be
interfered with by legislation. They are i'm
portant in advancing the welfare and educa-
tion OF the people of the State. The right of
the citizen 10 educate his child in accordance
with the dictates of his conscience without the
interference on the part Of the State should be
recognized and defended.
The four hundredth anniversary OF the dis
covery Of America by Christopher Columbus
will be celebratedin 1893 by holding in Chicago.
H. an international exhibition Wisconsin
should be represented, and a proper
representation calls for appropria-
tion a. this session. a fitting exhibit
ton of agriculture, our foremost industry,
with its grain. stock and dairy interests, the
mines. manufactures and commerce OF cur
State should b. made Carefully consider the
importance Of this subject and appropriate
such sum for the purpose as You deem ueces-
sary GEORGE W. PECK.