Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-01-21
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

duty to present TO you such recommendations
as seem to me for the best interests OF the people
of the state. he electors of Wisconsin have
spoken in favor of reform in conducting the
business OF the state. 1t remains for you to see
that the will of the people, expressed is
carried out. short business session, with
economy for your watchword; the passage of as
few bills as pos ible, consistent with the needs
of the state; little interference with existing
good laws: the repeal of bad laws. and the
amending Of such as are defective, will create Il
feeling of confidence on the part of the people,
and help to make prosperous and happy all
your constituents. The way to bring about
short session is for every member to do his duty.
The principal cause for long sessions is delay in
the action of committees few committees
that do not attend promptly to business, and
allow bills to accumulate on their hands cause
the work of the session to drag; and hinder
those who willing and anxious to transact
business and adjourn. The presiding officers
should keep close watch on the committees
and not hesitate to call attention to those who
cause unnecessary delay.
UNNECESSARY OFFICES.
The pledge that state expenses would be re-
duced TO the point necessary for an economical
administration of state affairs should be con-
stantly borne in mind. During the past twelve
years more than seventy official positions have
been created by express acts of the Legislature.
and the reports the secretary of state snow
that some 265 more persons drew salary from the
state treasury Tor personal services in 1889 than
in 1873. These are facts sufficient in themselves
to justify, If not demand, the closest scrutiny
and investigations 10 the end that unnecessary
officials may be dispensed with, and unneceSSa-
TT expense cut off. l recommend that this mat
ter together with all proposed LEGISLATION look
ing to the curtailing of the salary list, and the
reduction of expenses, be referred to special
joint committee of both houses, appointed for
the purpose, in order that such action i'll the d.
rectlon Indicated, as the Legislature may take,
may be we'll c. nsidered. wise and effective. My
term of office governor has so recently begun
that / have yet been unable to fully &C
quaint myself with this matter IN
o&n fnrf0 0fC haV q
come under my observation, which suggests the
necessity of investigation For instance the Of
flee of the state veterinarian created 1885, cost
the state for salaries and expense In 1889. So
900. 6S. and for lied glandered horses,
slaughtered and then paid for by state, 81, 642-
ga total On IS. 1897 and IN 1890, salaries and
expenses So, 460.47 and for slaughtered horses.
Si612.6 0S-an aggregate Tor two years
of S10.6l275. Also that the number of Senate
employees in 1879 was 65; In 1889. Us; Assembly
employees in 1873 Sc; in 1889. l51: total in 1878.
Isl; total in 1889, 274: an increase in both
houses OF 123. The expense on account OF Senate
employees in 1878 was 81, $40 81; in 1852. S25,17i;
expense on account of Assembly employees in
1878 was S14.709 sc; in 1885, SSeSSl.S6: total in
1875, S26 25587 total In 1889, $50 002SS increase
500. 74ZOl.
1t will 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. 1t does not seem
possible that this immense increase is neceS> airy.
There are many other places in which it Is the
opinion Of many that retrenchment is not only
not abolished, reduction in the expenses
can be made without impairing the efficiency
of the public service or neglectiug the interests
of the people | call your attention to
some of these The dairy and food commission
er. the state timber agents. game wardens, fish
wardens, and the many boards created for the
furtherance of special interests. | have else
where called your attention to the State Board
of Charlie and Reform, and the State Board of
nd IN to 20 these
matters, in order that the burdens of our peo-
pie, instead Of being added to. has been the
custom for so many years past. may be light
with proper, business-like. efficient admins
tration OF governmental affairs.
Very little in this direction can be accom-
plished without the active, earnest ala of the
Legislature, but with that assistance am con-
fdent much can be done. In this connection
would suggest that the engroSslng OF bills be
done away with except where the original bill
shall have been amended in such manner as
to make such engrOssing necessary, which in
itself Will cause material decrease in eXpend1-
ture, and saving in time. This can very prop
erly be done by rule so instructlng the clerks
of your respective bodies.
1t must be remem be- ed that all special inter
ests and individuals. disposed for private pur-
poses to retain useless officials. and continue
the payment of unnecessary salaries, will at
tend your sessions and by every means, in per-
son and by their agents. urge upon you the
necessity of protecting their interests, while
the whole people will be represented by no paid
attorneys or lobbyists, and their interests will
be wholly unprotected unless you fearlessly
perform your duties, and see to it that impartial
investigation and unbiased judgment take the
place of special pleading and selfish interests.
Let it be demonstrated that the cause of the
whole people is safe in your hands.
THE CONDITION OF THE TREASURY
The last report of the secretary of state showed
balance in the treasury to the credit of the
general fund, on the 30th of Septem Der last of
sS45,Se5 os On the 5th of January. at noon.
when the administration was changed, there
was turned over to the in coming state treas
urer, as the balance OF the general fund, the
sum of S23,599S2, appearing upon the books of
the outgoing treasurer. In point OF fact, how
ever. the general fund of the state was more
than exhausted. At that very moment, war
rants upon that fund to the amount of $50 Os6 81
had been drawn by the outgoing secretary of
state, of which those for the sum of S35. 642. 0S
had been actually signed on the morning of
the 9Th of January, and but very short time
before the transfer of the Offices to the incoming
administration. Besides these warrants large
amount of unpaid obligations, Immediately due
and entitled to discharge and for which war
rants should have already been issued. re-
manned unaudited by the retiring secreta-
y.of state, and the additional sum of S28,-
ent secretary, and warrants drawn therefor upon
the general fund. In the meantime
this fund has had no consider
able receipts and can expect none
of substantial amount until about the middle of
February. In this condition of things the
creditors of the state are either obliged to wait,
the treasurer is put to the risk, in order to
protect the credit of the state, of employing
other funds in his custody TO discharge war
rants drawn upon the general fund. 1t needs
not be SAID that such condition of affairs
ought not to be encountered The annual rev.
enues accruing to the general fund are suffi-
cIent to discharge all the annual obligations
imposed upon it unless unwarrantable and ex-
travagant appropriations be made and this DIFF
6culty has arisen / believe, not from n real
insuffciency of receipts to discharge the obliga-
lions of the general fund, but from faulty prac-
tees in legislation hitherto prevailing. II has
been customary. in making special appropria-
lions, to direct that they shall be payable from
any moneys in the general fund not otherwise
appropriated, whereby immediate liability
for the entire appropriation is imposed upon
the treasury, Notwithstanding. in many in
ttances, considerable time may elapse before
she money will be actually required, and that
when required, it's disbursement should more
properly be made in installInents as expended
1t is respectfully recommended that this prac-
tice be corrected by carefully providing in
every appropriation for the disbursement of the
money from the treasury from time to time only,
as it shall be actually required for the purposes
TO which it is applied
Another practice has added to the difficulty
mentioned, and seems to me 20 require correc-
ton. This is the payment in advance. quarter
y. OF the regular annual appropriations for the
maintenance of the various public institutions
which derive support from the state. This
money should remain in the treasury, to be dis
bursed as needs require The general fund. by
these methods, can be kept at all times ade-
duate to the demands made upon it. instead of