Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-01-21

serious character have arisen between
employers and their workmen, defer
ence to the plain provisions Of the Con
stituuon and the laws have enabled
Wisconsin not only to. avoid all serious
results from such difficulties, but to
save expense and the too frequent ex-
ASPIRATION attending needless use OF
state troops.
The reports Of the state officers,
boards and institutions Of the state, re-
quired by law to be made, will be pre-
scented 70 you Ia fun. From a careful
examination Of these reports it appears
that the affairs Of the state have been
conducted economically and well 1t
Is not my purpose to present to you
any extended detailed statement, but to
depart somewhat from the usual
method. urge upon you the advisable
ity OF your careful examination into all
these reports, assuring you on behalf ui
those In authority in the several de-
partments, Of their desire to have
you scruniuze with care the present
manner Of conducting the business Of
the state. They invite criticism and
suggestion from you, looking TO a more
economical and satisfactory adminisTa-
ton.
feel it a privilege to be able to ex-
tend 10 the people Of Wisconsin con-
gratulaions that the highest court in
lie state has affirmed the decision of
tie circuit court against former state
treasurers who have mlsappropriated
the interest on state funds to private
uses. The aggregate Of the judgments
viii be- q large sum Of money, but the
recovery Of the money is a trifing mat
ter compared with the principle
established, which is a great victory for
the doctrine that public office is a trust
that should be honesty administered
state Finances.
AT the beginning Of the ADM. stIa-
ton in January, 1891, there was d deficit
IN the general fund OF the state. 4
take great pride, which l am sure viii
be- shared by every good citizen of this
commonwealth, in stating 10 you today
that We commence our second term IN
office with a general fund not only
solvent, but showing a handsome sur
plus,
On January 9th, 1891, there was a
balance on hand in the general fund OF
S25,j'3.32. with warrants already drawn
aggregating $3GOYG.S7; actually show
ing ST., 1870 more money spent than
there was in the general fund. Against
this showing there is a surplus in the
general fund today.
On January 1st, 1893, $312,939 was
the magnificent sum to the credit of the
general fund of the state, with no UNI
paid warrants outstanding. OF this sur
plus but SOS, 4G610 came from the di- |
ect war tax refunded to the state in 1891 |
by the United States government. There /
is therefore an actual balance to me
credit OF careful and wise economy Of |
N226,9TL24.
In addition to this by an improvement |
in methods, the interest on state funds |
deposited in banks, has, during the past |
Two years added S53,41O.11 10 the in |
come of the state, without cost or the /
loss of a dollar, as result Of sucn I
method Of temporary loans
Six Of the counties in the state now |
pay the amount Of state taxes charged !
70 them, on or before the second Mon /
day in July, while all the other coun- |
ties pay on or before the first Monday
in February. This tends to make con
fusion and causes much annoyance and /
would recommend that the law
be SO amended that all such taxes shall !
be- payable at the same time.
Australian is.Ilot Law
The Australian ballot law has now
been in operation in this state at two
general elections and it has more than
met the expectations of its trainers.
While deprecating too frequent and
radical changes in this important law
there are points for further improve
ment in extending its provisions for the
secrecy Of the ballot, and the law itself
should be made to cover all parts Of the
state without exception.
salary Of state superintendent
u is apparent that the salary of the
superintendent Of public instruction as
now liked by the constitution, is entire
ly inadequate. Subterfuges have been
resorted to To increase the amount but
these have been decided by the supreme
court to be unconstitutional l would
therefore recommend the submission To
the people Of an amendment to the cou-
sumuon which shall provide a proper
salary for this most important officer.
Loaning the Trust Funds.
Experience has shown the danger Of
special legislation empowering the com
miSsioners of public lands to loan
trust funds on specially favorable terms
to borrowers specifically named. These
funds are held in trust for the benefit
of our schools, and a default in the in
tercst, however well the loan is secured, +
defeats the legal purposes for which +,
these moneys are placed in trust, and 4
precedent Is set that may lead to most j
abuses. I hope the legisIa-
ture viii deal with such bills in future j
with the utmost caution.
Protection of Public Lands
The principal value Of our public lands
consists I'm thpfr tflnha. The fagt thar