Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-01-18

| poorly provided. Believing that the time
has come when it is the duty of the state
| to act in extending this system, | recon-
mend that the needs of Northern WiScon-
| sin for normal schools shall ibe carefully
considered and, If possible, recognized.
| WORLDS FAIR APPROPRIATION.
The wisdom Of the last legislature in
| making an appropriation for the Column
| blan Exposition has been demonstrated
What seemed to many foo small a sum of
| money has been sufficient for all the needs
of the board up to the present time An
additional appropriation is deemed advIS-
able to carry on the work laid out by the
managers and to properly equip the Wis
cOnSin building and make an exhibit cred
liable to the state. Your attention is
called to the report of the Board OF Man
ayers with the view of making such an
appropriation as may seem proper for the
creditable representation of Wisconsin at
the Columbian Exposition.
CONTING GENT FUND.
1t appears from the records that the dis
hurSementS from the governors cOntin-
gent fund from January 5, 1891, to Deem
Der 81, 1892, were 1886. 10, and that the
balance TO the credit of the fund on the 1st
day of January of the current year was
S514.3O. 1t has been necessary during the.
past TWO years to pay from this fund the
notary, court commissioner, witnesses and
other fees IN the suits now pending against
HarShaW, McFetridge and others, which
will be returned to the fund when these
judgments are paid. During the coming
two years there will be no such unusual
call upon the fund, and / would therefore
recommend the usual appropriation of
81, 900 per year for the coming two years.
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
The proper constitutional conception Of
a National Guard is the education Of the
citizen soldiery in time of peace that the
nation may, without entaillng the burdens
and dangers of a great standing army, be
able to cope with any foreign foe. Such
military force, while in no sense a state
police, is in the nature of a public safe,
guard, and Wisconsin is, and well
may be, proud of its National
Guard. Our present military laws
need revision, as many of their pro-
visions are homogeneous or obsolete. The
numerical strength of our military force
should be carefully adjusted to the needs
of the state, and appropriations for It's
maintenance should be so made as to
bring that force to the highest state of
efficiency, without calling for unnecessary
sacrifices upon the part of officers or men.
The military reservation near Camp DOu-
glas is OF the greatest value to the state,
and its proper maintenance and improve
ment should be provided for.
WAR RECORDS.
For nearly eight years the adjutant-gen-
erals office has been engaged IN the work
of preparing the individual history of the
Wisconsin troops IN the war for the pres
erVatIOn Of the Union. This work has
been very much expedited IN the last two
years, and L am able to announce that it is
now ready for the printer, and the adju-
tant-general has been able to materially
reduce the clericaIforce OF his office. The
cost of the work up to the present stage
has been about Sl40, 900.
IMPROVEMENTS OF ROADS.
The subject of the improvement of our
country roads is one of universal import
nd hon Two Y1Io oh
possible, be devised that will not only pro-
mote this desirable improvement, but VIII
insure uniformity and system In the prog
reSS of the work.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding this brief and somewhat
circumscribed review of state affairs, l
have endeavOred to cOnfine myself to sub
jectS that to me seem to press most prOmi-
nently for legislative attention There IS
still one topic to be considered that over
Of the taxpayers-that is, adher-
ence to the strictest economy IN
all public expenditures, however
small, consistent with efficient service and
wise conduct Of state affairs. The show
ing made by the economies of the past two
doubt, prove surprise to many people, is
by no means complete. There are OppOr-
tunities still left for the legislature
to dispense with needless officials,
anu W SGlll LUZ 16SGIICG tx
penses in certain branches of
state government, with assurance that
The result Will follow, as it has in
the past, that money will be saved and the
service improved at the same time. No
detail Of this subject is SO small as to be
unworthy Of your most serious attention.
Extravaganza in the conduct of public
business results in needless burdens upon
the people, and, what is worse, breeds
official neglect and corruption. Know
ing that one of the most
valuable aids to the last lesiS-
lature in the consideration of appropria-
tons was its joint committee on renench-
ment and reform, recommend that this
!, legislature appoint such a committee, to
whom shall be referred bills for the eX-
penditure of money. Believing that the
legislature in it's wisdom will be impressed
with the high and patriotic importance Of
dlScOuraging all tendencies to loose and
lavish public expenditures as first essen
tial of good government, | commend to
you these suggestions regarding the public
business OF the state
GEORGE W. PECK.
MADISON, Wis.