The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-12-19
THE STATES FINANCES.
Republican Administration Draw
ing to a Close Has Been
Economical.

Madison, Wis, Dec. 15.-[Special L
The biennial report of Secretary of State
Casson for the two years ended Septcm-
Der 80. 1896, is in the hands Of the print
or and Will be ready for distribution
shortly. 1t shows the condition of the
several state funds. with n complete
statement of receipts and disbursements
theretrom during this fiscal term, given
IN detail; also an estimate of receipts
and disbursements for the next two
years, the revenues for that period be
ing estimated To exceed the expenditures
by S14l5.5G. this including the balance
III the general fund September 30 last,
which was Sf9,S15.J6.
Economical Administration.
That the finances of the state have
been most carefully and economically
administered Is shown by the condition
of the general fund. This embraces all
the revenues of the state applicable TO
the payment of the ordinary expenses Of
the state government, the sources from
which 1t Is derived being tax on civil
actions. license of railroad companies,
log driving and booming companies. ttic
graph and tclcpho.s companies, insurance
companies and lIiWkerS and prddlcrS:
fees received from notaricS public. from
various state Offices and from the sale
Of books snd reports. The expenditures
from lHlS lulu are 3UtlUrlIcu by per-
manent ana temporary appropriations.
The general fund receipts for 500 cx-
ceedCd those for 1899 by $3.50. 1890. be
ing for lS@H 81, 124. .561.51, and for 1898
81, ISS.Stsl.52. a total for the two years
of 81, $50, ,692S0. The disbursements.
on the other hand. were SS1S. 136.22 less
IN 1896 than in 1890. the figures hemg:
1896, S2111.37O51; for 1899, $2,729.-
5O6.1 .13; a total of 81. $40 S77.2f. or $40
SlJ.36 less than the receipts
How the Democrats Made "A Showing.
The figures in the last biennial report.
lenr the close of the Democratic admin
.stratOn, showed a balance in the gcncr-
al fund Of $911,315.11. This showing,
however, was made by issuing vouchers
and putting off all payments possible un-
II! after the report was made, and when
the Republicans came into power they
found a deficit of $40 in the general
fund and $1,000 in the school fund. OF
this seemingly handsome balance ST.,
so had been paid out on vouchers issued
in lieu Of taxes: nearly SloOnO had gone
to the charitable and penal institutions,
$4,000 20 pay the salaries of the SUI
prcmc court justices and the balance to
pay other debts.
The Republicans. on the other hand.
when this report was made. September
80 last. had outstanding accounts of not
more than 5000 to meet. II was found
necessary to borrow $4,000 from the
trust funds in 1898 and S2lO.OH in 1896
but all of this has been paid back and
4 balance Of $40 9,S15.56 remained. And
this despite the fact that the receipts
from railroad taxes were several hum
dred dollars less than in previous years
these taxes being fixed on a percentage
of the gross receipts.
The balance in the trust funds has
grown from &79.511.19 in 1894 to $3O5,-
0251S in 1896. The receipts for the
past two years were 81. .S:}1 ,32O.i9; dis
hUrsemcQtS. So. 522, ,295.3l.
The General Fund.
The actual receipts of the general fund
for the past two years were S3.913.3TI.-
%. Of which the largest item was from
the railroads. $2.34S.54G.14 The dis
hurscments. aggregating $f,Sf0, ,SII.24,
were as follows:
Salaries and expenses. ........... $3GT 9S5 -
Permanent appropriatonS..... 92925.9i
state census .....-. !N.S-.'. 4.'
Legislative expenses. ...........-. 16T.N1~.T II
Charitable and penal Institutions, l.lUo91 / ~
Clerk hire. .-...... ..''.-.'..... Xxx 4S.'..,5
Labor about capitol. 100 16%.f4
For sundry purposes. ...... N,tEl2.92
The legislative expenditures include
S6404.TG for the special session of 1896.
Under Suudry expenses are included III"
maintenance of the National guard.
800. 1891 for the two years; the trans
fer in lieu of taxes. SG;,2.51O: the pay
meut Of trust fund leans, amounting
with interest to S26u, SLID; maintaining
insane in county aSyiumS, S6l I,IlG.4i:
free high schools. S9I,490.3S; printing.
SGT ,O40W6; payments to county 9gricnl-
tural societies. Sal. .l51.Ol: special upIro-
Priations, S256545.S5: bounty on wild
animals. $2O,91S: and several smaller cX-
PcnditureS.
The Trust Funds