Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-01-20
$5,1GG,973.36

Normal School
Fund, loans. 1913, 1882
Total ... $5.16G, 973. Sc
The balance remaining unexpended in the
governors contingent fund at L O'Clock on
January 1 was SS55.I9.
The greater portion of the states income
for general expenditures is derived from the
railways. For the fiscal year ending DeceIG-
Der 80, 1896 the receipts from the 4 per
cent. tax upon the gross earnings of the rail
ways, which is laid in lieu of other taxation,
amounted to $1,172, IL. l.. The total of ex-
penditures from the general fund for the
same period was s., Ill ,370.51. The unfay-
orabie financial and business conditions
which have existed since 1893 have seriously
reduced the earnings Of the railway COM
panies operating within the state. and in
consequence thereof the revenues of the
state shave fallen off. With a return of nor
mai conditions the revenue of the state from
the railways viii be restored, and the COM
pletion Of the new lines and extensions al
ready begun give promise of an increased
revenue to the state, as well as the open
ing up Of territory heretofore not accessible
TO settlers.
Railroads.
The railroads Of the state are closely
identified with the development of our agri-
cultural, commercial, manufacturing and
other interests Farmers, merchants, manu-
facturerS. miners and all classes OF our pe0-
pie come daily into business relations with
them, and it is Il cause for congratulation
that the relations existing between the
business within our borders and the people
of the state are so generally harmonious.
Educational.
The character OF its common schools IS
the standard by which any commonwealth
is best Judged. The school system of Wis
consin may well bring pride and satiSfac-
ton to her citizens. The foundation of the
system was laid in the constitution and its
present perfection is due to many years Of
intelligent legislation. to the earnest inter
est Of the people and to the able and patri-
otto efforts of those who give their lives to
the great work of popular education. 1t is
by far the most important interest for
which the Legislature is called upon TO make
provision. Something of the claims Of the
schools upon your attention from the purely
monetary side of the question will be I'M
deFstood when it is stated that the total
disbursements for the common schools dur
ing the year ending June 30, 1886 were
S5,31S. 106 16; that the total number of per-
sons Of school age reported for the year
ending June 30. 1896. was 684S90; that the
total number Of scholars for the same year
was 4126S7; that the number of teachers
employed in the state during the same time
was 12.334 and that there are 1872 free
Nigh schools in the state, which employ 672
principals and assistant teachers, at an an
nua compensat ton Of S314,20991.
No educational factor has been more po-
tent in making the school life attractive to
the children and charging the scope of
their intellectual raining than the excellent
books to which access is furnished through
the medium of the township library. The
state superintendent Is lHb6Sieu WITH the
administration of the township library law
and his recommendations for further legis-
iation to increase the efficiency of the Ii
brary and to accomplish the observance of
the law III every town in the state are
entitled to careful consideration.
I recommend that the Legislature take the
preliminary steps toward amending the con-
stitutjon SO that provision may be made
by statute for paying the state Superin-
tendent of public instruction Il salary com
mensurate with the dignity and Importance
of his office. An amendment of this char
acter was voted uDon at the last general
election and defeated. The merit Of the
proposition is SO Obvious and the present
situation 50 unsatisfactory as To warrant
the belief that the defeat of the amendment
was due to the absorption of popular
thought by the mumentouS Issues OF the
campaign Under the constitution the SUI
per;ntendent is receiving the meager salary
Of 5000 I cannot believe the people Oh
this state desire Il continuance OF the pres
cnt situation.
IN his report which will be laid before
yon the state superintendent Of public in
Effucttnu mas made number Of importan
recommended ions and suggestions with
view t. promoting the efficiency of thu
schoo's These recommendations should bt
carefully considered.
The State University.
It is a cause for congratuation that OF
State university sJauds today in the from
rank of the higher educational institution
of the country. and that each year IT Ia
been enab,eti. through the liberal proyiS
ions made by the Legislature, TO keep pac