Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-01-18


lures for it have already been made, no
accurate or binding statement can be given
force at this time for the first half of
that period However, it has seemed best
to me to present these estimates and state
ments in the hope that it will become a
settled practice of the state, and that here
after all appropriations will be made upon
the basis of estimates, and be binding to
the extent that no considerable eXpendi-
lures can be made in any department be-
You'd the estimates furnished at the open
ing Of each biennial session of the LegiS-
lature. 1t is not necessary for me to en-
large upon this If the Legislature is to
make appropriations, it should first of all
ascertain rs accurately as possible the fixed
income of the state, and thus know Wheth-
er it is necessary to make special prOyiS-
ions to meet them; and should have esti-
mates so carefully prepared as to be prac-
! tically correct, of what appropriations are
needed by the different departments. In
order to give you approximately an eSti-
mate of what will be required, have asked
the regents of the State university, the re-
gents of the state normal schools, and
the board of control to furnish me with
estimates of the needs Of their several de-
partments for each of the two years Of
this period; and the needs of the depart
ments in the capitol building have based
upon the expenditures for series of years
as shown by the reports of the secretary
of state and the state treasurer.
The regents of the university have pre-
pared statement showing that with the
Strictest economy they can meet the neceS-
sary current expenses of the institution
for the present biennial period with the
sum of $76O,6O0, which sum is already pro-
vided for by the appropriations made as
permanent tax levies and percentages of
license fees. together with trust fund in
come, so that for the maintenance of the
university for 1899 and 1900 no special ap-
preparation will have to be made. Farther
on shall refer to the special appropriation
for new buildings which is asked for.
The amount which will be distributed for
the maintenance of the common schools
biennial npriO0 Is
which provision is already made by law.
and no special appropriation will be needed
for them.
The normal school regents inform me
that it will require S64O, 900 to pay the
current expenses of the normal schools
for the biennial period. This is already
provided for by law.
The board of control has prepared for
me table showing what it cost during
the last biennial period to carry on the
state institutions and giving also a state
ment showing that it will require for the
current biennial period 81, 300, 23S. No de-
auctions have been made for estimated
ceipts by the state treasurer from the char
liable and penal institutions and from
counties for maintenance of the insane in
the state institutions. Comparing this with
the cost of the seven institutions which
were in existence at the opening of the
last biennial period, there is shown a re-
ductiOn in expenses of $4,000.
For general administrative purposes-and
this estimate I have made upon the basis
Of expenses for 4 period of several years
/ it will require $2,149, 116 For the main
tenance of the judiciary-that is, the cir
cult courts and the Supreme cOurt-it will
require for the biennial period 5000 The
Legislature will cost about $211.219, the
latter including the cost of the publication
of the laws The total of these estimated
expenses for the present biennial period is
Sc, S77,373
A careful estimate of the probable total
income OF the state. based upon the re-
ceipts for the last few years and includ-
u niyNt- f,Ar,, 4 1,p inJ
tax levy made to reimburse the general
fund in 1897, aggregates S6,S30, $50. In
this amount, it should be explained, there
is not included the money received from
counties for care of their own insane in
other county institutions. as the state in
this particular acts merely Il clearing
house Tor those counties, paying each the
amount due on this account; but there is
included amount of 1861 600. which it is
estimated will be received by the state
treasurer from charitable and penal insti-
tutiOnS and from counties for maintenance
of their insane in the various state insti-
tutiOnS.
To recapitulate: The estimated expenses
of the state for the present biennial period,
not including any special appropriations
which have been asked and to which refer
ence will be made later, are $6.S77, 372;
period is S6,S30,S50 Assuming that these
figures are correct, there would be a deficit
at the end of the biennial period of S46.-
go This deficit is not so great however
but that by the strictest economy it is
possible to carry on all departments of
the state government for the present bien-
Mai period without provision being made
by the Legislature for an increase of reve-
nue..
There are asked, however special appro-
prlatlOnS amounting to more than $500 900,
which you will be called upon to consider.
These special appropriations are: 100000
by the board Of control, half of which
sum is asked for additional buildings for
the new state refOrmatOry; So 900 for
Historical
$50, 600 for the agricultural department of
the State university: S100, 900 for the cree
ton Of suitable building for the College
of Engineering of the university, and $75,-
600 by the normal schools, besides an APP
preparation for the tax commission, to re-
imburse the, trust funds for the loan to
the Agricultural society, and smaller
amounts for other purposes. If all or any
OF these appropriations are made, it will
be necessary for the Legislature to pro-
vide by special tax levy, or otherwise, the
money to meet them.
At this point it may be we'll to say
word about the special tax which it was
and concerning which there has been much
misunderstanding and discussion. For
many years no tax levy was made for gen
eral-fund purposes, but regardless of this
appropriations were made by the LegisIa-
ture, and year after year the general fund
showed shortage, sometimes more, some
times less, but gradually accommodating I'M
til it became necessary for the state treas
urer to call upon the railroads in advance
of the time when their license fees were
due, and to borrow money from the banks
and from the trust funds in order to main
tain the credit of the state. If the treas
urer had not done this. the state during
the past twelve or fifteen years, would
many times have been unable to pay its
current expenses. In a message sent to
the Legislature in February, 1897, l called
attention to the existing conditions, and to
the obvious fact that the state should not
be dependent for the maintenance of it's
credit upon the good will of the railroad
| companies or the illegal use of it's credit
by the state officials at the banks in order
! to pay it's bills, and recommended that
authority be given for the levy of a tax
| sufficient to balance the accounts of the
| state and place the general fund upon
! solvent basis. The special tax was au-
thorized and was levied in the fall of 1897.
l recommend that hereafter all appro-
! priations made by the Legislature be upon
/ the basis of such budget as is here pre-
| scented. and which in the future it will be
| possible to make more accurate than this
! one; and that the difference between the
| fixed receipts and necessary expenditures
| be raised as one tax, instead of being di-
! vided into number of special levies. There
| are now the statute books number of
| laws providing for the special levies of
! comparatively small amounts for various
| institutions the of which represents
! the total tax levy. These special levies run
! for different periods and some are not linn