The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-10-13
MAY GET THEIR MONEY
General Fund May Have $780,.
900 Next Year.
TAX LEVY NAY BECOME OBSOLETE

Comm""" "aIth-senator Spooner Will
| BE .r"u, Figure in Washington
| TIN, scotieid's Withdrawal
Wi.cn..,.. Message To Dewey.
Ma,.Sul, Wis, Oct. 10.-The retire
ment OF Governor Scofeld clarifies the
situation by removing the element of
uncertainty in that quarter. He has
put his refusal so definitely that there
is no misunderstanding him. Of course
state convention can call out any
body it pleases to be the candidate for
governor, and 10 one can refuse. No
one would refuse.
There are only two doors which
might open to a reorganization to one
In Scofeld's position. One is unani-
nous call. but contest is already be-
gun. The other is his selection as a
compromise But there are already
among the candidates and men
toned" some Of them midway between
| the factions There will be a plenti-
tude of compromises" if one is neces
sary. Governor Scofield never stood
SO we'll with the people, Some think
he made a mistake in so declaring
himself, on the theory that it is never
we'll to let go the options of life and
destiny until one is forced to do it.
| With the convention SO far off it is no
ones business whether he would take
a denomination or not; there need be
for a time certainly no embarrassment
| to the other candidates.
| ScOfield Acts in Good Faith.
But the governor wants to retire.
| He cOvetS the rest, and another cam
paign would be uncongenial to him.
For a hardened public man it is q
trif1e to be called a hOrsetheif and to
have the Democratic journals and
| (worse) fractional Republican papers
nosing round ones private papers and
the details Of ones woodshed to find
campaign issue. But to take a mod
est, Woodworking lumberman from his
office and quiet home, and put him up
on a perch for political egg-thrOwing;
| only those who have been in it can
know what it means. Governor Sco-
field must conserve his health. He
got a good deal of satisfaction from
his second election, and he will just
enjoy during the next fifteen months
the pleasant things people will say to
| him in appreciation of his administra-
ton.
Tax Levy May Not Be Missed.
There will be no tax levy. And it
! may be that no one will care. Gov
ernor Scofeld said in his Berlin speech
| that the state treasury is better off
than it has been for twenty years.
] Prosperity has struck us. With rev.
| enues coming in as they are now in
| growing amounts it is not unlikely
that there will be from $25000O to
| 100000 in the state treasury next
| year-that is, in the general fund
above money needed for current eX-
penses. Next year the items that cost
| in a legislative year will be missing
some 100000 for the legislative SEES
sion; $4,000 for printing the laws;
more than that for the blue book. This
year some $4,000 was needed for i'm
provements about the capitol.
| Not only will there be less OutgO, but
! there is an increase in the income.
Railroads will pay $4,000 more. The
sleeping car and express companies
are opening up a new source that may
yield $4,000 or more. Corporation
fees and taxes are increasing their
| flow into the treasury. Indeed, it is
not unlikely. unless unforeseen expendi-
| lures occur, and an unwarranted eX-
travagance on the part of future legis-
latures, that the tax levy" for gen.
eral fund purposes is a thing of the
past. The corporation taxes and pres
ent sources of revenue may support
the state. If it does. Governor SEQ
| field will be credited by historians
with pointing out the possibility of SO
saving the citizen purse.
Feeble Mindeds Sorry Plight.
While the possible surplus in the
general fund next year will not meet
| all the demands of the state institu-
tons, it will relieve the pressure. The
predetermined institution at Chippewa
Falls pitifully needs new buildings.
There are accommodations for some
400 unfOrtunateS there now, and there
are 800 or 400 more who should be
taken in at once. The total number
of imbecileS in the state is 5000. This
institution calls for a special appropri-
alton of $15S.000.
What distribution will be made is
not clear, perhaps on a pro rata basis
to the institutions to which the legis-
| lature made appropriations. 1t is
doubtful, however, if the Green Bay
| reTOrmdCOry is tnon romemQoreQ. Inc
"reformatory" idea is given setback
in this state, for a time certainly.
Some hold that the state is not big
enough yet to warrant conducting
first offenders prison. The number
committed there thus far is limited
less than fifty. The prison warden.
McClaughry, and Chief of Police
Jansen of Milwaukee are reported
skeptics.
However, reforms involving the SEN
timental idea, usually come from with
out the ranks of professional custodi
ans of criminals. The plan of ap-
pointing matrons for female prisoners
in station houses in the large cities
has almost universally been opposed
by police chiefs in the beginning of
the movement.
Spooner Ready for a Busy Winter.
Senator SpOoner is back from the
western hunting country and in fight
ing trim for the next session. He is
in excellent health and spirits and will
| do yViSaoOSiD credit in tho all. impor-