Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-01-17

utonaD of the Senate and Assembly
T. * alike a privilege and pleasure
CONGRATULATE you as the chosen repre-
sor+a+iyes Of the people of the State as
sorbIe3 under the law to express their
I'll il your legislative acts. The session
\ ,afora yoQ promises to be one of arduous
,"hnr and unusual responsibility. In
.aT with the constitution and es-
.YhI;sbpd precedent, 1 submit the infor-
90 and recommendations which fol-
\ low:
arct better business methods into the
snonc;al system of the State government
80 rnsu)tpd in emphasizing many de-
f,ots and n.stituting some Improvement
- tho n,anagcment of State funds. The
",oson. .auditions are admittedly an i'm
l.ovo,,.l.1.t over those that have prevailed
i,,rotofare. owing to the refusal of the
administrative officers to attempt to pay
ssor the current expense funds all ex-
.ronrdiDarv appropriations authorized by
.Lo legislature without providing for
.5o,, hv increased revenues. At the close
4 y, the fiscal year, Sept. 80, 1900, the
balance in the general fund of the State
was S44G 4GS.74. At the end of the
o,ron3qr wear and administration term,
Ian :. 1901, the general fund balance
was only Sl5l .S3333.77. OF this last bal
onco $4,000 is derived from advance
normca, If railway license fees which
i, no, come due until the month of
|,far.f The State aid to free high
scboo,s amounting to $97,607.S3, due
.Dpc. !, 1900, is unpaid-although the
warrants therefor are in the Treasury
Denartmrut-because available moneys
in tbp general fund are required to meet
current EXPENSES. These items, when
nr,ppr,y deducted, leave a net balance
Rof S41g1.G1 III the general fund. Legls-
'latiye ana other expenses payable within
+5e next few days will aggregate more
than S1oH0QG, and there is no apprecia-
4 BE amount Of receipts due to the general
fund from any source before the time for
Er9ymcat If corporation license fees and
|Sate taxes, which was changed from
February 70 March by the last Legisla-
Stre. Besides this inevitable deficit there
4 Is an additional deficiency of 1923 ,5Oo.74,
e being the amount of appropriations by
Rtle last legislature the payment of
(which has been refused on account of
hack Of means IN the general fund, and
s (which continues as charge to be paid
4 but Of that fund as soon as sufficient
moneys mot otherwise appropriated"
shall accumulate therein. In brief, you
(have a legacy Of over $500, 900 excess ap-
Spropriauous from the last Legislature to
bake into your considerations, and the
\ administration begins business with
considerable treasury deficit in sight in
blu Of The balance which might be eX-
&pectoG from the condition of the general
fund at tie close of the fiscal year as
Blown by the annual official reports avail
bible to the public for purposes of in
FORMATION.
Sufficient 70 convince you of the desira-
E,ity Of better consideration of the rev
epueS Of tie State before new eXpendl-
lures are authorized, perhaps a stronger
argument may be found in the total re-
feipts and disbursements of the State for
4 period Of ten years, from 1889 to 1898.
Ehesp statistics show that in four years
put Of the ten there was an excess of
disbursements over receipts even at the
pose q The fiscal year. It is not diff
Putt in view IF the system that has been
n use 70 believe that the trust funds of
ehe State have been in requisition for
Genera. fund purposes during the greater
portion u al those years. 1t may not
r. practical to make the fiscal year OF
1e State end with the calendar and adj
MnEtrat.ou year, so far as the general
Fiieal reports are involved 1t ought
4 be possible for the Legislature to re-
Q0re cuH.if .ete reports of the financial
ontluon Of the State government to be
punished II the beginning of the calen-
lar year. These will afford great assist
nee t. legislative committees. In addi-
Ion there should be required more accu-
ate estimates for disbursements, the
Same tc he made in detail for each de-
NtmeNt # State government. With
Ills exact knowledge of the condition
the States business at the close of
leA administration and at the beginning
eacA legislative session, the proper
'nMl.tec~ can formulate a legislative
adset or appropriation bill covering all
expenditures
Taxation,
NAap.vr -J5, Laws of 1899, authorizes
e appointment of a tax commissioner
~ TWO assistants to the commissioner,
VI 1Ae purpose Of investigating the tax
S'eM OF this State, reporting thereon
Ine Legislature, and formulating and
0'"AeAC.ng legislation. Owing to the
'Fe u the work, and the great loss
tSN"N're 70 the commission in the death
'Ue 1E>t tax commissioner, Gen. Mi
-"e Or!thn. l am advised that no com
'e'e p.&n Of revision of the tax laws will
Eot'Se4 N the report made at the
ling Of ne session.
"'"s- = may require another bien-
~, Pe.-ou TO perfect and complete this
VA 'I me commission, the fact should,
,''' 10 circumstances, be made the ex-
w VI justification for delaying such
,,'y'.2.s II manifest inequalities as it
~Fo>>'o'e ior the present Legislature to
~GF OF lie first questions you should
NV. w. IL ealing with the subject of
,',''- : Tie law creating the commits
- 4>t.t. \ csraful ay,r,;,,+;o, Of -