The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Call for Economy in Expenditure
Of State Moneys.
REVISION OF TAX LAWS.
Abolition of Trusts and Com bine S
Which Tried to Destroy Conn
petition Recommended.

Madison, Wis, Jan. 0.-[Special. /
Following is synopsis of Gov La Fol-
lette's message to the Legislature, which
was read by the governor IL person atf
joint session Of both houses at noon to-
day:
Gentlemen of the Senate and Assem-
bly,: 1t is alike a privilege and pleas
ure to congratulate you as the chosen
representatives OF the people of the state
assembled under the law to express their
VIII IN your legislative acts. The session
DeIore you promises to be one of arduOus
LABOR and unusual responsibility. In COM
planGe with the constitution and estab-
l!shed precedent, | submit the informa-
ton and recommendations which follow:
Inc efforts of my predecessor to intro
duce better business methods into the
financial system of the state government
has resulted in emphasizing many defects
and instituting some improvement in the
management of state funds ANY refor-
NATION introduced in the administrative
departments OF government must be eX-
tended to legislative educational and jul
diclaI branches, as well, before there can
be reasonable hope of obtaining the de-
sired results. SO long as the administra-
tive and legislative departments persist in
attempts to shift, each upon the other,
responsibility for tax levies to meet de-
hclencies which both help to create, there
must be abundant opportunity for i'm
Under the law the fiscal year of the
state ends September 30, and all regular
Official reports are for the term ending
on that day. This fact, with a few 9TH
efs closely related to it, | believe to be
responsible for much of the public misun-
Outstanding of state finances and for
most of the misleading information con-
corning state affairs upon which legisla-
tors have been obliged to rely for guild
ance. Reports for the fiscal year show
balances upon a date within few weeks
after the receipt Of large amounts of rev.
enue as license fees from corporations,
etc, but months before the close of the
administration term-months in which
extraordinary disbursements. including
legislative expenses IN each biennial term,
must be made before considerable rev.
enleS are again received. The usual and
natural result OF this system is found in
misleading official reports, showing
handsome cash balance at the close of
the fiscal year, and four months later a
new administration finds itself confront
ed at the beginning of it's term of life
with an alarming deficit as the founda-
tlon for new appropriations by the Legis-
!ature and the natural and steady growth
III ordinary current expenses.
An Inevitable Deficit.
Take. for example. the present condi-
tions, which are admittedly an improve
ment over those that have prevailed here
t0f0re, owing to the refusal of the adj
Inlnlstratlve officers to attempt to paw
from the current expense funds all ex-
traordinary appropriations authorized by
the Legislature without providing for
them by increased revenues At the close
OF the fiscal year, September 80, 1900,
the balance in the general fund of the
state was $780, 0S.74. At the end of
the calendar year and administration
term, January {, 1901, the general fund
last balance, $4,000 is derived from ad-
vance payment of railway license fees
which do not become due until the month
of March. The state aid to free high
schools amounting to S97. 607.S3, due De
cember 1, 1900. is unpaid-although the
warrants therefor are in the treasury de-
Partment-because available moneys in
the general fund are required to meet cur
rent expenses. These items, when prop
erly deducted leave net balance. of
$4lZo94 IN the general fund. Legisla-
tive and other expenses payable within
the next few days will aggregate more
than 100000, and there is no appreci-
able amount of receipts due to the gen
eral fund from any source before the
time for payment of corpora ton license
from February to March by the last
Legislature. Besides this inevitable def
CIT there is an additional deficiency of
S323. oOo.14 being the amount of appro-
pfiatlons by the last Legislature the pay
ment Of which has been refused ON ac-
count OF lack of means in the general
fund, and which continues as a charge
to be paid out of that fund as soon as
sufficient moneys mot otherwise appro-
Prlated' shall accumulate therein. In
brief. you have a legacy of over $500, 900
excess appropriations from the last Legis-
iatufe TO take into your considerations,
ana the administration begins business
with a considerable treasury deficit in
sight in lieu of the balance which might
be expected from the condition of the |
general fund at the close OF the fiscal
year as shown by the annual official re-
ports available to the public for purposes
OF information.
L