Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-10-19

known that his method of deriving
the cost of government was absolutely
without reason and his conclusion
most fallacious He has become con
fused between the terms, state ex
penditures, and cost of government
State expenditures include not only
the disbursement from the Genera
Fund, but from all state funds, in
Guiding the educational trust funds
The cost of the state government or
the other hand. does not comprise al
the disbursements from the Genera
Fund. The total expenditures from
the General Fund contain many trans
fers which, according to the most
elementary rules of bookkeeping anc
accounting cannot be considered as
state expenses. A transfer of money
from one fund to another, according
to law is no more ali expenditure
than the placing of money from one
pocket of purse into another. In
no case did he deduct transfers MADE
from the General Fund according to
special acts of the legislature, MOI
transfers made to the income funds OF
the educational institutions in place
of state tax RENTED. To dis
regard these rules is to show Lack
of knowledge of state finances or an
intention to conceal the public record.
During the years of Republican
administration in this state since 1894,
the state government has been con-
Quoted most economically. A scien-
tifc and honest examination of state
accounts, deducting all transfers
which cannot be considered as state
expenses and comparing the cost of
government in 1905, the last fiscal year
for which complete data is available
with 1893, year in the second Demo
cratic administration, instead of
showing an increase of 200 per cent
as was stated, proves concluisvely
that the increase was but twentysix
per cent during eleven years
1t is true that the expense of gov
eminent has increased, and it will
continue to increase as long as the
state grows in population and wealth
and a more complex civilization must
be dealt with. But the increase has
been reasonable, very reasonable,
much less than in any other state,
situated as is Wisconsin. This is
seen from a reference to the expendi-
tues of other states, during a similar
period.
While the per capital cost of govern
ment in Wisconsin has increased &c
per cent, Iowa shows an increase of
So per cent. Ohio SO per cent, Indiana
% per cent, Michigan IA per cent and
Minnesota 81 per cent. In all of
these the expenditures are consider
ably higher than in Wisconsin, and
in all but Indiana the rate of increase
is much greater than in our own state,
and in Indiana the per capita expense
is already thirteen cents higher than
in Wisconsin.
During the years of this increase,
relatively less than in the other states,
Wisconsin has made tremendous
strides, all calling for legitimate in
crease in financial outlay. The popu-
lation has increased from 1890 to 1905
nearly 80 per cent. The average popu-
lation of the state charitable, penal
and reformatory institutions has in
ceased from 2, 400 in 1893 to 1888 in
1906. The attendance at Normal
Schools has increased from 2,281 in
1893 to 8 1876 in 1904, and the State Uni
versity has grown from 1887 students
in 1893 to 3,517 in 1905. The great
increase in the cost of supplies, ma
terials and labor during recent years
is certain knowledge. The remark
able growth has called for immense
expenditures for attendants and care
at state charitable and penal institu-
lions, many more professors at educa
tional institutions, more grounds and
many more buildings.
During the four years of democratic
control from 1891 to 1894, the state ex-
pended less than $685., 900 for addition
al buildings and improvements of state
institutions. During the last six years
of republican administration alone
there has been completed the great his
torical library building, the chemical
building, the agricultural college
building, the engineering building.
extensions to many of the other uni
versity buildings, and much valuable
ground purchased, additional normal
schools have been constructed and
provided for while the old ones have
been enlarged; a Tuberculosis sanitar-
ium has been established, school fol-
adult blind artisans provided, and new
buildings and improvements made al
the charitable and penal institutions
costing over s40U, 900. In all there has
been expended from the general func
during the last six years for perman
ent improv ements, considerably ovel
81, 900, QUO Preceding 1900, the republi
can administration erected the Greer
Bay reformatory, the home for feeble
minded, and several buildings for the
normal schools and UNIVERSITY. Il