Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-24
Denies Charge That
Republicans Are
Extravagant
Urges More Laws for
Control of Cor
poratlons

q
jaign here last night with an address
of length, delivered before a large au-
dience which gave liberal applause TO
the arguments of the executive as he
told why he thought the republican
ticket should be elected The gov
ernOr congratulated the state upon
the prevailing prosperity and dis
cussed with thoroughness both ma
| tional and state issues. He paid d
tribute to President Roosevelt, spoke
n favor of tariff revision whenever
necessary and devoted himself to the
subject of state expenditures.
Economy in State Administration.
During the years of republican ad,
ministration in this state since 1894, +"
said the governor. The state govern
ment has been conducted most eco.
nomically, 1t is t~!.s cils.t the expense
Of government has increased, and it
viii continue to increase as long as
the state grows in population and
wealth and more complex civiuza-
ton must be dealt with. But the in.
crease mas been reasonable,-very rea.
sonable, much less than in any other
state, situated as is Wisconsin. This
! Is seen from reference to the ex-
I penditures of other states, during \
/ similar period" Here the governor
introduced figures showing that the
per capita cost Of government in Wis,
+ eonsin has increased 90 per cent.
Iowa shows an increase of IS per cent
Ohio 80 per cent, Indiana % per cent.
Michigan "a per cent, and Minnesota
81 cer cent. In all of these the ex.
pendltures are considerably higher
than in Wisconsin and in all hut In
diana, the rate of increase is much
greater than in our own state, and in
Indiana the per capita expense is al
read7 Is cents higher than in Wis.
ccnsin.
/ During the years Of this increase.
relatively less than in the other states
Wisconsin has made tremendous
strides, all calling for a legitimate in
crease In financial outlay. The popu.
iation has Increased from 1890 To 1905
nearly So per cent The average poD-
ulation of the state charitable. 5enal
end reformatory institutions mas in.
| creased from 2,490 in 1898 to $3.50 IN
1906. The attendance at normal
i schools has increased from 2.2s1 in
1893 to 1896 in 1904. and the state
university has grown from 1887 sr1.
dents in 1898 to 3.57l in 1905. CTha
great Increase in the cost of supplies
materials and labor during recent
years is common knowlefael This
remarkable growth has called foa, i'm.
mense expenditures for attendant
and care at state chart able and penal
institutions, many more, professors at
/ educational Institutions. more grounds
and many costly buildings.
Railroad Taxation Reformed.
! A civil service commission mas
been established, which has already
examined $500 applicants for posi.
/ tons, and under whose guidance all
appointments and removals in the
state civil service will be upon the
basis of merit alone. Under the II.
cense fee system Of taxation, the rail.
roads reported only such earnings as
! would result in their paying such
4 taxes as they chose. No examination
OF their accounts could be made In
order to ascertain their correctness
law was passed authorizing the
, state to make an expert examination
OF the railroad receipts and il was
! found for the last six years. earnings
| to the extent of $12,24S,142 has been
concealed, upon which s4S9,925 in
! taxes was due. Laws in the aid II
/ the recovery of these funds were
passed and finally these back taxes
Tor as far back as the statute of Hmj.
i tatons permitted, will be recovere,,
and placed in the state treasury. A
state railroad commission has been
established, which in less than one
! year since its creation has reduced
the freight rates on wheat, oats, bar
ley. rye, corn, lumber, salt and other
! products, resulting in a reduction NJ
transportation charges amounting 10
t @''' FAs'NFsVVv, anu duUiU2 annUaliV n
corresponding sum to Wisconsin prod
ucts.
Expenses Must Increase.
As the state grows in wealth and
society advances, there is an increas
ing demand for greater protection IN
almost every branch of industry
Government inspection is now found
necessary and demanded where none
was ever thought of a decade ago
The constant growth in the function,
OF government also requires on It's
part greater activity and efforts in the
! field of scientific and agricultural re
search and investigation, as we'll as
larger executive forces in every
branch Of the service. There is hardl,
a legislature which does not find 4
necessary to create a new bureau O,
department of some kind, and 10 add
new or additional duties of some sort
to nearly every department already n
existence. The people, not only as :
matter Of self protection. but on the
i