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

and other appliances and to improve
the conditions of the employees. Foul
free employment offices have been es-
tablished in the largest cities which
have already found positions fol 60, OOC
people out Of employment. Addition
al dairy and food inspectors have beer
authorized to inspect the rapidly
growing dairy industry and with the
aid of chemists to protect the public
against food authorizations. 4 refer
ence library has been established for
the aid, improvement and scientific
study of legislation. The tax COM
mission has been made permanent,
and by it's labor, has added three
quarters of million dollars annually
to the income of the state. In the
office of the insurance commissioner
through the examination of insurance
companies and by vigorous enforce
ment of the law, over $35, coo of back
taxes was recovered IN 1904, while
the total receipts of that office in
creased from S129, 931.0 5 in 1894, the
last year of democratic adminlstra-
ton, to $6l3, COL. 81 in 1906, an in
crease of 473 per cent in twelve years.
A primary election law has been
passed to displace the old caucus sys-
TEN of nominations and it's incident
evils, and giving to the people the
right to nominate their own candi-
dates without interference.
A civil service commission has been
established, which has already exam
ined l, 500 applicants for position, and
under whose guidance all appoint
ments and removals in the state civil
service will be upon the basis of merit
alone. Under the license fee system
of taxation, the railroads reported
only such earnings as would result in
their paying such taxes as they chose.
No examination Of their accounts
could be made in order to ascertain
their correctness. A law was passed
authorizing the state to make an ex-
pert examination of the railroad re-
ceipts and it was found for the last
six years, earnings to the extend of
$12, 284, 142 had been concealed, upon
which $780, 25 in taxes was due.
Laws in the aid of the recovery of
those funds were passed and finally
these back taxes, for as far back as
the statute of limitations, permitted,
will be recovered and placed in the
state treasury. A state railroad
commission has been established
which in less than one year since it's
creation has reduced the freight rates
on wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn,
lumber, salt and other products, re-
sulting IN a reduction of transporta-
ton charges amounting to over ST.
900, 900 and adding annually CORES
ponding sum to Wisconsin products.
AS the state grows in wealth and
society advances there is an increas-
ing demand for greater protection in
almost every branch of industry. Gov
eminent inspection is now found ne
cessary and demanded where none was
even thought of a decade ago. The
constant growth in the functions of
government also requires on its 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 hard
ly Legislature which does not find it
necessary to create new bureau OR
department of some kind, and to add
new or additional duties of some sort
to nearly every department already IN
existence. The people, not only as a
matter of protection, but on the
ground of general advancement ask
this. They find that by exercise it is
necessary and that it is good business
policy to take such a course. 1t in
creases expense, but it is money we'll
spent. The benefits which have &C
crued form these expenditures have
been of vastly greater Importance than
their actual money cost.
AS a result of wise economy in leg
isation, improving fiscal system,
the administration for the third sue
cessive year has been able to remit
all state taxes. An attempt was
made in 1894 by the democratic party
to remit state taxes, but it caused the
state financial embarrassment, for the
funds were in no condition to warrant
such an act. The state was compelled
to borrow from the trust fund, corpor
alton were induced to pay their taxes
in advance, and finally a tax of $500,
900 had to be levied in order tc
straighten the account. There were
not many transfers during Democratic
administrations, for the states treas
ury was in no condition to warrant
such a course. In the fiscal year OF
1906 state taxes were again RENTED
and 81, $50, OH. Oh was transferred from
the general fund to the trust funds II
place of the tax not levied and large
balance remains. Not the slightest
inconvenience Will result to the state,
These large transfers from the gener
al fund in lieu of taxes not levied, are
also generally disregarded in COM