Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-12-17
STATE TREASURY IS EMPTY AND
PROBABLY WILL BE UNTIL
FIRST OF FEBRUARY.
MAY APPEAL TO THE RAILWAYS.
Governor Is Notified by Treasurer Dahl
That Salaries May Remain Unpaid
During January.
NO INCOME UNTIL TAXES ARE DUE.

MADISON. w u.s., Zee. LII opecIdlI
Wisconsin is up against it; it is facing
q deficiency in the state treasury of It
half million dollars. There will be prac
ticalIy no funds for salaries and carry
ing on of the states business Tor the
month Of January, or until taxes arc
due, the first part OF February.
In anticipation Of this situation State
Treasurer A II. Dahl today sent Gov.
Davidson a letter apprising him Of the
treasurer makes no recommendations TO
the governor as 10 how to meet the
situation, and is himself not certain how
the state can proceed.
A hurried session Of the Legislature
would not help things, as the taxes for
this year have already been levied; it
could not make an appropriation since
there is no money to appropriate, and il
could not authorize the borrowing of
sufficient money since the state is linn
tied i'll borrowing to the sum Of $4,000
There are various special funds III the
treasury of varying amounts, mostly
small ones, but these cannot be turned
into the general fund
Must Practice Economy.
So far as the state treasurer can now
see, it may be necessary to practice the
most rigid economy during January, TO
hold back ali warrants, salaries and
building expenses as far as possible. and
possibly to borrow 100000, the limit
the state can go. Perhaps, too. the eX
pedient may be resOrted to of asking the
railways to start paying their taxes as
soon as possible, although these are not
due until February d. the last Legis
lature having extended the time for such
payments five days. It is pointed out as
humiliating to the state to eat out of the
hands of the railways after belaboring
them so hard for the past decade
Treasurer Dahl's letter to Gov. David
son follows:
Davidson. Madison. Wis.-Dear Sir: / deem
it my duty TO call your attention to the
condition of the treasury at this time and
to suggest that steps be taken, if posi-
ble,' to meet the shortage in sight
There was in the general fund on December
10, 1909 S253,997.26 as against SCOT, 6G1 80
on he same date last year.
me estimated receipts for the balance
of this month and January are S105,36
this amount added to the cash on hand
makes total of 1899, 362.26.
Disbursements Exceed Cash.
The estimated expenditures for the bal
ancc of this mouth and January, based on
the disbursements of December and Janu-
from the disbursements of January last. be-
ing the amount paid to the members of the
Legislature for salary and expenses}, are
$731 IA. or $377.762 more than the cash on
hand and estimated revenues up to February
/, 1910
The total cash in the general fund at
this time is not sufficient to take care of
the payroll for January; there will be no
I funds to take UP warrants for all mscel-
laneous accounts and for the payroll for
February unless steps are taken to replen-
iSh the general fund until the railroad taxes
are collected on February Is next. | called
jrhe attention Of the Leg islature to the fact
that the amount of disbursements was
steadily increasing, while the revenues did
not increase propOrtionately, and that un-
less economy was practiced the general
fund Of the state would be approximately
S3o0,oOV short by February Is next
AS far as | know the Legislature passed
no mea 'ure that will increase the revenues
bet bill was passed appropriating $1,000
Np to be expended for the capitol this
year instead OF 5000 900 as heretofore pro,
Vided by law.