Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-08-12
Frear Defends State Economy.

Secretary o. State James A. Frear
made answer to recent charge of
Z. l.. Phillip of Milwaukee that the
state has suffered in past years by
reason of extravaganza in the admin
istration of its affairs, the charge be
ing aimed more particularly at Sec
rotary Frear.
The celebration here was unique
from the fact that political candidates
of every party invited to be present
and many accepted the invitation.
Secretary Frear was the chief speak
er of the day. In statement which
was non-political in its nature, Mr..
Frear cited particularly the fact that
the reform laws affecting taxation of
public service corporations and insur-
ance companies had enabled the state
to remit millions of dollars to tax
payers, and, at the same time, carry
on all the business of the state with
out the imposition of a state tax for
any purpose, except the small mill
tax for graded schools. Beginning in
1903 state taxes were RENTED an
nually.
"The record of state finances under
progressive legislation in recent
years has placed Wisconsin in the
forefront of all states" said Secre
tary Frear. $50 far as can be ascer
tanned, no other state has handled it's
fund to better advantage or with
greater economy in the conduct of
administrative expenses
"A pamphlet against political re-
form in Wisconsin has been given
some publicity and exploited for po-
iitical purposes. In order to correct
erroneous conclusions that have been
drawn, a few facts are presented from
the state records and the same years
of 1899 and 1908 are used in compari-
son, as these years are the ones used
in the pamphlet.
1T should be understood that state
administration expenses are all paid
out Of the taxes and licenses received
from corporations and other sources
of state revenues, but that no state
taxes were levied during the ten-year
period named, excepting for educa-
tlonal purposes. The reform law
which changed the method of railway
taxation, passed in 1903, together with
other recent laws, materially in
creased the state revenues"
State to Count Marriages.
The state is going to check up the
marriages in Wisconsin from October
1, 1907, to December 81, 1909, for the
county clerks are receiving letters
from Madison from the office of the
board of vital statistics instructing
them to send in the stubs of all the
marriage licenses granted.
When the law was changed taking
away from the register of deeds in
the various counties the filing of
births, deaths, accidents and mar
riages with them and ordering that
these statistics be filed with the state
direct in the future, there was an
amendment to the 1907 laws passed,
ordering the clerks to make stubs of
all marriage licenses issued and re-
tain them SO that the state could get
the stubs for checking up the licenses
The ministers, judges and justices
of the peace are now required to send
in all the marriage records to the
state. The state now desires to find
out If they have been complying with
the letter of the law and for this rea-
son asks for tie stubs.
Some county clerks have failed to
keep an accurate record of the mar
riages licenses issued by them and
will be up against it.
Note Anniversary of Nicoet's Visit.
The Wisconsin Historical society
and the Green Bay Historical So
ciety, jointly, will observe the two
hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary
of the discovery by Jean Nicolet of
territory now comprised in Wisconsin
in Green Bay.
Features of the program will be adj
dresses by Frederick ]. Turner, pro-
lessor Of American history in the Uni
versity Of Wisconsin, and Reuben G.
Thwaites, superintendent of the Wis
consin Historical society, the unveil-
memorating the building of three forts
in Green Bay, by the French, English
and Americans, successfully, and the
dedication of the Tank cottage. built
in 1865, the oldest building in Wis
cOnSin
Wisconsin historical collection
will be on exhibition in the kellogg
public library during the three days.
State Parole Officer Dead.
News has been received of the death
at his home in Westfeld of H. r. Raw
son, for five years agent for the state
home for dependent children at Sparta,
and for ten years parole officer of the
Waukesha state school,
Until a permanent appointment is
made B. NJ. Jostand of La Crosse will
perform the duties of parole officer of
the Waukesha institution
DR.. Harper Candidate
DR.. c. A. Harper of Madison, secre-