The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-04-03
Cutting Off of State Tax to
aid in Campaign Last Year
Leaves Quandary for all.
ROAD Money MAY Be HELD UP
State Treasury Is Running SC Low That
State Is Facing Big Deficit if All
Demands for Money are Met State
Officials Bothered By the Shortage.

The remittance of 100000 in
taxes last fall for campaign purposes
is being severely felt now,
It was thought to be a great thing
when the campaign was on, but now
the governor and those in authority
wish they had not done it. In fact, SO
strong is this feeling that neither the
governor nor any one else is willing to
accept the responsibility Of this cam
paign dodge.
The reasonVis that the state treasury
is in danger of being bankrupted.
Several meetings of the governor and
other state officials have been held
with members of the legislature to
consider the grave situation. State
Treasurer Henry johnson served notice
on all concerned that they were travel
ing at too swift pace financially and
unless the brakes were put on they
would land in the ditch.
The first thing that was done at the
opening of the session was to introduce
bill appropriating $4,000 to make
up the states share of the proposed
road improvements begun by towns
and counties. 1t was called technical
ly a deficit. It was so to the extent
that the state was behind on its share
of the pro rata expense for projected
road Improvements. Under the law the
counties could have been cut pro rata
to fit their demands on the appropria-
tion for good roads made ait the last
session of the legislature.
It was not believed to be wise to
check the enthusiasm for this need
ed improvement. Therefore Senator
Browne introduced what became SEN
ate bill No. /. 1t was passed by both
houses and sent to the governor when
State Treasurer johnson called atten-
ton to the danger of depleted treas
ury. The general fund was too low
now and if this last dip into the treas
ufy was made a law some of the ap-
preparations for state institutions and
others, he said, might have to suffer
until taxes came in.
The result of the conferences follow
| ing this announcement is seen in a
resolution passed by the two houses
recalling No. Is from the governor fol-
the purpose of amendment. The bill
was sent back and on Tuesday was
passed in the senate as amended. This
amendment provides that the $450,000
appropriation to the highway fund
shall not be set to one side and held
for drafts against it, but will remain
as part of the general fund, but
ready to be drawn on later when
needed.
! It is claimed this can be done with
out seriously affecting the highway
development as most of the appropria-
tion voted will not be needed until
late this year or early in 1914.
The marrow escape the state treasury
has had will result in change in the
general law, it is said. A law will
be passed which will put stop to the
segregation Of any appropriations here
after. All will be part of the gen
eral fund which can then be drawn on
flor the amount appropriated to vari-
Gus institutions and departments of the
Estate government. In that way, it is
claimed, there will not arise such a
condition as now confronts the
Legislature.
One thing is certain. It viii be
some time before state officials resort
again to the cheap campaign device of
reducing taxes by big drafts on the
general fund to help win an election.
Them. TOO, the present situation may
have the effect of reducing the appro-
priations made by the present legis-
lature.