The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-09-07

three years something like $40 900 has
1t was to cut down this expense that
the governor urged the passage of a
law authorizing the employment of an
attorney at a maximum of $4,000
year to do this work No such attor-
ney will be employed, however, until
occasion arises for his employment.
If the maximum amount allowed by
law is paid out there will be a saving
| OF $4,000 year. 1t is very probable
however, that when Governor Phil
| ipp's first term expires the state will
have saved more than that amount.
Another example is the engineering
department recently created for which
there is an appropriation of $4,000
The critics of the governor know very
well that this has been done to avoid
duplication of engineering work and
that this $4,000 appropriation, if it is
all used, will mean a great saving to
the state.
The state board of education has an
appropriation of $4,000 a year, but
| it may not all be used If it is all used
the administration critics know very
we'll that it will result in saving of
much more to the state because the
expenditures of educational institu-
tiOns will be scrutinized more closely
and much extravaganza will be done
away with
The critics of the governor know
very well that for the first time in
years Governor Philip has done away
with the claim agent in his office who
drew $4,000 year, and that the man
who was in that position during the
session Of the legislature, who was
executive counsel, severed his con-
nection with the pay roll upon the
adjournment of the legislature This
means saving of about $4,000 for
Governor Philips term.
| Another example cited is the en-
ploying of Speaker Whittet at re-
ported salary of $4,000 a year as an
actuary. The fact is that Speaker
Whittet will be employed by the gov
ernor to check up state departments
the end of each month showing how
much money has been expended out of
! the several appropriations. This will
| enable the governor and members of
the incoming legislature to know at
| a glance just how much money is in
the state treasury credited to the sew
eral departments and it will mean
/ hot tIN
have basis to work on which will do
away with the confusion experienced
| by former legislatures. Further than
this there is no additional appropri-
alton for this work and Speaker Whit
tet will be paid out of the governors
general appropriation, which was cut
at his own request thirty per cent.
BY practicing economy in his Office
Governor Philip expects even then to
have balance in his fund at the end
of two years.
A good example of this is the sta
tus of his contingent fund The gov
ernor has contingent fund of $4,000
a year to be used at his discretion,
the law requiring a report to be made
to the legislature at the end of his
term. An investigation at the state
I treasurer's office will show any one
who is interested that although eight
months of his term has expired Cover
nor Philip has not touched his con-
tingent fund.- and it is very probable
that the greater part of this $4,000 will
be in the state treasury ready to turn
over to the incoming governor at the
end of his term
So much for the jobs which the gov
ernor's critics say have been added.
Some attention might be paid to the
jobs which have been abolished By
the consolidation which resulted in
the conservation commission many
thousands of dollars will be saved.
The new printing board probably will
save the state 100000 a year. The
abolishing of the campaign pamphlet
means that the secretary of state, if
he so wishes, will be able to cut down
his force 1t is common knowledge
that during the campaign last year
the secretary of states office was de-
fOCOu, W d 81 GdI SALSII, W Tie Iudll-
ing of these campaign pamphlets. The
abolishing of the Mary Ann law also
will tighten the work of the secretary
Of states office. The expenses of the
insurance department will be reduced,
both because of laws passed by the
legislature and the inclination of the
new insurance commissioner to re-
duce his expenses to a reasonable
limit. Another consolidation resulted
in the new agricultural board, which
saved the state thousands of dollars
of the appropriation alone and which
probably will save much more during
the next two years as a result of
economy.
All these things and many more
have been done to reduce taxes. Crit
les of the present administration know
these things and it is strange that they
still believe the people of Wisconsin
can be fooled by reports which have
no foundation and which have no re-
gard for the truth.
M0THFRS-WAT TRRTTA