The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-01-16


1918 exceeded the expected by about
40 per cent. With so small an amount
of insurance in force sharp fluctua
tions in mortality experience are like
ly to occur A few years of unfavor
able experience would deplete the
surplus and impair the reserve. The
state is liable only to the extent of
the fund and if the reserve is i'm
paired the policies are not worth one
hundred cents on the dollar.
/ The state should not continue a sys
| TEN of life insurance that does not
guarantee the full value of the policy
in fact if this type of insurance is
permitted 10 continue | would regard
| it as a moral obligation on the state
to make good any loss that the policy
holder might sustain for the reason
that the policy was sold by the state
and that in itself should be a guaran-
ty against any loss by the policy
holder and | am certain that 1t was ac-
cepted in that spirit.
| recommend that you repeal the
| statute under which this form of life
insurance is being carried and direct
the Insurance Commissioner to rein
sure the present policy-holders in a
reliable company
Primary Election.
For two sessions | have advocated
revision of the Primary Law. l
think 1t is fair to say that 1t is gen.
orally conceded that in its present
form the law is a failure. No party
organization can be maintained under
tin fact it has again been demon
strated within this state in the past
year that the adherents of one party
may make an effort to nominate the
candidate for another party in the
hope of giving their own ticket bet
ter opportunity for success.
Such methods are breeders of polit-
ical dishonesty and demoralize the
| politics of the state and should not
have the sanction of law. For my own
part | regard the party convention the
proper agency to fix its party princi-
pies and nominate its candidate, and
the only valid objection that was
urged against that system was the
| political caucus which nominated the
| delegates. In order to obviate that
! feature of the convention system
which brought it into disrepute | sug-
gest that you so frame your statute
that the delegates will be elected by
the people at the regular spring cleo
ton in the same manner as they cast
their ballot for their township and
municipal officers. The jurisdiction Of
the convention, should, however, be
limited to state officers, United
States Senators and members of Con
gress.
State Finances.
On January /, 1919 there was bal.
ance of $1,236,363.27 in the state
treasury available for the payment of
the general expenses of the state gov
eminent The state has a claim
against the United States government
for money expended for military
equipment and other military expend.
lures which should be refunded of APP.
proximately $1,00O,OO0.
The budget requests made by diff
ferent departments of state amount
to: In 1919-1920, $2O,8S9, 296; 1920,
1921, $21 ,629,96 Estimated receipts,
1919-1920, $19,035,316; 1920-1921. $780,
019,810 Excess requests over re.
ceipts. 1919.192O, s1,S53,9S1; 192O-1921,
s1,610,15
The budget requests have been care
fully considered by the Central Board
of Education and by the State Board
of Public Affairs. The demands of ev.
cry department of government have
been inquired into and it was found
that the requests could be cut down
and kept within the income OF the
state and in no wise interfere with
the efficiency of the state government
or the educational institutions - in
fact, the recommendations Of the
State Board of Public Affairs will
leave balance of approximately
$4,000 over and above what 1t deems
to be the necessary expenditures, ana
| request that you keep the appropr1,
ations within the limits of the states
income and that you will again make
nominal tax lexy by legislative act
not to exceed $1,000.
1t is probably needless for me to
call your attention to the fact that
owing to the enormous expenditures
by the national government fQr the
war the people are already heavily
taxed. The indications are That un.
der the new federal income TAX bust.
ness is going to be taxed at an
enormous rate and it must be borne
ness also pays an income tax. That
business will have a struggle to re.
adjust itself to the peace basis may
reasonably be expected and in view
Of these facts the state should not
come also with large tax bill
The state institutions have no large
building program to submit. The uni.
versity and the normal schools have
suffered a large falling off in attend
ance owing to the war and their facili-
ties are adequate for the next two
years.
In conclusion | wish to recommend
to you that you devise some practical
system of procedure that will shorten
your session. There is a general pub
lie demand that you do this. Further.
more, | would regard it as genuine
accommodation to the members If they
be permitted to close their business
within Il reasonable time.