The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-07-07
STATE TREASURER SAYS
THINGS THAT ARE TRUE.
Writes Interesting Letter to the
Taxpayers of the State at the
Close Of the Financial Year
for the State.


fiscal year of 1921 has come to a
close, leaving the state with the
greatest balance on hand that it
hasever had in its history.
The generalfund has a b alance to
its credit to the amount of $11,-
O1S,253.91, or $2,552,019.15 more
than in the general fund on the
same date a year ago, and $780,
1887 more than at the beginning
of the Philipp administration, July
/, 1915. In connection with this I
might state that every warrant re-
ceived from the secretary of state
was paid before the close of thebooks
this year.
We hear all kinds of reports at
this time as to the state being short
of funds to meet it sobligation ac-
cording to the appropriations made
by the legislature. 1t is question
with me whether it is good policy
for the state to take eleven million
dollars out of the people to its credit
at this time. Although the legisla-
ture may have made appropriation it
does not follow that it is necessary
to expend that amount of money if
the economic conditions does not
warrant this expenditure.
If concrete highway construction
costs from ten to fifteen thousand
dollars more per mile than it did at
the beginning of the war, the state
should let no contract for that kind
of work, and If the building cost of
different institutions is approximat-
ed on the same basis, retrenchment
should be made there, and as con-
tracts must be approved of the gov
ernor before they are let, it is un-
der his control to say how much
money shall be expended.
1t may be we'll for the different
dapartmentsto economize although
the legislature has been liberal in
the way of appropriations. Here is
an instance which has not appealed
to me very strongly. The proh-bi-
ton commissioner had in his unex-
pended appropriation some $4,000
which at the end of the fiscal year
would be turned in to the general
fund He, however, instead of al
lowing this to be done, called the
emergency board together and re-
questedthat the privilege be grant
ed to him to purchase six automo-
biles for his department. This was
done so as to avoid taking the money
out of the new appropriation al
though the new bill had not become
a law. This does not show economy
although / am not in position to
criticise it very much as | am a
member of the emergency board.
1t has come to this however, that
almost every person who is travel
ing for the state must have an au-
tomobile. We have bought more
automobiles this year than ever be-
fore. Perhaps it would be well to
practice economy instead of preach
ing it but if l were the governor OF
the State of Wisconsin with the great
balance on hand today in the ge,l-
eral fund / should not worry very
much about meeting the apprOpria-
tions made by the legislature.
The claim is made that the Hirsf
bill, which / believe has some good
features in it, would raise eight mil
lion dollars. 1t is merely shifting
the taxes, as the people must pay
We talk about meeting the federal
aid of $4,000. Everybody knows
that federal aid or state aid in itsel1
is only what is know as a pork bar.
rel proposition The money must
come from the people to meet these
obligations and there is no Other
way.
HENRY JOHNSON,