amount of mileage allowed at the present session, is $1,035 80, and abont the same sum has been allowed at every session of the legislative assembly since the separation of Iowa from Wisconsin, in 1838. This estimate falls short of the actual amount of mileage $635 80. The governor has not forgotten to estimate "for pay of one clerk for the executive office, at three dollars per day-seventy-five days." The committee express no opinion as to the necessity of a clerk in the executive office; but cannot refrain from noticing the modest assurance of his excellency, in making ample provision for his own household, out of the estimated expenses of the legislative assembly. No provision is made for a "clerk in the executive office," by the act of 29th August, 1842, and the committee recommend that no appropriation be made to meet such expense. In the two estimated items for mileage and pay of members, it will be seen there is an error of 2,660 80. The committee would be happy, out of charity to his excellency, to consider this as unintentional on his part, and the result of ignorance of the simple rules of arithmetic. They might adopt this conclusion had this error occurred but once; but when it occurs a second time they can attribute it to no other intention or object on the part of his excellency, than a desire to deceive the treasury department as to the real and necessary expenses of the legislative assembly, and again plunge the territory into all the difficulties attending expenditures exceeding the appropriations. The secretary of the treasury is required to estimate the expenses of government for the territory, and being unacquainted with their nature and extent, relies upon the governor for the necessary information, that he may lay the same before congress for its approval. The estimate of the secretary is based upon the information furnished by the governor. For the moderate sums allowed by congress, in the appropriations of December and February last, no blame can attach, either to that body or to the secretary of the treasury. They relied upon an officer of the government, who, from his high station, would naturally be supposed to communicate the information sought by them, in a correct, honest.manner, and not by artifice or dishonesty, attempt to mislead them, or seriously affect the interests of a people whose rights he is bound to protect. The committee cannot forbear to express their opinion, that the attempt to mislead the treasury department, and thereby prevent the requisite appropriations by congress, is a part of the scheme devised by his excellency to prevent, as far as possible, the sessions of the legislative assembly, and involve in confusion and difficulty the financial affairs of the territory. The act of congress organizing the territory, declares "that there shall be appropriated, annually, a sufficient sum to defray the expenses of the legislative assembly," and the committee believe it has ever been the intention of congress to make liberal appropriations for this object. No appropriation for any one session of the legislative assembly, previous to the appropriation of December last, has ever fallen short of $20,000; and in five instances, they have exceeded that amount. From a reference to the estimates of the governor, it will be seen that of the sums estimated for the two periods therein referred to, the sum of $16,350 can only be considered as the legitimate expenses of the legislative assembly. The mileage and pay of members, officers, and presiding officers of the two houses, amounts to $12,510; which, deducted from the above sum of $16,350, will only leave the sum of $3,840, for publishing the laws, journals, incidental printing, stationery, candles, fuel, and other incidental expenses ; a sum far short of the actual expenses attending those objects. The committee, upon the third subject referred to them, recommend that a memorial be forwarded by the legislative assembly to the treasury department, and to congress, exposing the error of the governor's estimates-containing a proper estimate for the expenses of the legislative assembly, and asking that the same may hereafter be adopted by them in estimating and appropriating for those objects. The committee believe that when the subject is properly explained to that department, and to congress, they will have no hesitation in correcting the error into which they have been led by the duplicity or ignorance of the governor. The committee would cheerfully avoid the necessity of speaking in terms of condemnation of the governor, in this instance, having so often, in the discharge of their duties as members of the legislature, been called upon to censure his official conduct. It is humiliating to the members of this body, that they are so of ten compelled to hold up to the public gaze, the errors and imperfections of the executive of their territory; yet, it is necessary that they be exposed, that he may be prevented from committing similar offences in future. All of which is respectfully submitted. H. CROCKER, Chairman. ESTIMATES OF THE GOVERNOR REFERRED TO IN THE ANNEXED REPORT. (COPY.) EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, THE HON. T. L. SMITH, Register of the Treasury: Sir:-In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 7th September, I have the honor to submit the following estimate for the half year ending the 30th June, 1843, of appropriations for the support of the government of Wisconsin, to wit: For the salary of the governor, as govern or and superintendent of Indian affairs, according to the act of April 20, 1836, For the salaries of the chief justice and two associate judges, at one thousand $1,250 00 eight hundred dollars each, annually, 2,700 00 For the salary of the secretary of the ter the executive office, each $3 per day $1,155 00 For a doorkeeper, messenger, and fire man, for each house, each $3 per day, 1,350 00 For printing for the house, council, and executive department, 3,000 00 Estimate of the expenses of the legislative assembly of Wiscon sin, referred to in the accompanying report : Mileage of members, $1,050 00 |