Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-20
MESSAGE SUPPLEMENT-.

leNy edCO year sDOuIu De Su1nCl6nt 10 cover
aggregate OF the appropriations for that year, to-
gether with such other appropriations as it may be
necessary TO pay before the collection of the State
| tax for the next ensuing year so that no deficiency
| will be left to be added to the next lew This
| is the only honest and businesske system of dis
| tributing the burdens of the Government. The
| State having been led into departure from this
sound and safe policy your duty is to bring it back
| For this purpose recommend that you levy tax
| sufficient to cover all the appropriations that
there shall be no deficiency at the close OF the year.
and no occasion for resOrting to the very doubt
full practice Of borrowing from the trust funds OF
| the State. -
You are referred to the report Of the Board of
Regents for statement Of the condition and wants
of the State University. l cannot doubt that that
Institution is performing acceptaby its important
part in the educational system Of the State. The
completion of Science Hall viii greatly enlarge the
facilities for instruction in department possess
ing great interest and value to students phe
death of the lamented DIR. Lapham has caused his
large and valuable collection of specimens to be
offered for sale, and it is submitted to your con-
sideration whether it ought not to be secured by
the State and added to the cabinet Of the univer
sity.
COMMON SCHOOLS
It would be waste Of your time and reflection
upon your intelligence if were TO urge any con-
slderatlons upon you in support Of the proposition
| that our common school system should be sacred
| ~ preserved and steadily developed to the end
that it may fully the vital purposes for
which 1t was established. Your deliberations can
be dedicated to no higher purpose than the devils
ing of means that Will visit the advantages Of
public schools upon greater number of the youth
| of the State.
is not in accordance with the spirit of institu-
| tiOns, and is obnoxious to the American people.
But rejecting how essential it is to our political
and social welfare that our Inhabitants should be
! educated men and women, 1t is submitted
| to your candid consideration whether some
penalty should not be imposed upon parents
| who deny their offspring that without which they
! inevitably become danger and disgrace to
| society. There is one object which we may GER
tainly promote, that will at once guard educa-
| tional system and extend its benefits. Excessive
cost is perhaps, the only thing that could impair
its foundation in the hearts of the people, and that
| part of the cost which falls Immediately upon the
| parents in the form of textbooks is undoubtedly
obstacle that prevents many children from gain
| ing the rudiments of an education. Hence there
| is great reason that economy should be practiced
in the erection OF school buildings. and that the
need Of the many rather than the advantage of the
! few, should be considered in the selection of the
| DranI..l. To he taught
| Your attention Is also Invited to the question
whether it would not be practical and desirable to
| establish uniformity Of text books throughout
| the State and thus effect considerable reduction
| in the expense to which parents are subjected on
| this account
| STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
There have been added to the library Of the
| State Historical Society during the past year
| books, pamphlets and documents 10 the number
of 1915 making the present strength Of the col
lection 64701. 1t is everywhere recognized the
most valuable and useful library in the Northwest,
| and ranks among the best in the Union in the de-
| and American and English literature. The Per
| kins collection of Wisconsin antiquities of the
| stOne-copper age has been received, and it is
| hoped that the society may be able to retain it,
| THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
| There has been expended during the fiscal year,
| FOR geographical rvey, $13,500 and am advised
dition. The expenditures that have been made on
this account cannot afford any return to the peO-
pie OF the State until the survey Is completed and
! the results published. therefore recommend
that adequate appropriation for that purpose be
| made during the present session.
| CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The reports of the Trustees of the several chart
table institutions of the State will place you in pos
| session of such information you may desire
concerning their condition and needs The two
hospitals Tor the insane were accommodating, at
the close Of the fiscal year aggregate of 651 pa
tients. 1t is recommended that there is need of
| more capaciOus accommodations and invite your
| attention to the recommendations of the Board of
Trustees Of the State Hospital for the Insane, at
Madison, that two wings be added to the building,
| in accordance with the original plan.
There were in attendance at the Inst .ution for
| the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, the 30th
OF September, 1875, al pupils. An appropriation
OF So 500 is asked for the erection of kitchen and
! laundry, outside OF the present building.
The number of pupils in attendance at the In
stuton for the Education of the Blind at the close
| OF the year. was siXty-four The Trustees ask for
an appropriation sufficient for the erection of the
main building to replace the destroyed by fire
as the west wing already constructed is entirely
| inadequate to accomplish the purposes Of the in
| stitute.
/ recommend that you appropriate to the State
charitable institutions such sums as may be neces
sary for the maintenance and for the and edu-
cation of the afflicted wards of the State that are
intrusted to their keeping.
| INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
The number of the inmates of the Industrial
School for Boys on the 30th of September was 300.
and the expenses of the institution for the year
ending on that day were S45156A0. I recommend
that appropriation of $1,000 be made in accord
ance with the request of the Board of Managers to
| make up the deficiency in the building fund and
to complete the building. 1 cannot unite in the
| recommendation of the board that law be passed
providing thai boys may be received on applica-
ton of parents or guardians for incorrgble or
| vicious conduct, or vagrancy Such course would,
1t seems to me- be serious departure from the
purposes of that institution, and one that would
require large addition to the accommodations,