Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-03-19

Special Correspondence Of THE HERALD.)
En1. nuaI fxufa nannfhc tho lanisl afur

| TOT over TWO mOHtnS Inc lepiSlaturb
of Wisconsin has been in session and
its work has reached the beginning Of
the end, and will probably close in a
fortnight.
/ 1t is moro than an average body as
regards both ability and industry, and
an unusual amount of business has been
before it. Many of the hundreds of
bills considered by it have been dis
posed of; many more are still pending
| A majority of those considered have
been ftly strangled in the isolation OF
the committee rooms, and not few,
favorably reported by their committees,
have met their death at the hands of
one or the other house. 1t is a hardy
bill which survives running the gauntlet
OF one or more committees, both
branches of the legislature and the ex-
ecutive.,
While the bills considered relate to a
multitude of matters, the principal
cares OF our sovereigns seem to be the
interests of education and the regula-
tion of the liquor traffic.
i Education as related to agriculture
has received especial attention. The
Agricultural Institute bin has become
law, and must be esteemed highly
useful and interesting measure. The
institutes are designed to carry oppor-
tunities for agricultural instruction and
discussion to the door of every farm
house, as it were, and to admit old and
young alike to its benefits This timer
ant college scheme was devised by Mr..
Estabrook, of the Assembly, former
Grant County boy, and its provisions
are so practical and promising, and
wthal so simple and economical, as to
make it a matter of wonder it has not
heretofore been employed.
The bill introduced by ii. C. Adams,
OF Dane, to appropriate 500, 900 for es-
tab)ishing and equipping an agricultur-
al college separate from the State Uni
versity, was defeated in the Assembly
last week. All the house members from
Grant voted against it. Senator Kidd,
when it was before his committee, voted
to report favorably upon it. Doubtless
its fate will be source of regret to
some farmers, but the general reasons
fol its failure are several. The farmers
themselves, both in and out of the leg
islatue, were divided as to the need and
character of such an institution. The
Estabrook institute measure in some
degree took its place, and the large
amount of money absolutely demanded
for other educational measures adverse
ly affected the claims of this. Moreo-
yer, the agricultural department of the
State University has recently been re-
organized. Shorter courses, wholly ao-
ricultural. have been arranged, and the
standard of admission to this depart
ment has been lowered so as to require
preparation in the common school
branches only. BY many it is thought
that this college win now meet the
wants expressed by the Adams bill.
The burning of Science Hall last De-
cember, by which the State University
suffered loss of about 100000, has
necessitated large appropriation. BY
the personal influence and efforts of Col.
Villas the bill asking for S23S, 900 in adj.
dition to the insurance of about Sal, 900
due upon the burned building, passed
the Assembly safely. This bill, besides
providing for the building and furnish
ing of a new Science Hall. contemplates
separate building for machine shop
and engine room, another for q chemi-
cal laboratory and still another for
gymnasium. The chairman of the
claims committee, Senator Kidd, thinks
that the senate will cut out the provis-
ions for gymnasium and separate chem
zeal laboratory, and reduce the amount
to $4,000 aud the Insurance. In his
| opinion this is all that should be asked
now. The Grant county delegation has
heretofore opposed the appropriation,
but will undoubtedly support it when
| thus amended.
Another pressing bill asks $50, 900
! with which to establish school for de-
pendent children. At present many
such children are sent to the reform
schools. thus ranking misfortune and
poverty with INSTRUMENTATION and crime.
The measure was last week favorably
reported from the joint claims commit
tee, and is reasonably certain to carry.
1t provides that commission shall
oversee the construction of suitable
building and organize the institution.
The school is not intended to retain its
wards any length of time-only until
homes can be found for them.
The State Uniformity Text Book bill
met its death in the assembly last week.
The Free Text Book bill, much more
merltorious measure, will probably be
disposed of this week. 1t provides for
each districts owning the text books
needed in the school and permitting
their free use by the pupils. 1t is based
on the idea that free schools should
afford free apparatus and free books as
well as free instruction and rooms. 1t
is also in accordance with the principle
that property should as far as practi-
cable bear the common burden which
must otherwise fall on individuals.
Another measure based on this priu-
ciple of equalization is the Hurburt bill
for reducing local taxation and strength
ening the State common school fund by
levying tax of one mill on the dollar
on all assessed property, and turning
the proceeds into the general common
school fund.
| This would require nonresident land
spectators and rich corporations, espe-
cially those in the northern part of the
state, to assume their share of school
expenses, and the general school fund
would be increased about $3.50, 900 an
nualiy. The benefit to public schools.
TO result from this arrangement, it is