Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-28
MADISON NEWS.

lnGre are TWO DlIIS now penang
that attract considerable attention
in Grand Army circles. One was
introduced by Senator Pond on the
9TH inst. and provides for the con-
struction of a suitable fre-proof
structure at Madison, to be known
as the Wisconsin Soldiers
Memorial Hall, to be dedicated as
lasting memorial Of the courage
and sacrifices of the soldiers and
sailors representing this state in the
late war Of the rebellion. The object
is worthy one and does credit to
both the head and heart of its
patriotic originator. The building
| is to cost four hundred thousand
dollars and is to be paid for out Of
that fund that is to come to the
State from the general government
upon a refunding to the state Of
what is known as the direct war
tax levied upon the state and paid
during the war, SO that the erection
and construction Of this proposed
memorial hall will not in the least
deplete the ordinary annual
revenues Of the state. The objec-
ton that the state cannot afford
such an expensive structure even
to commemorate the glorious
deeds of her soldiers and sailors,
is thus met and disposed of in
advance.
But another bill introduced in
the Assembly by Mr.. Barney,
providing for the use and aPplica-
ton Of this same fund that is to be
created by the refunding TO the
state of the direct war tax is to
the mind of your correspondent,
more meritorious than Senator
Ponds bill. Mr.. Barney's measure
that this war tax, when so refunded
shall be appropriated to and
become a permanent fund, to be
known as the Veterans Home
Fund, shall be under control of
the Commissioners of Public
Lands and shall be invested or
loaned with the approval of the
| governor, in the same manner as
other trust fund Of the state are
now loaned and invested. The
income thus created is to be trans
ferred annually to the Trustees of
the Veterans Home at Waupaca
for the benefit and support of the
inmates. The principal is not to
be impaired nor is the income to
be employed for any other purpose
SO long as the inmates of the
Veterans Home number 50 or
more: Senator Ponds bill is
No. 40 S., and Mr.. Barney's No.
334 A. Both are meritorious-
the first for ostention and credit
able display-the latter, not only
in the direction of real charity,
but more-coupIing with it the
dispensing Of real justice in the
partial discharge of a debt we as a
commonwealth owe to its brave
and patriotic defenders, and
smooth to some appreciate extent
the rough and thorny pathway of
their declining years. VIII
Memorial Hall, in its grandeur
and magnihcence as proposed,
bring shelter to the shelterless or
bread to the famished or hungry?
Is it not far better that we provide
for. those of our soldiers and sailors
who are living in want and penury,
rather than spend four hundred
thousand dollars in mere display,
even though that display should,
to some extent, excite patriotic
memories?
| Besides, it will be but a few
/ years at best that these soldiers
and sailors will have to be cared
for, and when this necessity has
vanished-has been dissiPated by
the potent wand Of death, then
this fund can be appropriated in
the direction contemplated by
i Senator Pond.
Until then, is it not better that
this income be created and used
for the purpose contemplated by
Mr.. Barney? Your correspondent
does not hesitate to give decided