Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-19

situations Of the state, both public and
private, and no call meets with more
hearty response than one that looks to
the improvement Of our schools There
can be no doubt that it is the duty Of
the state to provide for the progressive
development of our school system. It
should equaliZe for all as far as pos
sible, the opportunity for education by
furnishing ample means in parts of the
state now poorly provided.
Believing that the time has come
when it is the duty of the state to act
in extending this system, l recommend
that the needs of northern Wisconsin
for normal schools shall be carefully
considered, and, if possible. recognized.
worlds Fair
The wisdom Of the last legislature in
making an appropriation for the Col
umbian exposition has been demon
Strated. What seemed to many too
small sum Of money has been Suf-
ticient for all the needs of the board
up to the present time. An additional
appropriation is deemed advisable 10
carry on the work laid out by the
managers, and to properly equip the
Wisconsin building and make an exhibit
creditable to the state. Your attention
is called to the report Of the board Of
managers with the view of making such
an appropriation as may seem proper
for the creditable representation Of
Wisconsin at the Columbian exposition
contingent Furd.
1t appears from the records that the
| disbursements from the governors con-
tingent fund from January 5. 1891, to
| December 81, 1892, were $7,95610. and
that the balance to the credit of mat
fund on the first day of January of the
current year was $514.3O. 1t has been
necessary during the past two years to
pay from tits fund the notary, court
commissioner. witnesses and other fees
in the suits now pending against Har-
shaw, McFetlidge and others, which viii
| be returned to the fund when the judg-
ments in these cases are paid. During
| the coming two years there will be no
such unusual call upon the fund, and
| | would therefore recommend the usual
[
coming two years.
he ati0nai Guard.
The proper constitutional conception
of a national guard, is the education of
citizen SOldiery in time of peace, that
the nation may, without entailing the
| burdens and dangers Of 4 great standing
army, be able to cope with any foreign
IL n
| proper sense a state police, is in the ma
tUre Of public safeguard. and Wiscon
sin is and well may be, proud of it's ma
tiOnal guard.
Our present military laws need revis-
ion, as many of their provisions are in
cOngruous or obsolete.
! The numerical strength of our lnili-
| tary force should be carefully adjusted
to the needs of the state, and ap-
preparations for it's maintenance should
be so made as to bring that force to the
highest state of efficiency without call
part of officers or men.
The military reservation near Camp
| Douglas is Of the greatest value to the
state, and its proper maintenance and
improvement should be provided for.
| War Records.
For nearly eight years the adjutant
generals office has been engaged in the
work of preparing the individual history
of the Wisconsin troops in the war for
the union. This work has been very
much expedited in the past two years,
and l am able to announce that it is now
ready for the printer, and that the
! adjutant general has been able to ma
| terially reduce the clerical force of bis
office. The cost Of the work up to the
present stage has been about $4,000.
| Roads
The subject of the improvement of
, our country roads is one of universal
! Importance, and Il comprehensive plan
should, if possible, be devised that viii
not only promote this desirable improve
ment, but will insure uniformity and
system in the progress of the work.
CUncIusiou
In concluding this brief and somewhat
circumscribed review of state affairs, l
! have endeaVOred to confine myself to
subjects that, to me, seem to press most
prominently for legislative attention.
! There is still one topic to be considered
that over-shadows all others in the
minds Of the taxpayers, that is, adher-
ence to the StricteSt economy in all
public expenditures, however small, CON
sistent with efficient service and wise
of tn TO Of fair n a.
made by the economies Of the past two
years, though so large that it will, no
doubt, prove a surprise to many people,
is by no means complete. There are
opportunities still left for the legislature
to dispense with needless officials and to
still more restrict expenses in certain
branches of state government, with the
assurance that the result will follow
as it has in the past, that money will be
saved, and the service improved at the
same time. No detail of this subject is
so small as to be unworthy of your most
serious attention. Extravaganza in the
conduct of public business results III
needless burdens upon the people, and
what is worse, breeds official neglect
and corruption.
Knowing that one Of the most valu-
able aids to the last legislature in the
consideration Of appropriations was its
joint committee on retrenchment and
reform, l recommend that this legisla
ture appoint such a committee to whom
shall be referred all bills for the ex-
penditure of money.
fbat lpUiC1atIJI'p in IT'S