Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-05-17
THURSDAY. MAY II, 1894.
Republican Love for Public Schools.


publicans who are frightened by the
ghosts of the attempted iniquity of the
"roster rascals" to turn aside and
give the people Of the state an explain
alton that will account for the proceeds
of the magnificent gift Of school lands
made by the United States to the state,
whose sale was intended to create a
permanent school fund. 1t was early
estimated that the proceeds of the sale
OF these lands would exceed $G,OO0,OOO.
Later estimates trebled the amount.
The outcome is that the amount OF
the permanent fund from this source
does not exceed $2,5O0,O0O. Moder-
ately estimated the common school
fund is scarcely ne-fourth of what IT.
should be, and it earns less than one
sixth of what the people should realize
from this source. The republicans
have managed the funds and the
school lands almost since the organic
alton of the state, and are responsible
for both.
The national government made like
gifts of public lands to several of the
northwestern states. Their apportion-
ment among the states was made upon
u common basis, hence comparison
will not be unfair, but will serve to
measure the capacity OF the republican
party in this state to manage public
affairs. For this purpose Minnesota
will be selected.
The state superintendent report
Tor 1892 gives the amount of the perma-
ncnt school fund Of Minnesota Us
$10,132, 86743, of which $S,5Oi,S 72.S2
was derived from the sales of school
lands, 81 1888, 67O38 from the sale of
pine timber from the same lands, and
$46,S75.OO from mineral leases of
them. TIE WHOLE FUND is AVAIL
ABLE ron INVESTMENT. All but
1927, 100000 was earning interest at the
date of the report. This magnificent
fund earns $679,3o70O annually,
which is used to support the schools.
The people of that state are, as II con-
sequence, taxed $679,3970O less than
they would be were the fund not In
existence.
What have we In Wisconsin? The
nominal amount Of our common
school fund is $3,35S,502.00. The act
ual amount available for investment
Is 81, 79i,S02.00. The remainder is n
state debt. 1854, 10000 of the fund
was obtained from penal fines imposed
by our state courts. The annual earn
ings on the entire actual fund is SOL
5695l, of which not more than 500
100000 is realized from the proceeds of
sale of the public lands. Minnesota
has still n great portion of her lands
for sale. what remains In Wisconsin Is
insignificant in comparison, and is
largely denuded of its timber ut the
hands of thieves, whose depredations
for thirty years were winked ut by
republican officials,
1t is for the republican press of the
state and for republicans generally
TO account for the disappearance in
this state of II school fund that should
bear some resemblance to the magnili-
cent fund in Minnesota. The valu-
able public school lands are practically
disposed of in this state. The school
fund that has been accumulated is but
a trihe. Its income is only two per
cent. of the amount expended for the
support of our common schools. In
Minnesota the income OF the tund eX-
ceeds fifteen per cent. of the same
expenditures. The comparison above
Is II source of embarrassment. There
il no consolation it for Wisconsin tax
PAYERS. 1t serves no other purpose
than either to show dishonest manage
ment or want of business ability on
the part of our republican officials.
We had public lands sufficient in guam
ity and quality to produce fund at
least equal to that of Minnesota,
which relieves the taxpayers of that
state from raising $679,3o7o0 annually.
Our fund relieves our taxpayers of
less than one-seventh Of that amount,
Is not the conclusion inevitable that
our people must be taxed yearly the
difference between these amounts, or
$751;, 62S.00 in consequence of the bad
management of the school lands by