Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-17

tuition, ttat there is urgent need for
additional provision to meet the in
creased expenses. The increased at
tendance from our own state is one
Of the most promising features of the
growth of the institution. and will be
appreciated as a direct fulti1lment of
its primary purpose.
State Historical Society.
There exists an urgent necessity for
some provision for the safe housing Of
TIE Historical society collections. The
valuable character Of these collections
need hardly be dwelt upon. The lead
ing scholars of the continent and many
from the centers of Learning abroad
have given testimony to their value
and Importance Their destruction by
fire would not only be a loss to the
state, but to every historical student
and scholar in the country. The rooms
occupied by the collection in the
capitol building are not fire-proof, and
there is the constant danger that the
state and country may suffer an ire
parable loss. a tire-proof building for
should be provided at once. If the
university library and the Historical
] society's collections could be placed IN
! der one roof, it would be an economi-
i cal and convenient arrangement.
Normal Schools.
Some additional legislation will be
required to make provision for main.
tanning the efficiency of our normal
schools. The year will close with a
deficit in the normal school fund. This
subject should receive prompt atten
! tiOu.
The present board OF normal schoo
! regents appear 10 be a rather cum
! berSOme body. The real work Of the
board necessarily falls upon a few
members. l recommend u reduction
in the number of regents to, perhaps
: five. A board consisting OF only tiv,
members would be able, 1 believe, tt
!. perform its work with greater eXpedi
ton than is possible with a large
number. OF whatever number tn,
board may consist, the clerk of TIT
| board should not be a member.
State superintendent.
| The salary of the state superintend
| ent of public instruction as now pro
vided for by the constitution is in
adequate. 1t should be increased to
} sum which shall bear proper rela
t ton to the Importance and RESPONSE
} bility of the office. The last legiSla
ture, 10y the adoption of resolution
| known as Joint resolution No. TO-,
S took the preliminary step toward in
: creasing the salary. l recommend tina
| your honorable body supplement thi
/ with the proper measures.
State Banks.
While the calamity which has be
e fallen a number Of the banks of GU
: state has been but the natural resu
of the generally disastrous condition c
. the country it has been made clear,
8 believe, that proper supervision c
the financial institutions of the stat
might have averted the disaster
many cases. This is a question whic
affects profoundly all classes of cit
zens. Upon the integrity of the bank
of the country depends to a great e.
tent the industrial fabric l am col
WINGED that there is pronounced SCI
timent throughout the state in fave
of some sort of bank supervision
y Whether such supervision may be pr
: vided for without a revision of I'll
. banking code, is matter for you 1
determine; but that some measul
should be adopted looking to a supe
vision of the state banks in a mann,
similar to the method employed by tt
-. general government in the eXaminatit
= of national banks u.s. I believe, clear
demanded for the protection of IL
public and for the proper maintenan'
of the financial institutions themselve
Charitable And Penal
From the biennial report of tt
u state board Of control, which is befo
z you, yon will learn the condition
e detail of the charitable, reformatoI
" and penal institutions of the state II
&c report emphasizes, as former repor
4 have, the needs of certain of these i
situations. l desire to call your g
10 tentiOn to so ne Of the most pressil
III of these necessities.
~ Notwithstanding that, during ii
!, last biennial period, there have be,
added to the capacity of the sta
prison at Waupun Seventy-two eel
- the prison is now greatly overcrowde
- The following statement from the la
= report Of the state board of contr
- explains the situation: ga lar
number of cells are now occupied |
u two conN let's. This condition is DO
illegal and inhuman. The prison
~ too small for the number confint
- therein. The present prison must
ie enlarged or a new one erected T.
- board will strongly recommend Il
u latter remedy"
+ The remedy for such condition shou
if and | have no doubt will, be prompt
10 provided by your honorable body.
IT, a penal institution may not be
some degree reformatory, it shou
not at least be made a means
- cultvating vice. The opportuniti
=. afforded for the latter in the sta
- prison under the conditions named a.
appalling. In that institution a.
many men who are suffering the pc
- atty of their first criminal offense. TT
-, close association of these in cells vii
~ hardened criminals precludes the DO
- sibility of their being inspired to +