Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-01-17

Of the state. These libraries sre broad
ening and lettering not only the
schools, but the homes of multitudes
Of children, and they should be ex-
tended until their influence reaches
! all the children in the commonwealth.
University of Wisconsin.
Tie growth and progress of the state
I university has been so marked that II
Is with pleasure l call your attention
to it. Because Of its growth and its
enlarging usefulness, the university is
entitled TO your most generous con-
sideration. There has been so large an
increase IN the number of students
from the state who pay no fees for
tuition, that 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 fulfillment Of
It's primary purpose.
State Historical Society.
There exists AN urgent necessity for
some provision for the safe housing of
the 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 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 fire-proof building for
the protection of these collections
should be provided at once. Ii the
university library aud the Historical
society's collections could be placed un-
der one roof, it would be an economi-
cal and convenient arrangement.
Normal Schools.
Some additional legislation will be
| required to make provision for main
schools. The year win close with a
deficit in the normal school fund. This
subject should receive prompt atten-
! ton.
| The present board of normal school
regents appear TO be a rather cum
! bersome body. The real work of the
board necessarily falls upon few
members. l recommend reduction
in the number of regents to, perhaps,
five. A board consisting Of only five
members would be able, l believe, to
perform its work with greater expedi-
ton than is possible with larger
! number. OF whatever number the
board may consist, the clerk of the
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 a
sum which shall bear a proper rela-
ton to the Importance and RESPONSE
bility of the Office. The last legisla
ture, by the adoption of resolution
known as Joint resolution No. TO-
took the preliminary step toward in
creasing the salary. | recommend that
your honorable body supplement this
with the proper measures.
State Banks.
While the calamity which has be.
fallen a number of the banks of our
state has been but the natural result
of the generally disastrous condition OF
the country, it has been made clear l
believe, that a proper supervision OF
the financial institutions of the state
might have averted the disaster In
many cases. This is a question which
affects profoundly all classes Of citi-
zens. Upon the integrity of rhe banks
of the country depends to a great ex-
tent the industrial fabric. / am con-
WINGED that there is a pronounced sen
timent throughout the state in favor
of some sort Of bank supervision.
Whether such supervision may be pro-
vided for without revision ~ the
banking code, is matter for you to
determine; but that some measure
should be adopted looking to super
vision of the state banks in a manner
similar to the method employed by the
general government in the examination
of national banks is, believe. clearly
demanded for the protection of the
public and for the proper maintenance
Of the financial institutions themselves.
Charitable And Penal.
From the biennial report of the
state board of control, which is before
you, yon will learn the condition in
detail of the charitable, reformatory
and penal institutions of the state. The
report emphasizes, as FORMER reports
have, the needs of certain of these in
stitutions. desire to call your at
tention to so ne of the most pressing
Of these necessities.
Notwithstanding that, during the
last biennial period, there have been
added to the capacity of the state
prison at Wanpun seyenty-two cells,
the prison is now greatly oyercrowded,
The following statement from the last
=