Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-03-04
LATEST FROM MADISON
University Agitation Not Likely to
Crystalline into Law.
BUCKsTAFF AGAINST FREE PASS.

i Society Women OF the Capital-Wnr ON
| the Agricultural society--Fricke a Smart
Una Farmer Takes Fall Out Of a
Milwaukee Populist adams County No
| Longer =" God-Forsaken."
Madison. Wis, March 2.--1t will sur
prise some to know that Speaker Buck
| staff, who Is proving very substantial.
IL not a SNOWY presiding officer, is very
much interested in the abolition Of the
railroad pass. Some had supposed the
issue was dead. But Mr.. Buckstaff
used these words in speaking to me Of
the work Of the session:
THE pass question must be taken up
and fairly dealt with, which / think
means It's passage. The plea that the
state convention did not squarely ex-
press its opinion on the pass question
because so few members were present
and voted, ] do not consider worth CIV
ing attention. The convention was in
session and the members should have
been In their seats and voting or for
ever hold their peace on the action
taken in the convention"
Two years ago Speaker Burrows came
down from the desk to the floor and
made an eloquent plea for the univer-
sity library bill at time when It's pas
sage looked very doubtful. He had
risen from sick bed at the time and
the spectacle was dramatic. 1t Is not
impossible that young Buckstaff, who Is
ambitious, may be moved to something
sensational in the way Of a speech on
the subject Of railroad passes before the
session Is over.
Speaker Buckstaff touched upon some
other live questions In these words:
II consider the legislature the best
equipped for doing careful and rapid
work OF any that has been in session
in this state for good many years. The
members Of the assembly have not
shown any disposition to delay matters
or shirlS the work put upon them. 1t
Is working body. Under ordinary cir
cumstanccs the session would end by
April /, but there are SO many impor-
tant matters to be considered and dealt
with that 1t may take ten days or two
weeks longer. / consider the True bill
to create state agricultural board to
take charge OF the state agricultural
fair n timely and important measure,
also the corrupt practice bill and the
caucus bill The appropriations for state
institutions must necessarily be large,
but should not be more than enough to
maintain the institutions under rigid
economical management"
State Fair Reorganization.
Reorganization of state fair matters
ls much talked about and the approval
of the True bin (Which creates II new
commission to be appointed by the gov
ernor and which would be the Farm
ers' Own'O, by Henry c. Adams and
other influential men about the state.
gives reason to believe the plan will he
enacted into law. or course Governor
Sconcld would naturally like the APP
pointing of SO many men to positions
of honor. Foreclosure on the property
of the old agricultural society and the
resistance to paying $4,000 in debts are
all a part OF the final chapter in the
present management and policy OF the
society, There seems to be no doubt
the state will meet these claims against
the society, but the precautions taken
in seeing that the bills are audited by
the state and the bcgrudging spirit In
which the money Is appropriated shows
that the horse racing, pool-selling and
hepr-vendlng features of the society
designed to promote honest agriculture
have been overdone,
The university will probably escape
hostile action-it Is safe to prophesy
this, In fact. While there have been
Investigations of many kinds ordered,
there Is no concrete proposition to dc
anything. There Is no chance to do
anything, 50 far as any bills are con-
cerncd. unless 1t he to cut down apprO-
prlations for ordinary expenses, or to
slaughter the library building fund.
The fact is Il good deal of the growing
about the state university Is grand
stand play,
AZ Meek rs Lambs,
was In committee room the other
day where some of the nuisest of the
kickcrs were at work ON resolutions to
| investigate the big institution ana they
We're as meek as lambs, People are
| agreed that all the facts should he
| known, for the people pay the bills and
| are entitled to know them. And right
| at this point there IL n feeling on the
| part of some of the faculty that "inves-
| tigation" is "undignitied." OF course
| this Is nonsense to every man outside
| OF the campus. Those of us who arc
| In the world of business and affairs
generally are being investigated all the
time; our employers want to know how
| our time Is spent and whether we earn
| our salary. There is no reason why
teachers IN the employ OF the state
should he exempt 'rhe regents ar,
| sensible n'2n and have como forward
| with information wanted. The only
items IN the first report that raised a
| question We're for the travelling OK.
| pcnse@ { President Adams and an as
| soCiate professor to the Princeton uni.
| versity celebration, It Is a fair question
whether such bills should be paid from
the state treasury, 1t is Justice to Pres
ident Adams to say that the regents
authorized the trip.
The Facts About Adams,
President Adams Is not free and
easy man like Northrup OF the Univcr.
sitY Of Minnesota. who tells n good
story and Is II hail fellow well met
Adams strength and weakness as wcl
lies IN his moderation. He does nothint
| radical and he is not SO positive as I,
| ch0fe anybody The whole effect OF