River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-01-19
Ehnentinnnl.

been a time of unprecedented prosperity
for our public schools. The statistics show
that the total expenditures for public edu-
cation in Wisconsin for the year 1895 were
81, 900. 700. 02: but these figures, large as they
are, do not express the fun measure of
prosperity In his report the state superin-
tendent OF public instruction makes some
recommendations to which | shall briefly
call your attention. He believes that the
weakest features of our common school
system are: Cd The existing practice of
licensing teachers; ~ the comparative fail
ure of the system TO make adequate pro-
vision for suitable professional training
of teachers for the common district schools.
and 80 the lack of close, careful profess
sional supervision. feel confident that the
recommendations of the state superintend-
ent suggesting remedies for these evils win
receive your earnest consideration.
The township school library system main
tained by the superintendent of public in
struction has come to be recognized as
one of the most important factors in our
educational system The increase in the
number of these libraries and their patron
age is very gratifying. So long as this
system is maintained and the selection OF
books kept in the efficient hands of the
superintendent, the township library sys-
TEN win continue TO be a great education
factor.
The eighth biennial report Of the board
of regents of the normal schools Of Wis
consin has been laid before you This re-
port shows very pleasing growth in the
normal schools and in their capacity for
turning out teachers The normal school
system of the state has grown in attend
ance in two years nearly % per cent, and
in four years nearly Of per cent. In two
years the ability of the schools to furnish
trained teachers has increased nearly IS
per cent, and more than 2S0 per cent in
Of l,a
normal schools for the present biennial
period as estimated by the board of re-
gents is already provided for by fund in
comes, from appropriations and tax lev
les. The board ask for special appropria-
ton of $4,000 for necessary building and
repairs, which request should receive your
earnest attention.
The board of regents of the state univer-
sity report an increase in the enrolment
of students for the present year of about
200 over any previous year The univer-
sity at present stands well up to the front
among the great universities of this coun-
try, and the citizens generally, as well as
the regents, have a pride in maintaining
its present high standard In their BIZ
ennial report, which will be placed be-
fore you, the board of regents ask for a
special appropriation of $4,000 for addi-
tons to the dairy department of the ag-
ricultural college, and 500 coo for the cree
ton of a suitable building for the college
of engineering. The current expenses OF
the institution are already provided for
by tax leVieS, permanent appropriations
and otherwise, and these amounts asked
are exclusively for the purposes named.
You will be asked TO make special APP
preparation sufficient to complete the con-
struction and furnishing of the building
of the State Historical society on the uni
versity grounds, The cost of this build
ing greatly exceeds what was at first con-
templated or asked for. In the future !
believe that when appropriations are asked
for the erection of public buildings, the
legislature should require a definite es-
innate as to the cost of the buildings and
limit its appropriations to the amount
of the estimates The new building of the
state historical society is to be one of the
best library structures in the country when
completed, and will be an honor to the state
as well as to the society.
Two years ago the Legislature gave the
Wisconsin free library commission larger
means and provided a room for il in the
capitol building. Since that time the in
telligent activity in library work which has
won Wisconsin well deserved fame has
steadily increased. The gifts and requests
to free public Libraries have, within the
past two years, amounted to more than
S250000. The free travelling libraries, all
furnished by private benehcence, but gen
v
increased in number from so to 200 Tween
ty-four new free public libraries have been
established upon permanent foundations
by cities and villages. The commission
asks for an appropriation of 81, 800 to carry
on it's work during the next two years.
The Tax Commission
Two years ago the legislature passed E
law providing for a tax commission to be
made up of the governor and the secretary
OF state, as ex officio members, and three
members to be appointed by the governor
The work of the commission as laid ou
by the law creating it was to collect and
collate material relating to the assess
ment and levy of taxes, and to make such
recommendations for legislation on the
subject as the conditions would seem tC
require No provision was made for pay.
ment of the expenses of the commission
but Notwithstanding this the work has beer
very successfully carried on up to this
time. The eX otficio members have not
been able to participate to any great eX-
tent in the work or take part in the de
liberations of the commission; its report
therefore, is exclusively the work of the
three members appointed by the governor
Much valuable and necessary data for in.
telligent action on the subject has beer
collected and some important recommend
atoms made and yet the work can be re.
garded only as a step in the right drec-
ton and far from complete. The report
contains a statement of the origin and
growth of our present system of taxation
and a carefully prepared synopsis or anal
ysis of the requirements of the present
laws as they stand upon the statute books
The defects in the laws are fully disclosed
and the work of the tax commissions in
other states is described, and some sugges-
lions and recommendations for changes in
the present system are made.
The expenses of the commission up tC
the present time have been raised by pri-
vate subscription, 1t is not creditable tC
the state, nor should it be necessary. that
q commission of such Importance, pro-
vided for by the Legislature, should be com
PEELED to themselves solicit the money nee
essary for the expenses incurred in theiI
work. ! urgently recommend, therefore,
that a law be passed providing for the
continuation of the work by the appoint
ment of a commission of three or five
members, with ample powers and facili-
ties for carrying on their work, and that
an appropriation of not less than ,00t
be made for expenses for the two years
II seems reasonable to expect that, if the
work is properly done and supplemented
by wise legislation, millions of dollars
worth of taxable property which now es-
capes can be brought into the assessment
rolls, and many thousands-possbly mil
lions-of dollars eventually saved to the
taxpayers of the state.
Military.
Your attention is called to the report OF
the adjutant general of the state for the
biennial period just closed The report
is a very comprehensive one, presenting
not only the condition of the state militia
at the present time, but containing a care
full history of the part taken by our
troops in the late war with Spain. The
experience of the past year proves, l be-
lieve, the necessity for making some
changes in our military organization.
While our troops were more prompt than
those of almost any other state in re-
spending to the presidents call, yet much
time might have been saved, and much
inconvenience and trouble also, had the
whole organization been the same as that
of the regular army. l recommend, there
fore that provision be made for the re-
organization of the state militia upon the
same basis as the regulars.
1t has been necessary heretofore for the
state treasurer to place in the hands OF
the paymaster, without any security or
warrant, large sums of money to pay the
men in camp, and many times this account
has been left open for several months be-
fore a complete set of vouchers and re-
ceipts could be prepared. The practice has
been very safely carried on so far because
of the high character of the men who have
been appointed to do the work, but it is
not likely that state treasurers will in the
future be as willing 10 turn over large
sums of money without warrant. trusting
merely to the personal honor and fidelity
of the paymaster. This practice might
easily become an abuse, as did that OF
advancing money on their salaries to en-
ployes which had been carried on so many
years, but was discontinued by the state
treasurer six months ago
Charitable and Penal Institutions.
In their biennial report, printed copies
of which will later be placed in your hands,