Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-01-19

THH EFHfTHT DF
pensesl and the fire at the Waukesna school.
fhe balance In the governors contingent
fund Is S347.
The total expenditures for public educa-
tlon in Wisconsin for the year 1898 were
81. 22U. IOO.O2. The governor says that the
state superintendent believes that the
weakest features of sour common school sys-
TEN are I'd The existing practice OF licens
ing teachers 90 the comparative failure
OF the system to make adequate provision
for suitable professional training OF
teachers for the common district schools ;
ana CD the lack of close, careful, profes
sional supervision. The normal school
system has grown in attendance In two
years nearly ~ per cent, and in four years
nearly 81 per cent. In two years the abii-
lty OF the schools to furnish trained
teachers has increased nearly IS per cent.
I nis rate Of progress indicates that the
normal schools are rapidly coming TO fulfill
their true mission, that of preparing COM
petent teachers. The current expenses of
The normal schools for the present biennial
period estimated by the regents is al
ready provided for by fund incomes, from
ask for special appropriation of SI5,OOO
for necessary building and repairs. which
request should receive your earnest atten-
ton.
The regents of the university report AN
| Increase IN the enrolment of students for
the present year of about 200 over any pre-
vious year. This Is but one indication of
the increasing usefulness of this great in
st!tution. The university at present stands
well up TO the front among the great uni
VerSltieS OF this country, and the citizens
generally, as well as the regents have a
pride in maintaining its present high stand
ard. In their biennial report. which will
be placed before you, the regents ask for
Il special appropriation of $4,000 for addi-
tions to the dairy department of the agri-
cultural college, and $lOO,O00 for the cree
lion 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 ex-
clusiyely for the purposes named. | am sure
that these requests Will receive your careful
consideration.
You viii be asked to make special appro-
priatiOn sufficient to complete the cOnstruc-
ton and furnishing of the building of the
state Historical society. The cost of this
! building greatly exceeds what was at first
contemplated or asked for In the future /
| believe that when appropriations are asked
Tor the erection of public buildings the legis-
| lature should require n definite estimate as
10 the cost of the buildings and limit It's
appropriations to the amount of the estl-
mates. Phe new building of the State His
torical 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
| 10 the society To fail to provide for its
| completion and proper equipment at this
| time would be to deprive the public of the
| advantages which should accrue from the
amount already expended thereon. | recon-
| mend, therefore, that the needs of this build
| ing be given your careful consideration
Cordial praise Is bestowed upon the free
| library commission The commission asks
| for an appropriation of 81 800 to carry on
| IT'S work during the next two years, and In
view OF the excellent work being accom-
plished by the commission the governor rec
ommends that such appropriation be made
! Two years ago the Legislature passed
| law providing for tax commission to be
| made up of the governor and the secretary
of state, as eX otliciO members, and three
members to be appointed by the governor
The work of the commission as laid out by
the law. creating 1t was collect and collatt
material relating to the assessment and levy
OF taxes, ana TO make such recommendation
Tor legislation on the subject rs the Condi
ttons would seem to require. No provision
was made for payment of the expenses OF
TIE commission. but Notwithstanding this
| the work has been very successful ~
carried on up to this time No one
can read the report without being i'm
pressed with the vast amount of work which
the commissioners have accomplished In The
face OF many obstacles | believe ii Is of tn,
greatest Importance 10 the people of WIS
consn that this work so well begun SHOULD
! be carried forward to completion. The ex
penses of the commission have been RAISED
by private subscription. Ii is not creditabIt
To the state, nor should IL be necessary, tha
commission of such Importance should h'
compelled to themselves solicit the money
necessary for the expenses incurred In theI
WORK. urgently recommend, therefore. tina
! n law be passed providing for the continue
tion of the work by the appointment of
= commission of three or five members, will
. ample powers and facilities for carrying OF
r their work and that an appropriation of no
! less than 5000 be made for expense
r Tor the two years. Ii seems reasonable t.
. expect that, II The work is properly done an,
supplemented by wise legislation, millions
{ OF dollars worth of taxable property whcl
now escapes can be brought into the assess
Y mcnt rolls, and many thousands -possihl!
K millions of dollars eventually saved to tn
. lax Payers of the state
r The governor recommends that provision
. be made Tor the reorganization IT the stat
militia upon the same basis as the regulars
: II this be done and the number of regiment
( limited to three and an additional battNlton
lie expense Will not be greater than II hai
been In the past. The Information is i'm
! parted that a year and a half ago the boarC
OF control adopted resolutions which hav,
practically placed the whole responsibility
Tor the employment of help In the hands u
The respective superintendent. the latter be
ing held TO most strict account for tnt
| character of the work done. This has tended
| greatly To enhance the efficiency of the EN-
ploycs. \ new classification of state house
employees is urged, as well as Il stable and
/ correct system of bookkeeping IN the state
| treasury and other departments. the aholi
, tiun of the land Office. the work to be done
by clerk or two in the treasury. that the
treasurer should be the custodian of all state
securities, that IL might be wise to AGAIN
bring the bank question before the people
! | that the duties of bank examiner be de lie
: gated to the state treasurer, where the ex
T listing banking code seems to place Ii, and
that that official be empowered TO appoint
, competent deputy for the purpose of aiding
MN IN examining the banks, who shall re
f'lA hiltNliN 10 MN, anu lnAC more factory
. inspectors Ice appointed, especially TO protect
child labor. Attention is called to the good
work of the dairy and food department. I,
I the fact that, through the board OF immlgra
ton, during the past two years >, ial set
? tiers have taken up land I'm rs of the n IL
crn counties, of whom - per cent came flL Al
other states and foreign counties, while =.
per cent. are merely transferred from the
older settled portions of Wisconsin Tn,
state board of arbitration is commended
The governor thinks that the usefnlaes,
of the present caucus law may be great n
enhanced 10y making Its provisions appli
cable 10 every voting precinct. I recommQnt
! that this be done. he says, and further, tina
the law be amended liking the date upOI
which CauCuSeS are to be held and that IN,
caucuscs Of all parties be held on the sam,
date II the law is Ia he so amended. Il
would he wen To consider whether Il Nigh
not be better to make the test OF the voter
/ eligibility 10 depend upon his expressed in
| tentionS, rather than upon his past afilia
ttonS | am inclined To the belief that wha
is known as the preliminary" meeting nigh
, j." done away with without dctrimeut to IN,
essential features Of the law.
The governor opposes Il pardon board
hut has no objection To an advisory pardon
/ board Communication is bestowed upan tn,
natural history survey ana on the forest T.,
commission. while he declares that the law,
| for the protection of fish and game hay,
been wisely enforced in all parts Of in,
state during the past two years The prison