Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-02-14
In Legislative Halls.

I'rof w. "A. Henry, who looks after
the interests of the Wisconsin University,
prepared an interesting statement to ac-
company the university appropriation bill
introduced recently, in which he shows
that neighboring States spend far more
| money on their agricultural colleges than
Wisconsin does. The buildings of the
Wisconsin college have cost about $780,
| 900, while Michigan has spent 800, 900
on her agricultural college buildings;
Minnesota. S2o0,0OO, and Iowa, $780,
600 Minnesota will appropriate $780,
900 more this winter for new buildings
and Iowa has Il $15O,OOO building in
course of construction. In explanation
of the $4,000 annual increase asked for
his college. Dean Henry states that the
present total income of the college of
agriculture is S64 200, of which sum $780,
600 comes from State taxation and the
remainder from the United States gov
eminent. If the increase asked for is
granted the total income of the college
of agriculture will then be $4,000, Of
which $4,000 will come from the State
The present fixed annual incomes of our
own agricultural college and those in
adjoining States are as follows: Wiscon-
sin, 1000; Minnesota, $4,000; Michi-
gan, $124, 900; Iowa, $4,000.
-:--:-
1t has been suggested that the stringen-
cy in State finances which invariably
comes at the beginning of the calendar
year might be relieved by a change in
the time of collecting taxes from the
railroads. At present they pay their
taxes in two installments, the last of
which is eight months after the taxes
have been charged against them. For in
stance, the taxes for 1900 will be paid
this year, the first installment being due
in March and the last in August. 1t is
held by some who have considered the
subject that if half the tax was paid in
the year against which it is charged it
would help matters, and it is also sug
gested that still further relief might be
obtained by making the State aid to high
schools payable when the State taxes
have been collected, instead of in De
cember, as at present. 1t amounts to
500, 900 in roknd numbers, and it is sell
dom actually paid in December, but it
stands as a charge against the general
fund and helps to create a deficit in hg-
ures whether there is an actual deficit or
not.
Apparently the city hunters and the
farmers are to be arrayed against each
other at this session in fight over spring
shooting. The farmers want to shoot
ducks in the spring and the city hunters
want spring shooting prohibited. Many
county boards have passed resolutions
favoring the repeal of the present law
prohibiting spring shooting, and remon-
strances are beginning to come from the
cities. Endless suggestions for the bet
ter protection of game are coming in. A
good many hunters favor a shorter deer
season and more vigorous measures to
protect the deer during the closed sea-
son. Complaint is made that lumber
men slaughter large numbers of deer
to supply camps. and there is to be
bill presented which will aim to put an
end to that practice. Some Milwaukee
hunters, who go into the woods every
fall favor the payment of liberal re-
wards for information about violations
of the laws. The fish and game com.
mittee will soon begin the work of franz
ing the bills which will cover all the
changes that are to be made.
80
The Sarau and Stout bills are causing
some uneasiness to the bachelors of the
Legislature and third house, of whom
there are several and they are%alking of
calling a bachelors convention to take
steps in self-preservation. One of a le-
gal turn of mind says that the Sarau
bill, which they regard as the more OBJ
jectionable, violates the constitution and
outrages the declaration of Independence.
-:
1t appears that Judge Comstock, who
was recently appointed State claim agent
at Washington. does not relieve &. G.
Mullen Of all his duties. The judge will
take hold of the swamp land claims alone
and Mr.. Mullen will complete the wolk
of collecting the Spanish war claims.
Short State Items