The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-18
Senator's High School Per
Capita Proposition Brings
Out Roasts for Football
and Endangers Passage Of
University Appropriation
Bill.

Standing solid for Senator Thomp-
sons bill to increase the state high
school aid from $1,000 to $1,000, and
breathing the mere suggestion of a
threat to wreck vengeance on the state
university's $500,000 appropriation
measure, the country members of the
senate yesterday discouraged any con-
templated opposition on the part of the
city members to the Thompson bill,
and compelled Senator Wilson, of Hen
nepin, to withdraw an amendment
which they believed would have COM
pletely destroyed the object of the bill.
Senator Wilson's amendment provid-
ed for the distribution of the state
high school aid fund on a per capita
basis, and pointing out that the high
schools Of ST. Paul, Minneapolis and
Duluth boasted of enrollmentS that
ran into the hundreds and even to
the thousands, while some Of the coun-
try high schools could show enroll
ments as small as nineteen, with one
teacher, he insisted that the proposed
plan of awarding the fixed sum of
$1,600 to each school was an unfair
method of distribution.
Wilson Scents Danger.
These arguments failed to reach the
country members, and, before several
OL the 10dO0TS Hau COuCluQSOy the SldC0
university appropriation bill looked
about to be dragged into the discus
sion, and the state un1versity'S present
methods from the standpoint of moral
ity were roundly condemned.
The request Of the university for a
large appropriation was mentioned by
several senators In a tone that prom
ised future trouble, and before the de-
bate ended Senator Calhoun, Of Hen
nepin, felt compelled to disagree with
Senator Wilson, and Senator Wilson
was moved to admit that he stood
alone in opposing the Thompson meas
ure, and that he was acting in the
matter without the consent or advice
of his colleagues. With the permission
Of the senate he withdrew the objec-
tionable amendment.
Senator Thompson, author of the bill,
led the country members, and was ably
assisted by Senator Schaller. Senator
McGill, of Ramsey, also favored the
motion to recommend the bill for pas
sage.
Roasts "U" Morals.
. In defending the bill Senator Thomp-
son did not hesitate to express his
opinion Of the state university, and a
sarcastic how about football ?" dis
closed that the senator from Fillmore
and a large following of the country
anti football measure.
'"rhe country high schools Of today
furnish better education than did the
university twenty five years ago. More
than this, they permit the country peo-
pie to educate their children and at the
same time hold them from the contain
mating influence of the city. The uni
versity is even now too large.
'It would be much better If the pro-
fessors were detailed to look more
closely after the morals of the stu
dents. I know parents who regret
ever sending their children to the uni
versity. The high school is the poor
mans college and is even better than
the university or the normal schools"
Worse Than BuIIfighting.
81 would do away with football. 1t
is a relic of barbarism. 1t is worse
than the bullfght and have been
tempted to introduce a bill prohibit
ing it."
Senator Thompson then read from
list Of school tax assessments and ex-
planned the low rate of assessment in
the cities by pointing out that the bust.
ness interests paid the taxes and are
able to do this because they are sup
ported by the country.
Senator Schaller denounced the pei
capita amendment and declared that
the higher education was furnished by
the high schools alone. He thought
that Minneapolis having It's high
schools and university should not at
tempt to hold the country high schools
from their small share of the aid fund.
Senator Somerville amended the bill
by making the total Appropriation read
$232,000 instead of $4,000, this in
crease being necessary as several new
state high schools are to be estab-
lished.