Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-01-20

in many OF the villages and small cities is
comparatively high. and the inevitable con-
cluSl0n Is that the average daily attend
ance in the country school is probably not
more than 80 per cent of the total enroll
ment When approximately four million
dollars is expended for school purposes
throughout the State, outside the cities
under city superintendent. a clear waste
of nearly 40 per cent of that expenditure
through absence of pupilg, who by right
and by law should be in school, is not
matter TO be neglected. 1t is pointed out
by educators that this sum would much
more than provide for comfortable tram
portation of all children in country districts
10 well-built ell-graded and well-taught
central schools. The Legislature of 1901
enacted a law to provide for transportation
of pupils in rural districts, and / commend
to your attention the need of effort to i'm
prove these laws and make them more eff
fective In promoting the excellent work for
which they were originally designed. The
certain result will be larger attendance at
the common schools with less expense to
the commonwealth.
This IS . practical age. The demand is
for the things most needful. Make the
training in the district school of so great
practical value that it will enforce itself.
Teach some things that VIII have daily
application to the life upon the farm. Add
elementary training in agriculture and do
nestle science. Compel the teaching OF
these practical, valuable branches and you
will have sef-enfort,ng compulsory law
respecting ATTENDANCE.
There are now six county training schools
for teachers supported in part by the State,
teachers for country schools 1t is sug-
gestea that provision may be wisely made
for at least four more such schools.
The State Normal Schools.
Additional departments in some of the
schools. already established and plainly re-
CURED In their work, will add about $4,000
per annum to the cost of maintaining Nor
NAL Schools. The greatly increased price
In cost of fuel and other items of ordinary
expenditure make it certain that not less
than $4,000 per year will have to be added
to the fixed income OF the Normal schools,
essential to their proper conduct and prog
ress as now organized.
No measure of expense imperatively re-
quired TO provide the schools of Wisconsin
with efficient teachers can be counted as eX-
travagance, but it will be well to bear in
mind that appropriations for new buildings
must be followed by other appropriations
for equipment and maintenance and 1t
seems proper to anticipate that the work
of the Normal Schools already established
will be early REINFORCED by the county
training schools for teachers. which have
proven satisfactory where tried, and which
apparently are growing IN popular favor.
University of Wisconsin.
From the biennial report of the Regents
detailed affairs of that institution may be
acquired From the statistical information
submitted it will be seen that the Increased
cost of maintenance and extension is east
ly, and in most gratifying manner, account
ed for by the almost marvellous growth In
attendance and the great advancement in
the character and work of the institution.
Charitable and Penal institutions.
The State Board of Control, having su-
pervision and care of the various charitable,
penal, and reformatory institutions, In their
biennial report describe the condition OF
these institutions upon the whole to be
quite satisfactory, and many of them emil
nently so. With respect to this general
conclusion l believe that the report of the
Legislative Visiting Committee VIII agree.
Notwithstanding the most economical pur-
chase of supplies .pon competitive bids,
open to ALL there has been necessarily a
material increase In the cost of provision
for the inmates of all State institutions,
due TO the advance In prices Of nearly all
commodities This fact must be cOnsd-
cred in fixing appropriat lions for the ensu-
ing two years.
/ heartily concur in the opinion of the
Board of Control relating to the impera-
tive need of the improvements and addi-
tions in the equipment for both the State
Hospital for the Insane at Mendoza and
mt the Northern Hospital at Winnebago;
also in respect to the minor improvements
asked for the schools for the deaf, for the
blind, and for dependent children.
The subject of prison labor continues to
present an unsolved problem. The con
tract under which the labor of the prison
ers at Waupun was employed expired Dec.
81. 1902. The Board of Control in view
of the apparent conflict between public sen
tment and public interest has deferred
action in the matter of new contracts. pend
ing some determination of policy with leg
islative authority. 1t Is essential for their
own welfare that prisoners shall be EN-
ployed. 1t is equally important that they
be employed in some line of industry which
will equip them TO earn a livelihood in that
employment when discharged from prison.
Experience has shown that they can be EN-
pIoyed with best results to all concerned
under contract. and while it logically fol
lows that by this means wage earners are
brought most directly into competition with
prison labor. 1t seems unreasonable to as
sumo that the labor of number of men
scarcely sufficient to equip one ordinary fac
tory, can exercise much influence upon
either the wages of workmen or the price
of products under existing conditions. AT
present prisoners are employed by the for
mer contractors under temporary arrange
ments pending legislative action. In the
absence of such action 1t is probable that
the BoarG of Control win enter into new
contracts under the most favorable terms
and conditions possible.
The State Militia.
The report of the Adjutant General on
the work and needs of the Wisconsin Ma
tional Guard for the two years last past
shows most satisfactory condition of this
important organization. Nothing In the
organization of the militia is asked for,
and very little indeed calling for new ex-
penditure.
Free Library Commission.
Incidental TO its general pian aud purpose
the Free Library Commission has accumu-
lated in its collection of literature the
foundation of a legislative and administers
tive reference library to assist law max
ers and administrative officers In the per-
formance of their duties To establish this
au appropriation of $500 was. asked for by
the Commission two years ago. 1t was cut
down TO $1.500. which is insufficient. l rec
ommend that provision b. made for per-
manent quarters for such library within
preparation. not to exceed $1,000 per an
mum. he made for the maintenance and
conduct of the work.
Banking Laws.
Since the last legislative session the CON
stitutfonal amendment has been adopted au-
thorizing the Legislature to enact general
banking law 10 provide for regulation and
supervision of the banking business, pro-
yided that two-thirds of all the members
elected TO each House vote In favor OF the
passage such law The report Of the
State Bank Examiner for the last biennial
term presents many reasons for revision
OF the banking laws of the State. Not
least among these is the fact, gratifying In
preston in the banking business in the year
1885 the business Of banks within this
State has more than doubled Deposits
haze increased during the last six years
from about sixty-three million dollars To
more than one hundred and fifty millions.
The wisdom Of surrounding this reserve
wealth Of the people OF the State with