Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-01-22

Gators that this sum would much mere
than provide for comfortable transport.
alton of pupils in rural districts, and
commend to YOUR attention the need of
effort to improve these laws and make
them more effective in promoting the
excellent work for which they were
originally designed. The certain result
will be larger attendance at the com
mon schools with less expense to the
commonwealth.
On state normal schools the gov
ernOr says:
From the biennial report Of the
board of regents you will be able to
obtain a comprehensive understanding
of the more urgent needs for the main
tenance and hetterment of this impor-
tant branch of educational work as as
certained by those having supervision
Of it's conduct in detail
University of Wisconsin.
Governor LaFollette. in telling OF
the needs of the state university, says:
THE requirements of the university
which will be most strongly urged
for your consideration are those to
meet the demands from growth in the
student body, rather than for new
extensions in the scope of training.
Increase in the appropriation for gen.
eral expenses, made necessary by this
natural growth, will be asked to the
amount Of $4,000, and for needed adj
ditional apparatus and equipment for
the various departments approximate
ly as much more. with an urgent de-
mand for at least $4,000 a year dur.
ing several years for much needed
and long needed additions to the
working libraries of the university.
1.-The university authorities, recog-
nizing the many demands upon the
legislature for appropriations and the
limitations upon the revenues of the
state, have hesitated whether to ask
for the stated separate sums specific
ally all at the one time, or to request
the legislature to continue for a Pc
riod of three years the annual tax OF
100000 provided for the Historical Ii
brary building, which terminates in
1908, the amount thus secured each
year to go to the university for the
purposes specified. after the remaining
balance for the state historical library
shall have been paid. Of course, a
continuing appropriation extending
over a period of years would be less
burdensome than a direct appropria-
ton of the whole amount to be drawn
from the treasury in one tax period.
There is no doubt in my mind that
YOU will be convinced of the necess-
ity for providing very considerable
portion of the sums asked for. Wheth-
err it shah be raised during one year
or within four years is question l
regard worthy your consideration. 1t
is in contemplation of all such legiti-
mate and proper increases in eXpendl"
tures-inevitabl as the growth Of the
state itself-that there is laid upon
us the added obligation to see to it
that it be not made still further tC
enlarge the already unequal tax bur-
den borne by our people.
Charitable and Penal Institutions.
'"The state board of control, having
supervision and care of the various
charitable, penal. and reformatory in
situations, in their biennial report de-
scribe the condition of these institu
tons upon the whole to be quite sat
isfactory. and many of them eminent
~ So With respect to this general
conclusion l believe that the report Of
the legislative visiting committee will
agree"
The governor then exhibits a table
giving a comparative statement OF the
average population and the per capita
cost per week in each Of the several
institutions for period of ten years
last past, compiled by the secretary
of the board of control at his re-
quest. He continues:
''This exhibit is gratifying with re-
gard both to economy of management
and to the comparatively small in
crease in the number requiring state
care in these institutions. Notwith-
standing the most economical pur-
chase of supplies upon competitive
UlUS ODCu W dll, t1lClN mas bSNAA AANNNo
sarily 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 considered in fixing
appropriations for the ensuing two
years.
Prison Labor Problem Unsolved.
THE subject of prison labor con-
tinues to present an unslOved prob
lem. The contract under which the
labor of the prisoners at Waupun
was employed expired Dec. 81, 1902
The board Of control, in view of the
apparent conflict between public SEN
timent and public interest, has de-
ferred action in the matter Of new
contracts. pending some determination
Of policy with legislative authority
1t is essential for their own welfare
that prisoners shall be employed. 1t is
equally important that they be en-
ployed in some line of industry
which will equip them to earn live
lihood in that employment when dis