The Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1905, 1905-04-01
VAN HlsE EXPLAINS NEEDS OF U.
Shows Legislature Dcsirahility OF Pro-
viding Permanent Income for State
University.

AT the recent meeting of the legisla-
was considered providing permanent
income for the University Of Wiscon-
sin. President Van Hise, on behalf Of
the university, explained the reasons
why the university desired a regular
income which will provide adequate
support for the institution. The uni
versity bill, he showed, while provid-
ing for an increase in the income Of the
university, made necessary by the
rapid growth in attendance, does not
increase the burden OF taxation, for
the income increases only as the
wealth of the state grows. The bill
provides that two-fifths of a mill be set
aside from the amount collected on the
taxable property of the state each year
for the maintenance of the university.
He also emphasized the fact that in
the present condition of the general
fund of the state it will not be neces-
sary to have this two-fifths mill assess
ment, as the bill provides for the two
fifths of mill only in case there are
not sufficient moneys in the general
fund of the state to provide for the
university Thus, if the amount i'll the
general fund is sufficient to cover the
appropriation, as the indications are
that it will be, no assessment will have
to be made for the university support.
If for any reason, the general fund at
some time were not sufficiently large
to provide for the entire income of the
university, it would be necessary to
make only SO much Of an assessment
as would be required to bring up the
income to the amount provided by the
bill The method of support which the
bill proposes, President Van Hise ex-
planned, would provide an adequate in
come both for the maintenance OF the
university and for the construction OF
buildings made necessary by the
growth and development Of the instl-
tutiOns.
In arguing for a return to the two
fifths mill system, in order to provide
a permanent income for the univer-
sity President Van hise showed that
practically all of the large state uni
versities comparable to Wisconsin
were supported in this manner. in
Guiding Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa,
Nebraska. Ohio and California, as we'll
as the state universities Of Alabama,
Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, North
Dakota, New Mexico and Wyoming.
President Van Hise then presented
figures to show that the university,
even with the addition to its income,
will receive considerably less than do
the state institutions of Iowa. Mlch1-
Gan and California. During the past
two years the amount that the unlVer-
sitv has received from the state and
from the income on its land has Deen
only somewhat more than one-halt as
much as the other state universities
of the same rank have received from
the same sources While the uniVer-
sity during the past two years has re-
ceived from the state and all its land
income $467,696 for all it's colleges,
Iowa has had from these sources
$830,978 for it's state colleges, MIchl-
gan S795.S56 for its university, agrl-
cultural college and school OF mines,
and the University of California $685.
1874 For the next two years the Uni
versity of California and the state col
leses are asking for $521,700 in addi-
ton to the $758, 1854 annually received
from the state and from the income on
land or. total from these two sources
for the next two years OF $l,983,026.
The three state colleges Of Michigan
are asking for an additional approprl-
alton this year of $488.500, besides the
annual income from the state lands
amounting to S795,S56, which makes
total from these sources for the two
years of $2,090,212
In explaining the need OF an IN
creased income, President Van Hise
called attention to the remarkable
growth in the university during the
ast two wears, and showed that in the
nresent wear the university has $50
more students than two years ago,
when the last appropriation was made.
IF the same rate Of increase continues,
as there is every indication that 1t
will the university two years hence
will have to provide for LOO more
students than it had when the income
was fixed two years ago. One Of the
causes of this growth is found in the
rapid increase in the wealth or the
state. which makes it possible for more
narents to give their children the ad'
vantages of a university education
What the university needs, therefore,
President Van Hise explained, is some
measure for financial support when
will expand automatically with the
needs of the university and the wealth
and population of the state. Inc
method which the bill provides Tor
university income will maintain pro-
norton between the increase IN the
wealth of the state and the increase
in the attendance of the university
Provision will thus be made Tor ade-
nuate buildings and equipment for the
increasing number of students from
year to year.
S,o