Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-01-22

ion recommended, amounting practically to
| a revision OF our statutes regarding the
regulation of life insurance companies pre-.
cludes the necessity Of specific executive
recommendations concerning this subject
Permit me, however, TO add that nearly
every citizen of Wisconsin Is vitality inter.
ested in the regulation of insurance cor
porations- According to the report of the
commissioner of insurance there were on
Dec. 81, 1905, 293,S0 persons in wiscon-
sin holding policies in old line life insur-
ance companies, amounting to S242 727-
9487O upon which the annual premium ag-
gregated SS,637, 0I3.28 The people paving
annually this large sum Of money, necessi-
tating in the majority Of instances careful
saving and those dependent upon the pol
icy holders for the necessities of life look
to this legislature, and have a right to
ask, that such laws be passed as will ade-
quately protect their savings. Many people
have come to regard life insurance os a saw
ing bank account. and certainly their equi-
ties in insurance policies are entitled to the
same careful legislation and state super
vision as has been adopted in regard to
banks. With the immense sums taken from
the policy holders, the treasures of the in
surance corporations have presented such
temptations for questionable transactions as
have been beyond the power of present day
officials to resist. Protect the rights and
property of the people, erect such legal safe
guards that insurance shall be such in fact,
that trust funds shall be honestly applied,
that there shall be limit to the expendi-
ture of the insurance money and that just
punishment be melted out to all viola tors of
the law. Legislation failing in these re-
spects falls short Of the public will
Growth of Institutions.
The State Board OF Control, charged with
the administration of the charitable, penal
and reformatory institutions OF the State,
in its biennial report describes the condition
OF these several institutions as very salts
| factory. Nothing has transpired during the
| past two years which has in any way i'm
paired their efficiency.
A perusal of the report gives the people
| of the State reason to take just pride In
the magnificent system of caring for its
| unfortunates, which has been developed only
| through years of labor and the expenditure
| of large sums of money.
State Prison.
Certain additions and new buildings are
| called for, which it appears are needed in
| order that the institutions can keep pace
| with the growth of the State, An appro-
| priation OF $4,000 is needed to complete
| and equip the cell house now under con-
! struction at the State prison. Under the
| new contract for convict labor, which went
| into effect shortly before the last report of
| the Board of Control. the revenues of the
prison have been materially increased.
Home for Feeble Minded.
| At no institution are conditions SO crowd
| ed as at the Home for the Feeble Minded
| at Chippewa Falls. in the ten years since
| its establishment. the population has grown
| to 6S7, yet the facilities now provided fall
/ far short of those needed to furnish accom-
| modations for this class of unfortunates. 1t
| may be well for the legislature to consider
| the question of materially enlarging this
| institution, and therefore recommend that
| appropriation be made for two new dormi-
| tories, which will cost when equipped not to
exceed 100000 each.
State Hospital for Insane.
| The board calls attention to the neces
so sfaf N.fuff
| improve the sanitation and heating facili
| ties of several of the State institutions
| The amounts are not large, and since they
| minister in so large degree to the health
| comfort and safety of the inmates, / am
confident that such reasonable expenditures
will meet with your approval.
| Common Schools.
| The total amount expended for instruc
| ton in the schools under the supervision of
| the county superintendent for the year end
| ing June so, 1906, was $5,497, 342.70; in
| cities, $3,4S5,649.9 or a total of $S.9S2-
| 992.62. The State shows it's interest in
| maintaining public education by making
| provision for distributing among the public
| schools of the State $1,870,00 aid in
| maintaining the common schools, the free
| high schools, the state graded schools, the
| agricultural schools and the county train
| ing schools.
| With such comprehensive educational
| system, and the expenditure Of so large
1 a
| front rank among the States of the Union
| when education is considered. Reports
| show however that it does not stand as high
| in educational results as 1t should with this
! great expenditure. BY far the most serious
hindrance to profitable school work is the
| one resulting from irregularity of attend
| ance Irregularity OF attendance compared
J with the fact that but 50 per cent of the
! strictly rural school population between the
| ages of and IA attended school 100 DAYS
|
| raises question for grave consideration
| This legislature must again concern itself
| with the problem of improving the efficiency
| of the rural schools.
High Schools.
| During the last school year an increased
| interest has been manifested in regard to
| town free high schools. Many additional
/ schools of this character have been estab-
| lished.
County Training Schools.
The legislature Of 1899 authorized the
| establishment of county training schools for
| teachers. They were designed for the pur-
| pose of giving instruction in the common
| school branches, and in the management of
| rural schools to persons preparing for this
| work. Excellent results are already no.
| ticeable from their establishment. l rec
| ommend that the statute restricting the
| number of such schools be amended so as
| to grant to additional counties the privilege
| of establishing and equpping county train
| ing schools.
Normal Schools.
The biennial report of the Board of Nor
| NAL Regents shows in a comprehensive man.
ner the excellent work being done at the
| seven State Normal Schools and that an
| increasing number of persons are availing
themselves of the facilities there afforded.
State University.
| The State University represents the cul-
| mination of our system of public educa ton.
| The biennial report Of the Board of Re
| gents shows the same large annual increase
| in attendance which during the last ten
| years has amounted to an almost marvellous
| growth. Even with the great additions and
| extensions to the university during recent
years. the facilities are still inadequate, and
| its requirements for the next biennial period
| will be strongly urged before the legisla-
| ture
| For many years the university. at the end
of the fiscal years, has had in the treasury
only a small balance. often amounting to
but few thousand dollars. In 1905 a law
| was passed authorizing tie university for
| one year TO borrow from the general fund
/ until its revenue was available This priv
| ilege was continued for another year at the
| extra session of the legislature in 1905.
| Out of this growing practice to borrow from
| the state funds in anticipation of its own
| revenue considerable criticism developed 1t
was claimed that the university was being
| maintained on a scale entirely beyond the
| limits placed by the legislature. and quite
| general suspicion aroused that the best
business methods did not prevail in its man.
agement The legislature. at its extra SEES
| sion in 1905, provided for the appointment
Of a committee with power to investigate
into the condition of affairs. management
expenses and needs of the university and
also into its business transactions The COM
| mittee makes a number of recommendations
which are worthy of your consideration
Dairy and Food Commission
The report of the Dairy and Food Com
mission for the last biennial period shows
a result which must be most gratifying to
the people of the State. For the violation
of the dairy and food laws 235 convictions
were secured and fines imposed. which to-
gether with Inspections and other lines of
work by the commission. have resulted in a
revolution in food matters in Wisconsin
Needed amendments TO existing food and
dairy laws should be made necessary new
laws enacted and the commission so
strengthened that the important duties en-
trusted to il may be discharged as to
give the largest measure of protection TO
the public.
Bureau of Labor and Industrial
Statistics.