Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-05-31
EXTRAVAGANZA At
THE UNIVERSITY,
HOW THE STATES ELITE EDUCA-
TIONAL INSTITUTION CHEWS
UP MONEY.
MEDICAL SCHOOL HOBBY
Figures Which Will Probably Startle
Legislators and Taxpayers
of Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis, May 2S.-[Special.l
One of the arguments delivered before
the joint committee on claims, in oppo-
sition to the appropriation for the estao-
lishment Of a department of medicine III
the University of Wisconsin, made an
impression so strong that members OF
the committee suggested its publication.
Accordingly it has been brought out III
the form of a pamphlet, which has
opened the eyes of the members who
have read it through and would startle
the public at large if there were copies
enough for general distribution, which
there are not.
The pamphlet shows the leaps and
bounds by which the annual cost of the
university has been advanced. Last year
its maintenance required the expenditure
of S1,O22, 54S. compared with a total OF
S372, 572 for the seven normal schools
and with 5000, 52S for the nine charl-
table and penal institutions Of the state:
The argument is made that beng one OF
many institutions founded and main
tanned by the bounty of the state, the
university should be placed III Its proper
perspective, and considered not from
partial view, taking in it alone, but from
a broad, comparative and related view
which includes all. Notwithstanding the
Importance of the normal schools III the
educational scheme of the state. and
notwithstanding the crying needs OF the
charitable and penal institutions as set
forth by the Board of Control the uni
versty during the past eight years has
been provided with revenues lIo per
cent. larger than the aggregate given to
the seven normal schools, and equallng
80 per cent. for the sum expended for the
,I,n ui+ inst
How Figures Are Juggled.
I The statement makes a showing of the
per capita cost of students at the uni
Versity, after deducting the students tax
ing vacation courses in summer, attend
ing the short course in agriculture, and
enrolled in the School of Music. In
some places the writer of the pamphlet
speaks sharply For instance:
A favorite argument of these gentlemen
has been the enormous benefits conferred
upon the farmers of the state by reason Of
the work done by the college OF agriculture
and experimental station. 1t mas been as
serted frequently that such benefits far eX-
coed in direct returns the entire cost of the
university. 1t is admitted that great bene-
fits have accrued from that cause. No one
in Wisconsin, | believe, could be found to
deny it. | suggest, however, that 1t seems
rather singular that out OF the enormous
bounty of the people of Wisconsin bestowed
upon this institution last year in the way
of direct appropriations of $72,9l4, only
the sum of $43139.1S should have been
applied to the college and work which is
conceded to have produced most beneficial
results for the farmers of the state, a sum
equal to about 512 per cent of the total
After contrasting the trihing expendi-
ture per capita on public school pupils
with the enormous expenditure per cap
tia on regular university students, the
declaration is made: This institution
is not the foundation of the educational
system of the state. 1t is the top, the
roof If the edifce which supports it IS
not sound and enduring the top can
never last"
The Medical School Hobby.
The argument against the appropria-
ton for the medical department pro-
ceeds as follows:
Now, with reference to granting author
ity for this new college of medicine. Moth
ing is said as to the probable cost OF me
respect to this vital point we are left in
entire ignorance significant silence IS
preserved with respect to that feature OF
it. We are not advised as to whether it
may be expected to equal the college OF
letters and science. which approaches
half million dollars yearly or the college of
law. which costs less than forty thousand
dollars yearly. The appropriation asked
is only fifty thousand yearly. Based upon
colleges | believe the sum asked for is a
mere bagatelle. But it is the entering
wedge 1t commits the state TO the ven
lure 1t pledges the credit, the honor of
the state the pride of the state. 1t fur
nishes another basis as warrant for i'll.
creased demands upon the Legislature of
the future. 1t has cost several millions OF
dollars to found and maintain the college
OF letters and science. Over 4 million of
dollars for the college of engineering and
the same for the college of agriculture and
experimental station. 1t is costing at the
RATE of more than one million dollars per
wear to maintain them and it seems per
fcCtlv plain that by authorizing another
college in this institution you are simply
increasing the cost of maintenance by one
fourth of the present cost of the four col
lCges already established
"The Money Devil"
This institution is becoming, in my opin-
ion. n deplorable example of the evils Of
money lust. They getting so that
everything is measured by the rule of the
dollar 1t is a CommerCialZed, educational
institution that talks in money, teaches i'll
money, thinks in money and places the sign
of the dollar upon everything it comes in
contact with In my humble opinion there
should be a halt called The people should
insist that this institution live strictly
within the funds provided; and when it can
be shown they are maintaining the colleges
already established upon proper basis and
Within the funds provided that they are
not anticipating their income but living
strictly within it, that they are far more
soictous about the men and women sent
taken in from the state, that then, and not
until then, will be time enough to talk
about founding a new college in this uni