Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-01-21

| e1CS NOIh. L MS WORK should be en-
couraged as it gives to a large class O
our young men and women who. b,
reason Of circumstances, are obliged
to leave school and begin earning
livelihood before they are properl!
equipped for the business of life, al
educational advantage which they
would not otherwise enjoy.
Already the agricultural college ha:
been the means of adding untold
wealth to our country. The needs o.
the college should be given careful
con liberation to the end that the bene
fetal work may not be retarded.
To meet the requirements of the en-
cheering college additional room will
be required in the near future. The
legislature provided an appropriation
of 100000 per year to be used for
construction and equipment, enlarge
ment and repair of buildings and
works; also, $4,000 per annum for
four years to be u ed in the construc-
ton and equipment of a woman's
building and gymnasium and
mems dormitory. These provisions
are liberal, and in the governors
opinion should not be increased.
After praising the normal schools
the governor says: There will be
proposed other educational measures.
for your consideration, and they will
require much thought on your part,
for anything that affects the interest
of every citizen and each industry in
the state, and that, too, not for a day
but for all time, is one, the worth of
which can never be estimated"
The New State Capitol.
Work on the new capitol has pro-
crossed with no more delays than are
incident to works Of the same magni-
tude. The governor speaks at some
length on this great work and the fine
results achieved and adds:
Immediately following the ad.
journment of the legislature, it is in
tended to remove the south wing,
dome, and central portion of the old
structure and begin work on the new
wing. In order to take advantage of
present low prices, contracts have
been made for the steel to be IL ed in
the new wing and central section of
the base of the dome. It is hoped
the south wing will be completed be-
fore the next session of the legislat.
ure, the new senate chamber will
be in that section.
by act of the legislature of 1907,
the sum of $60O,OOO per year, for nine
years, from June 50, 1908, was appro-
priated. If work proceeds as rapidly
on the south wing and central portion,
as il is now proposed, it is possible
that the necessary funds will not be
available when the work is completed.
| would recommend that the commits
sion be authorized to anticipate the APP
preparations"
The governor says that the retain
ing wall at the west should be faced
with granite to correspond with the
building.
Public Highways.
An amendment to section 10 of ar
tiCIe s of the constitution was ratified
by the people at the last general cleo
ton, and i now incorporated as a
part Of that instrument, by which it is
provided that the state may appro-
pirate money in the treasury or to be
raised by taxation, for the construc-
ton and improvement of public high
ways. This is a very important and
far-reaching amendment, and one
which opens the door Of the treasury
to the discretion Of the legislature 20
an extent not probably suggested by
casual reading of it, since it has been
generally referred to as an amend
ment authorizing state aid in the
building of good road Since all
our navigable streams and waterways,
railroads and canals, as we'll as our
wagon road, are public highways"
it will be seen tht the authority of the
legislature under the amendment is
very comprehensive indeed. The gov
ernOr impresses upon the Iegi lature
the necessity Of a conservative and
careful exercise of the great power
conferred; at the same time he believes
a limited expenditure of the funds of
the state should be made in aid of
building permanent highways. But
when the state shall determine to as
sist in this work, it should be done
under some system carefully worked
out and of statewide application 1t
should not be attempted through ap-
preparations to any county, city, town
or road district but only by special
tax under a plan by which the appro-
priations shall be expended through
the agency of some competent central
authority. for it is self-evident that
the legislature cannot investigate the
needs of particular communities and
make for them appropriations in aid
of road building
Primary Election.
One purpose of the primary law was
TO supply a method by which political
parties could nominate candidates for
office without interference from any
other political party. It appears, how
ever, says the governor, that in this
regard a weakness has been revealed
which should receive consideration.
Under the act each voter is furnished
with the ballots of all the political
parties. He is thus free to cast his
ballot for the candidates of any party
whether he afiliate5 with that party
or not.
Where the contest is spirited, and
great interest is manifested in the
nomination of candidates, members of
0Oa nOIi+ica1 Dartv will dictate the
nominations of the Opposing party by