The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-05-20
Refusal Of Legislature TO Give
Money to Stats University
May Lower Standards
FACULTY URGES QUICKAcTI0N
Appropriations Suggested by Legisla-
ture Insufficient to Provide for
Policy Of Extension in
Different Departments

ed a disposition of exceeding freedom
from enthusiasm with respect to the
many bills contemplating additional
appropriations for the state university
Near friends Of the university have
come to look upon this session as one
of great hostility to the university, and
entertain grave fears lest the results
be damaging to the institution.
Bills which in an ordinary session
would have practically no chance Of
getting farther than the repository Of
a committee have this year not only
received serious consideration, but are
well advanced toward enactment into
law. One such bill was the Hambrecht
measure, closing the door against any
future thought Of separate classes for
the men and women students. An
other such bill is the Twesme measure,
providing that the faculty must give
a trial to student before expulsion
may be made. Another is the Wehr-
vein bill to open the university to all
graduates Of Wisconsin high schools
passing the inspection of the state SUI
perintendent Of public instruction.
This bill has been advanced by the
assembly by overwhelming vote and
will have strong support in the senate.
Still another such proposal, of anti
university flavor, is bill to take away
from the university its permanent state
appropriation and require each legis-
lature to make available funds for the
support of the university for the COM
ing two years.
Some Of these bills the university
has brought upon itself. The Wehr-
vein bill is the proposal of State
Superintendent G. P. Cary, according
to the frank admission of Assembly
man Wehrwein. In the recent spring
campaign, Mr.. Cary's reelection was
opposed by Leading university authori-
ties, among them Regent James f.
Trottman of Milwaukee and George f.
Marrill Of Ashland, who wrote letters
to university alumni favoring the de-
feat Of Mr.. Cary
Naturally Mr.. Cary seems inclined
to retahate, and his argument that
university inspection of high schools
for the university entrance accredited
list is causing the high schools to be
made into feeders Of the university
instead of finishing schools for the
great majority of high school students
who never go to college, is finding
favor.
The fact is that less than one high
school graduate out of ten goes to a
college or university, and Mr.. Cary
declares the high school should there
fore act as a finishing school for the
nine who 60 from the high school out
into the world, rather than as a pre-
paratory school for the one who GOES
to college.
The university views the measure
with great alarm, declaring that it
will lower the high standard of the
university among the higher educa7
tionalS institutions Of the world, and
will make the state superintendent
superior in authority to the president
of the university.
The financial bill is also result Of
university over-stepping. The perma7
nent income law was the result Of a
plea by the university for perma
nent fund so as to relieve the uni
versity authorities of the unpleasant
and non -educative task of lobbying at
each session for university appropria-
ton bills.
The legislature of 1905 granted such
mill tax on all the general property Of
the state, but the university lobby
was at the session of two years ago
nevertheless, Gas strong as the board
Of trade" as an exasperated senator
put it and demanded large Especial
appropriations.
Now the serious proposal is for each
legislature to mete out what money it
sees ft for the support of the universi-
ty in the following two years, and
leave the subsequent support of the in
stitution to subsequent legislatures.
While there may be ample room for
the university administration to be
taught lessons of economy and direct
dealing with the legislature, people
who have the welfare Of the state S
chief educational institution at heart
profess extreme fear that the results
of the present situation may be disas-
trous to the position which the Uni
versity of Wisconsin holds in the edu-
cational world.
The new chairmen of some of the
Council committees are finding out that
something besides honors was thrust
upon them when they were named for
their positions. They are wondering
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