The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-05-23

utHtSi< hS ulihS LHdb edeA pays SSf tllA-
'tion the sum Of $2s9,162, almost
tine entire cost of running the
university in 1890.
Much of the extravaganza in uni
versity matters is attributed b. Mr..
Barber to the wretched system of MAX
ing appropriations in advance and
the mill tax. Beginning at one-tenth
of a mill It has arisen to three-eighths
iof mill, Notwithstanding the fact
that the assessed value of the pro-
perty of the state has grown enor-
nlously through the addition thereto Of
railway property. The mill tax is
expected to bring in for 1911 and 1912
the sum Of $2,175, 600. In addition
to this enormous sum there was APP
propriated for buildings, university,
and agricultural extensions $1,255,000.
One hundred and fifty six acres Of
land was purchased at 800 an
acre aggregating $235,ooo. The an
nual income of the university is
something over $2,OoO,ooo.
President Van Hise has announced
that in this generation he intends to
make the number of the students ten
thousand. The old time law that the
object and purpose Of the university
should be to provide the inhabitants
of the state with a means of ac-
curing an education, has been re-
pealed, and a broader law enacted
inviting the world to send students
to it for instruction What care we
who have children to educate or have
to pay the bills, whether the enroll
ment is five thousand or ten thousand,
whether it is greater or less than
that of Columbia, Chicago, Harvard,
or Yale? What care we whether
upon the roll there are Hindus,
Japs, Chinese, or Persians. 1t may
crafty the ambition Of President
Van Hise and his supporters to beast
of the cosmopolitan character of the
university, but the average man or
woman Of Wisconsin would greatly
prefer a practical and efficient insti-
tuition maintained at reasonable
cost. Increased enrolment means
more buildings and more land, pur-
chased at enormous cost.
The university now absorbs about
one-ffth Of all our state revenues and
if the ratio of expenses is increased
we will soon pay mill on a dollar
and what will be left for the smaller
educational institutions in our cities
and villages. 1t is a gross injustice
to take from the people two million
dollars a year to educate four or five
thousand young men and women at
Madison, nearly one-fourth of whom
are aliens and non-residents, especial
ly when that money and more is great
ly needed for school purposes at our
very doors.
My next charge against the univer-
sity is that it is in politics and has
become propaganda of partisan doc
trines. That it is in politics / think
there is no attempt to conceal. This
is contrary to the spirit of our fore
fathers who when they framed the
constitution expressly provided that
there should be no sectarian instruc-
tion in the university. They never
for moment dreamed that in state
educational institution, supported by
a people at large, that the objects
and purposes of the same would be
prostituted by connection with
politics.
I go further and say that without
this statute, as legal proposition,
the state has no right to take any
money under the guise of an educa-
tional purpose and leach or spread the
doctrines of any political party or any
political faith, and that it is the duty
of the board Of regents to remove any
member of the faculty who offends
even but a little in this respect.
1t is no wonder as Mr.. Cary, super
of public instruction has
pointed out, that there exists in such
an institution glaring defects and
that some teachers are
paid too little and others too much;
and that some are drawing double
pay, that the hours Of service Of some
are too short and others too long, and
that under the guise of research work
much time and money are spent for
which it is doubtful that the public
receive any considerable benefit.
These things are but the symptoms of
the disease that has taken hold of the
institution. Politics like pitch, are
sure to deile. When President Van
Hise opened the door and let in poll
tics, petty graft and irregularities
entered hand in hand.
In concluding the article Mr.. Bar
Der makes the following suggestions:
First-The amendment of the or
ganic law Of the university, permit
ting the president, or any member of
the faculty to be ex-officio a member
of the board of regents, or of it's