The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-05-09
Madison Letter.

| E'kOAIOOi LObOOt'
Madison, Wis, May f. (SpeciaD -Ster-
| iliZatiOn Of the states insane and feeble
minded home is the recommendation of
the legislative committee appointed by
the Governor to investigate the severa!
charitable and penal institutions of the
state. No doubt but what bin will be
| introduced at this session to provide for
such an innovation under well preserved
regulations.
The committee gave a most favorable
report of the condition of the state char
| liable and penal institutions. Perfect
harmony seems 10 prevail III al lnstltu-
tions and the committee highly com
mends the work Of the men in charge of
| the Institutions The buildings are in
excellent condition. The improvements
recommended are only to make needed
repairs Occasi0ned by natural wear and
depreciation and for enlargement TO take
care OF the ever increasing numoer OF
state wards, except the criticism of the
| building plans in one or two instances.
| For the school for the deaf at Delevan,
the committee recommends the purchase
Of pictures for the education OF the pu
pills. it being pointed out that the deaf
study art with great pleasure. The COM
mittee suggested that the salary of the
superintendent of the home for feeble
minded at Chippewa Falls Should be in
| creased.
The committee is of the opinion that
considerable money could be saved the
state by system of centralized buying
OF supplies for the various institutions
and recommend that the legislature
enact law to formulate such plan.
1t developed in the course of their re-
port that the state institutions are max
ing great success of farming and dairy
ing They also suggest that a certain
portion of the state printing should be
| done at the industrial school for boys at
Waukesha, and at the school for the deaf
at Deleyan. 1t was pointed out that the
work could be done satisfactorily at those
institutions at a great saving for the
state.
The Committee speaks in terms of
high praise of the manner in which the
Industrial school for girls, which is con-
Quoted by voluntary association, is
managed. The State Board of Control
desires that this institution be taken
over by state. but the committee finds it
better managed than any of the state in
stitutions and recommends against it
being placed under the Board Of Control.
NEW SCHOOLS.
It seems certain that there will be
three additional county training schools
for teachers provided for by the legisla-
ture at this session and one new normal
school, the location of which was estab-
lished at Eau Claire by preceding leg
islatuTe.
TEACHERS PENSIONS.
Two teachers pension bills have been
considered. One to make a separate
class of rural teachers, giving them pen
sions at twenty instead of twenty-five
| years, has been twice reported for lndef-
mite postponement in the assembly.
One to grant pensions to normal school
| teachers, has been killed in the assembly.
There has been no advancement of bills
to change materially the present teach
4
Some changes will be made in laws
governing teachers and training school
graduates certificates.
COOPERATIVE INSTRUCTION.
The Axpl Johuson bill authorizing the
university TO prepare course of cooper
atiye instruction to be given at the two
weeks short course for farmers, has
passed the senate The course provides
for instruction along cooperative lines
in all matters pertaining to the farming
industry.
HEARING BILLS.
Hearings on some of the larger meas
ures before the Legislature are now be-
lug HtfN. IAC AAai nth Cot1lIlISoIon oiii
has been given three public hearings
thus far and much interest has been
manifested in them. Water powers
were given a hearing this week for tie
first time. The water power fight is BE-
tween the bill introduced by the special
committee on conservation and the bill
introduced at the instigaiion of the wa
ter power owners. Both bills provide
that the waterpowers be subject to the
control Of the rate commission. Hear
ings are also being held OF the mothers
pension bills.
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
Assemblyman Gullicksan's bill relat-