The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-06-18
OFFERS ECONOMY PLATFORM
Declares Appropriations For the state
Boards Must be Cut to Meet Income
of the State and That University
Must Be Properly Regulated.


Merlin Hull, formerly speaker of the
assembly, this morning sought the sup
port of hundreds of Kenosha county
republicans in his candidacy for gov
ernor. Hull has declared that he is
not going to walk about the state and
that he can not employ campaign
manager and that his entire campaign
will be carried on by letters to the
voters. In his letter sent to Kenosha
today he makes statement of his
candidacy and outlines the issues IN
der which he seeks the votes Of the
people at the primary election in
September.
In his letters Mr. Hull claims to be
the original dyed in the wool middle
of the road candidate. He is not
basing his candidacy on his friendship
for any of the ruling dynasties in Wis
consin, but wholly on his record as
speaker Of the assembly and his former
political work in the state.
In his statement he says in part:
Greater economy in all public af
fairs is not only desirable, but manda-
tory, Changes should be made which
will reduce state expenses to lower
level and keep them within the limit
Of the ordinary revenues. This step
toward economy should be along con
structive and not destructive lines
Wisconsin Is motto is Forward not
Backward. The people demand eff
iciency in the highest form and they
are entitled to efficiency at lower
cost wherever possible Economy at
a sacrifice Of good government is not
asked or required. The fight for the
rule Of the people is on, not over 1t
is not necessary to injure any institu
tion or useful department. but by APP
plying the rule of appropriating accord
ing to the normal revenues a general
reduction can be made which will
bring state expenses to the proper
mark. The indirect taxes received by
the state should be sufficient for all
state purposes.
Appropriation bills which depend
more upon the efforts of lobbyists for
their passage than upon the demand
of the people should not pass, and
should they pass, they should be
vetoed. The system Of extensive lob
bying for appropriations would then
soon become obsolete. :"
"Much of the increase in state ex-
penses in recent years is due to exces-
sive appropriations for new buildings
and land purchases. The progress Of
the state demands some expenditures
for these purposes, but in this, also,
the revenues of the state should be
taken into consideration, as well as
the growth of the institutions. There
can be no good reason assigned for
further large investments in lands for
several years to come.
"Full investigation should be made
of the needs Of the state Of the pres
ent boards, commissions and depart
ments, and by consolidation and such
elimination as may be found possible,
the number of offices and of1ceholders
should be reduced. Wherever there is
duplication of service, that should be
remedied. Some departments can be
eliminated by transferring their duties
to other departments or commissions
and reduction in expense made,
| The expenses Of our large inspection
service can be materially reduced by
this method The object Of all de
partments should be to render the
greatest. service at minimum cost. The
number of employees should be under
the control of the legislature and maxi
mum salaries should be fixed by law. !"
The University Of Wisconsin should
be literally supported. It's education
al activity should not be limited. 1t
should have all the freedom necessary
to promote its purposes. But its ac-
tivities should be confined to the field
of education and research, and undef
no circumstances should it assume to
be, or be presumed to be, in politics,
particularly in partisan or factionaI
politics. Those connected with it
should neither dominate, nor assume
Ito dominate, state affairs, dictate leg
islation, nor lend their influence for
the success or defeat of candidates for
Office. It should not directly or indi
rectly try to influence the action OF
members of the legislature aside from
/ its legitimate field of furnishing to the
state such aid and assistance as may
be reasonably expected Of it as A
source of information.
It's appropriations should provide
for a reasonable growth, but should
not be on the extravagant plan for the
last four years. It's management
should be more economical. Tt should
depend upon the confidence Of the peo-
pie for the iberality Of appropriations,
| and not upon lobbying, and the needs
lof the other schools in our educational