The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-05-20
ENEMIES OF The PLAN ACTIVE
Visit of President Taft to the Legisla-
ture Proves Important in Strengthen
ing Work That Is Being Done BY
Governor Philip and His Friends.

dill now fairly before the legislature,
interest will center upon the situation
as it relates to the measure consolidat-
ing various boards and commissions
under one head to be known as the
welfare commission.
Practically all the other plans seek
ing to consolidate and change condi-
tions have made some progress. Owing
to the pressure brought upon members
Of the committee having this larger
plan in hand, by those who are inter
ested as officials in keeping the pres
ent syste intact, considerable opposi-
ton to this bill has resulted.
Work upon this particular measure
has not been pushed until some of the
other matters could be brought into a
state Of action so that the finance COM
mittee could proceed with some Jof its
work. AS soon as the welfare commits
sion bill is brought out for concrete
action, the appropriations can be made
on the basis of the changes arrived at
in the new bills proposed.
When the legislature convenes next
week the entire program as it relates
to consolidation of boards and commits
sions as proposed by administration
bills, will be in form to receive atten-
ton. While some changes will be ac-
cepted and made in the central board
of education bill, the general plan will
be adhered to. This does not mean
that opposition to the bill will cease or
that misrepresentation or misinforma-
tion will not continue. The propagan-
da which seems determined to misrepre-
sent Gov. Philipp's attitude on this
legislation and which so industriously
has been active in stirring up antag-
onism, works upon the theory Of bill
and plan that is not before the legis-
lature. The new bill does not provide
for paid board Of regents nor does it,
tional force control of this much talked
of academic freedom According
to the admission and statement of no
less a person that President Van Hise
himself, the plan in the new bill safe
guards by law these features which
under present conditions come under
the authority Of the faculty.
Tn connection with the expressed
sentiment Of the legislature not to &C.
cept the domination of university in
fluences when exercised at the expense
of the taxpayers unnecessarily, the
passage of the Hambrecht bill of
fers an excellent illustration. The
purpose Of the Hambrecht bill is to
make students from other states pay in
tuition what it. approximately costs
Wisconsin to maintain them in the uni
versity. Whether or not the bill in the
cost stated, reaches this figure is dis
puted Hambrecht says that after re-
peated endeavors and most careful eff
fort, he was unable TO obtain figures
which would definitely state what the
cost of education per capita at the uni
versity is. President Van. Hise assert
ed before the committee that the Ham
brecht figures were approximately cor
rect. In the meantime Prof. Allen in
his survey Investigations asserts that
the per capita cost asceftained upon
the basis Of the last two years fixes
the figure somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of $3.50 per student.
It is significant with respect to the
Hambrecht bill, that in spite of every
influence that could be brought with
in or without the state in opposition to
this measure, the assembly passed it by
practically a two to one vote. For
weeks this measure has been pending
Tt was considered before the education
committee and under university infu.
ences, the committee reported it adj
versely. In spite of the report the as,
sembly advanced it. Then in order tc
defeat the measure it took the some
what unusual course of being referred
to the finance committee Here it was
again debated and argued 1t finally
was brought back to the assembly anG
again ordered engrossed. Assembly
man Hambrecht in order to protect the
contention of those who assert that the
Wisconsin institution may under this
small increase in the tuition fee, be
come provincial, sought to amend the
bin to permit fellowships to issue tx
deserving students, in the discretion Of
the regents. Strange as it may appear
this proposition was defeated by tn,
votes of members who are considered
to be the friends of the university, anc
who have repeatedly asserted on the
floor that they opposed the Hambrecht
bill because it closed the doors to stu
dents from other states
There was sharp exchange of de
rate between Assemblyman Grell Of
efferson and Senator Bosshard of La
Rose, before the state affairs commit
.oe of the assembly Wednesday after
oon when the so-called skim mill
,eese bill was up for consideration
be controversy arose over the wording