Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-06-05
VAN HISE'S FIGURES MISLEADING?
Former President of University Regents
Charges "Trick Figuring.
(By Ellis b. Usher)

(by Ellis b. Usher)
Milwaukee,, May 20 Regent jam
es +. TrOttman, who resigned from
the presidency of the Board of Reg
ents of Wisconsin, some time since,
because he objected to the extraya-
giant policy of that institution, has,
this week in communication to the
Evening Wisconsin of this city, made
an analysis of the figures which re-
Gently appeared, with the authority
of President Van tlise, as to the cost
to Wisconsin of educating a student.
President Van Hise's figures put the
cost at Sl49.05. Such attention to odd
dollars and cents suggested great ac-
curacy Mr. TGottman, whose long
service az President of the Board
should give weight to his statements,
says, and backs ii up with an intelli-
gible discussion Of University expen-
SEES, that the cost per student is about
S270, or more than twice the figure
announced with such great particular
ity of dollars and cents, 10y the head
of this great and dominating depart
ment of our state government.
Mr. TrOttman calls the president s
figuring misleading, " and trick
figuring, and pointedly says:
"The University authorities should
learn to state plain facts, aud not be
guilty of manipulating figures in order
to secure advantages or appropriations
which can be secured just rs easily
by giving the truth free play"
Ex-Governor Peek, Ex-Governor
Hoard, f. c. Thwats, of this city, all
former regents who retired for rea-
sons similar to those Mr.. Trottman
SO pointedly expresses, have long
since filed their protests to this sort
of University morals.
Is it any wonder that the Uniyer-
sity is in had order in this state and
beyond it? Anyone who travels about
and meets the college men and wom-
EN- of other states, can lind that this
low tone is recognized and comment
ed upon, to the disgrace OF Wisconsin.
A number of Columbia people, told
me mt n luncheon, in New York.
few gears ago, that il was we'll under
stood that Wisconsin was "snap"
for professors who wanted to attach
themselves to two OF three salaries,
The reflection. of course, was that
the sort of educators who sought
"snaps" are the sort we get, l should
be loath to believe that To be true, but
in the face of such outside opinion, If
there is any such. even ii 4 is limited
in scope, 1t is easy TO account for the
loss in recent years of some distin-
.guisned members of the Wisconsin
faculty. 1t is also easy to account,
in the face of such statements as Mr..
Trottman's. for the uuQuestionahle
drop in public esteem for the tTniver-
sity and lis teachers, here nj home.
That, too, has been perfectly apparent
to everyone except to those most re
sponsihle, Wisconsin people do not
want their sons and daughters educat-
ed at an institution that spends four
million year, and attempts to film
flam the public with dguring that is
too transparent to fool anybody That
too, IS becoming apparent.
will add a question TO Mr.. Trott-
mans statement DO you, Mr.. Tan
payer, know that Notwithstanding the
great financial income of the Cniver-
Sity, it is in debt a good share of the
time? refer YOU to page - of Trea-
surer Johnson's last report. There
are to be found two items under the
general head of university Fund
Income. as follows viz:
1918 1914
Temporary loan Sl5o,o00
Loan First Natl
Bank. Milwaukee $500 .O0A
/ haven't heard any talk about this
sort of income, have you2 1st it has
grown from sloo, ooo to SSds1. oNtwith
in very few years
WHAT STATE is SPENDING.
The state has expended many thou