Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-02-14

claim TO be a progressive state and
yet we hesitate about getting back Of
the head of our government. I care
not how La Toilette votes. When he
takes exception to the views of the
President in a crisis Of this kind it is
our plain duty as Good Americans to
support the President
q am known as hide-bound Ia
Toilette man. but ! want to support
the government" said Assemblyman
Newcomb Spoor, Green Lake.
1T looks bad to hesitate and D.
bic" said Assemblyman Edward Nord-
man.
AssemhIyman John P. DonreIly,
Milwaukee. thought the house was in
clined to play politics. quit pussy
footing" he shouted.
After the members settled down.
the Nordman resolution was adopted,
with only few scattering noes
against it.
Throughout the furry Assemblyman
c. F. Hart. Oshkosh, fought anv in.
dorsement Of Wilson. why indcrse
the PRESIDENT" he asked. "IIe has
brought us as near to war as it is pos
sible to bring u.s."
While the assembly grew excited,
the senate, very calmly and with de-
bate, adopted Senator Timothy Burke's
resolution pledging loyalty and sup
port to the national government in
the present crisis.
Members Want Pay Boost.
Members of the assembly have
taken the first step to raise their sal
aries. An amendment has been incor-
porate into Bill S, a revision meas
sure relating to finances. which, if it
becomes law, will increase the sal
airy of the speaker from $1,000 to 81
500 and add $500 to the compensation
of the individual lawmakers, raising
their salaries to $1,000 The only ques-
tion involved is whether such an act
is constitutional. Attorney General
Walter c. Owen will be asked to pass
on this point. George B. Hudnall exc
cutive counsel. has already expressed
the opinion that the act is in viola
ton of the constitutional provision
which fixes the salaries to be paid
members of the legislature.
Almost without exception, the mem
'bers of the house feel that they are
entitled to more money-enough to
pay their board bills while in Madison.
Much of the work of the joint COM
mittee On finance this week has been
on appropriation bills for the state
university. President Charles r. Van
Van Hise and several of the deans
have asked for larger appropriations
than those recommended by the state
board of education. Mr.. Van Hise has
taken the general ground that the
policy of expansion pursued at the
university has proved to be the best
investment the state ever made. For
every dollar expended, he argues, the
state has been enriched industrialy,
materially and intellectually
He expressed the fear that unless
the state is willing to increase the sal
aries of professors. that many good
men will leave Wisconsin. With their
going, he said, the university cannot
among the great educational institu-
tions of the country He stated very
frankly that, in his opinion, if the leg
islature does not increase the appro-
priations recommended by the state
board of education the university will
go back.
President Van Hise contended that
the principal question involved is one
of policy. If the university is to ex-
pand less rapidly. he said. the returns
to the state will not be az great as
they have been during the forward
moving period Of the last ten years.
The deans have supported him in this
line of argument.
University Needs Carefully Considered.
The position Of the legislature with
respect to t univ rsity is not always
understood. There is plenty of evil
dence TO indicate that the present leg
islature wishes to be generous with
the big school on the bill. There is a
disposition, however, not to deal ex-
trayagantly with the university. Gov
ernor Philip has taken the position
that building operations, except where
new buildings and improvements are
considered necessary. ought to be de-
ferred until the price of materials,
which are said to be fifty per cent
above normal, come down TO some
thing like normal figures.
Governor Philip, however states he
wishes to be fair and that he will be
guided by the facts and circum-
stances.
Senator Benefits bill to prohibit
the intermarrying Of white persons
and negroes brought out lively hear
ing before the judiciary committee of
the upper house. Well known repre-
sentatives of the colored race fiocked
here in large numbers to fight the bill.
Attorney De Refe, Milwaukee, said
the loyalty and allegiance of the col
ored people never has been question
ed Always they have made good sol
diers and no other race has made
more progress in the same length OF
time that the negroes have been free.
He did not attempt to justify the inter
marrying of white persons and ne
groes. It is regrettable that such mar
riages take place, he said. He objected
to the Bennett bill because the enact
ment of such law. he thought, would
lead to other restrictions which would
discourage the negroes in the fight to
improve their race. THE first thing we
know he would have Jim Crow street