Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-07-30
GOVERNOR vETOES
COMPENSATION ACT
Nye Bill Provided for $50 Month
to Returned Soldiers.
MAY CALL SPECIAL SESSION
Project Is Regarded of Sufficient I'm.
portanee, Providing Ordered In
vestigation Warrants Reas-
senbIing of Lawmakers.

MauISOH.-GoY. PnlHpp sent veto
TO the senate of the Nye bill provid-
ing for a compensation of $50 a month
TO returned soldiers attending the
higher institutions of learning.
Gov. Philip says there is no in
formation upon which to base an esti-
mate as to how many of these soldiers
would avail themselves of the Oppor-
tunity and that he will at once direct
Adtutant General Holway to make a
survey Of the problem. He says he
will also consult educational authori-
ties, including the state board of edu-
cation, as to how to best meet situ-
ations of an educational standard
nature that may arise under the bill.
"The project is of sufficient impor-
lance" says Gov. Philips veto, ITO
warrant the calling of a special ses-
sion of the legislature. In that, how
ever, / shall be guided by the results
of our inquiries among the soldiers
and the findings and recommendations
of the state board of education
The veto of the Nye bill is one of
N1C luOSl GAhduSllNe llldL mas DeeU
sent TO the legislature this year.
Il look upon this bill as class legis-
lation within the meaning of our con-
stitution and believe Ii to be wrong
in principle because 1t does not offer
equal opportunities to the men who
have rendered like service" contin-
ued the governor in his veto, "If we
are to think of the educational needs
of our young men we cannot avoid the
conclusion that the boy who left
school when he was in the sixth grade
or who had merely the advantages of
country school needs the additional
educational opportunities far more
than the young man who has lad the
privilege of going through a high
school or similar institution of learn
ing.
1T is no answer to say that he who
chooses to accept the privilege will
forfeit some other bonus that is to be
given by the state. The largest
amount that will be paid by the state
to any soldier who has served two
years (Which is practically the maxi
mum term of service) will be $40, If
the bill which will be referred to the
people will become a law. Under the
provisions of this bill the soldier may
attend college for a term of four years
and receive 81 ,0S0 from the state.
do not wish to stand in the way
of this educational privilege which the
legislature seeks to give the soldier.
I recognize 1t as gift that the soldier
can neither lose nor squander, one that
will be helpful to him during the re-
mainder of his life and l am sure he
will appreciate it more than any other
donation that the state can make to
him. However, # the state is going
TO grant this privilege it should be ex-
tended to all who wish to take adj
vantage of it, regardless of their edu-
cational qualifications. If that is done,
the soldier must necessarily resume
his education where he left off when
he quit school and that situation nee
essarily raises some new questions
which the legislature, in my judgment,
must meet.
1.-THE age of the soldier and sailor
ranges from II to As. No doubt many
who would wish to take advantage of
the offer would find 1t necessary to go
into the grades that are attended
largely, If not entirely, by boys and
girls under the age of 10. We cannot
reasonably expect that the men who
have rendered military service would
wish to share the school room with
young children, nor would it be practi-
cal that they do so from the stand
point of the school. 1t seems to me
that to fairly carry out this proposed
educational privilege provision should
be made for special schools for these
men, in order to give them reason
able opportunity to secure the full
benefit of the peoples generosity.
''No inquiry has been made and no
one seems to know how many men
would take advantage of this bill as IT
is now written; nor has any investi-
CATION been made so far as / am able
to learn. to determine how many OF
this class of students can be accom-
modated at the university or other in
situations named with the instrue-
tional staff that the appropriations
made to these institutions will permit
them to employ. The entire scheme Is
step in the dark and it seems to me
that the first thing to ascertain is the
number that propose to avail them
selves of this opportunity.
'sTher are other questions in con-