The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-03-05
Kronshage Shows Enroll
ment Increases Handi-
cap Instruction.
NEARLY INTOLERABEE
Last Appropriation for New
Buildings Made in 1913,
Regent Shows in Article.
BY THEODORE KRoNSHAGE JR.
president, Board of Regents, Univer

BY THEODORE KRoNSHAGE JR.
president, Board of Regents, Univer-
sity of Wisconsin,
The first real setback in the progress
of the State University came in 1913.
The repeal of building funds voted by
the 1913 legislature began the pres
emit predicament. Since then, build
ing needs have simply piled up as en-
rollment increased year by year.
Meanwhile the number of students
has increased from 4,224 to 3,010.
The legislature of 1913 voted 81
003 900 for buildings at the State Uni
versity. Among these buildings was
an addition to Bascom Hall, the Ply
sizes Building an Engineering shops
building, the first unit of the Wis
cousin High School building, an ad-
dition to the Soils building, and some
other buildings to be used in connec-
ton with the Agricultural experiment
station.
At that time the enrolment of the
University had reached 4,224 and it
was upon the representation made by
President Van Hise that the University
was reaching a stage of congestion
which would shortly prove intolerable'
and upon Investigations at that time
conducted by members of the legisla-
'ture and others, that this appropria-
ton was made and later approved by
Francis E. McGovern, then governor.
Last Glass Room Extension.
This appropriation made provision
for the last purely educational build
ings which the University of Wiscon-
sin has erected.
The legislature of 1915 repealed the
appropriations made for an addition to
Bascom Hall and other buildings, to-,
falling in all to 100000. 1t also repeal
ed the appropriations made for an En-
gineering shops building, but this APP
preparation was reinstated by the leg
islature of 1917 and 1919.
Appropriations made by the legisla
lures of 1915, 1917 and 1919 for build
ing purposes were confined to build
ings used in connection with the eX-
pertinent station of the College of Ag7
riculture, branch stations of that col
lege, service items and certain remod-
cling projects. Not single appropria-
creased the>class room capacity of the
University of Wisconsin.
The special session ofthe legisla-
ture held in 1920 made large approp-,
riations for the Wisconsin General
Hospital. This building is not primar-
lily an educational building, but is
public service institution designed to
take care of crippled children who are
charges of the State Board Of Control
and Of INDECENT sufferers from disease,
who may enter the institution upon
certification of the county judge. No
classes for the 5000 students of the
University can be held in it. Some
day, when the four-year Medical School
has been established, this institution
will prove of great value but now its
primary purpose is to render public
service to the state.
Appropriation Too Small.
The legislature of 1921 appropriated,
100000 for an addition to the Chem
istry building, an appropriation so
small that the Regents of the Univer-
sity have not been able to use it. 1t
also made appropriations for certain
buildings connected with the Agricul-
tural Experiment station, among 9TH
ers a beef cattle barn, as we'll as for
certain service items and buildings
s.kich became necessary because of
han erection Of the Wisconsin Gener-
nj Hospital. None of these appropria-
tions in any way relieved the growing
congestion in the class room Of the
University proper.
The legislature of 1923, on the rec
concentration of its finance commit
tee, agreed on capital appropriations
exceeding 100000 and providing for
the addition to Bascom Hall which had
been voted in 1918 and repealed in
1915. But it later agreed to disagree
on the manner in which the money to
meet these appropriations should be
raised. The only appropriation which
passed this legislature was an appro-
priation for $150,000 for University
Extension building at Milwaukee, which
has not yet been used because the
purchase of site is still pending, and
an appropriation of $4,000 for, build
ings at the Waushara County expert
ment station.
Showed Real Need for Action.
When President Van Hise appeared
before the legislature Of 1915 and 1917,
picturing the ''intolerably congested
conditions" in University class rooms
and begging for the restoration of the
buildings appropriated in 1918 and lat
er repealed, the needs must have been
convincing. For it is inconceivable
that the legislators of 1918 would have
voted $1,00S,o0O for new buildings.
after such careful consideration, I'M
less the needs justified the expenditure
nor would Governor McGovern have
approved them.
When President Birge presented the
building needs to the legislatures of
1919, 1921 and 1928, the case was even
stronger. The finance committee of
the 1928 legislature admitted that,
when they recommended building ap-
preparations amounting to $1,000,000---
which later failed in the legislature
only because Of disagreement over
taxation policies. Considering that,
through all the legislative repeats and
aisagreements Of II years, no new
buildings to relieve class room needs
have been built, what is the case to-
day?
The enrolment was only 4,224 in
1913. Last year it was SOLO.
But now, in the face of this situa-
lion, what is the official proposal be-
lore the 1925 legislature? Of all the
buildings urgently requested by the
University, the proposal is to build