1879.] No. 221, A., THE SENATE. 337 A bill relating to the chamber of commerce of Milwaukee, and amendatory of its charter. No. 261, A., A bill to provide for the laying out a state road from Lincoln, Kewaunee county, to intersect the Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay state road, in the town of Green Bay, in Brown county. No. 269, A., A bill to amend subdivisions 1, 2 and 3 of section 462 of the revised statutes, relating to the reports of the clerks of school districts. No. 361, A., A bill to repeal chapter 103 of the general laws of 1877, entitled an act relating to the license fund received by the city of Chippewa Falls, and the acts amendatory thereof. No. 231, A., A bill to authorize the county of Trempealeau to borrow money. BILLS ON THEIR THIRD READING. No. 140, A., A bill to amend sections 490, 492, 493, 494, 436 of the revised statutes, relating to free high schools, On motion of Senator Andrews, was recommitted to the committee on Education. No. 38, A., A bill to secure to children the benefits of an elementary education, On motion of Senator Bailey, was laid over until Monday evening. A bill for the relief of E. J. Pettys. On motion of Senator Hudd, Was laid over until Monday evening. M. C. No. 6, A., Memorial to congress for an appropriation to aid in the construction of a public bridge across Buffalo Lake in the town of Packwaukee, in the county of Marquette and state of Wisconsin. No 281, A., A bill to provide for the preservation of fish in the waters of Calumet county. No. 109, A., A bill to amend the city charter of Plymouth. Were severally ordered to a third reading. 22-3. J BILLS ON THEIR ENGROSSMENT AND THIRD READING. No. 157, S., A bill to amend section 121 of chapter 10 of the revised statutes, in relation to the distribution of the Blue Book. Was ordered engrossed and read a third time. The ayes and noes being demanded, It was decided in the affirmative. Ayes, 14; noes, 6; not voting, 13. The vote was as follows: Ayes Senators Bennett, Grimmer, Hudd, Kellogg, Loper, McFetridge, Price, Richardson, Richmond, Sacket, Swain, Van Schaick, Van Steenwyk and Wolf — 14. Noes-Senators Chipman, Hathaway, Morgan, Reynolds, Rice and Welch-6. Absent or not voting - Senators Anderson, Andrews, Bailey, Burrows, Campbell, Dering, Haben, Houghton, Hyde, Paul, Rankin, Scott and Treat - 13. No. 101, S., A bill to establish a board of immigration. On motion of Senator Rankin, was laid over until Monday even ing. A bill to further provide for the education of deaf mutes. On motion of Senator Welch, was recommitted to the committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions. No. 166, S., A bill to amend chapter 144, laws of 1876, entitled an act to authorize the commissioners of school and university lands to loan a portion of the trust funds of the state to the county of Wood. On motion of Senator Price, was laid over until Tuesday next. No. 186, S., A bill to appropriate to the state printer a sum of money therein named. On motion of Senator Hudd was laid over until Tuesday next. On motion of Senator Hudd, The senate adjourned. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1879. 7:30 P. M. Senate met. President in the chair. The roll being called, the following senators responded to their names: Senators Anderson, Andrews, Bailey, Burrows, Bennett, Campbell, Chipman, Grimmer, Haben, Hathaway, Hudd, Hyde, Kellogg, Loper, McFetridge, Morgan, Paul, Price, Rankin, Reynolds, Richardson, Sacket, Scott, Swain, Treat, Van Schaick, Van Steenwyk, Welch and Wolf." Journal of Friday approved. LETTERS, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, ETC. Presented and referred. By Senator Price: Pet. No. 210, S., Petition of Augustine Davis and 50 others, citizens of Trempealeau county, for constitutional amendment touching the liquor traffic. To special committee on Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors. By Senator Paul, and ordered spread upon the journal: Memorial of the Wisconsin Phonological Institute for Deaf Mutes, relating to the necessity and importance of taking steps towards improvement in the method of educating deaf mutes in Wisconsin. To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin: The undersigned members of the board of trustees of the Wisconsin Phonological Institute for Deaf Mutes, a private institution located in the city of Milwaukee, beg leave respectfully to represent to your honorable body, that about one year ago, a number of citizens who had become deeply impressed with the necessity and importance of taking steps toward the improvement of methods of educating deaf mutes in our state, and of providing therefor, organ ized themselves for that purpose, and have become incorporated under the above name. Their special object is to show the superiority of the articulate over the ordinary sign method of educating deaf mutes. The advantages of articulate speech over any and all other torms of language are unquestioned and unquestionable. To be deprived of this power is universally and justly regarded as among the most serious of human misfortunes, and hence to restore it may be deemed one of the greatest of human benefactions. Experience in European countries and in some of our eastern states has fully demonstrated that deaf mutes can be taught articulate speech with entire success, so that it can be readily used in the ordinary intercourse and business of life. The duty of the state suitably to provide for the education of deaf mutes is not less imperative than its obligations to establish and maintain appropriate systems of education for other classes of persons. This duty our state has done itself the honor to practically acknowledge by establishing and providing for the support of the deaf and dumb asylum at Delavan. In that institution however, the sign language method of education prevails. Not only so, but in the light of experience and sound judgment, it is deemed impracticable to introduce and successfully carry out both the sign and articulate methods in the same institution at the same time. Furthermore, the newness of the articulate method to our people, and the consequent doubt that may exist in the public mind regarding it, made it appear necessary that some provisional movement should be made with a view to proving in our own state the superiority of the articulate over the sign method. The movement has been generously aided and encouraged by benevolent public spirited citizens, who have given liberally of their means, time and labor. They now feel, however, that the point has been reached where the public good requires that the enterprise should be brought more immediately to the attention of the state, to the end that such action may be taken by the state with reference to the matter as is demanded by its duty toward a large number of unfortunates not now provided for. His excellency, Gov. Smith, in his late annual message, has been pleased to favorably direct attention to our institution and objects. That part of his message relating to this matter was by resolution, both in the senate and assembly, referred to the committee on Education in each, in pursuance of which, the committee on Education in the assembly has recently honored our institution with a visit, for the purpose of examining into its methods and claims. It is confidently believed that their observations, and the information which they obtained, were sufficient to satisfy their minds that our objects are worthy of the most favorable consideration of the state. We are, however, aware that the constitutional right of the state to grant directly or indirectly aid of any kind to private institutions or objects is, to say the least, a question of such grave doubt and serious moment, that as good citizens we do not think it right 1879.] THE SENATE. 341 for us to ask the state to appropriate moneys or property in any manner to aid our institution or to encourage its objects so long as it retains it private character. In view, however, of the fact, that it is the purpose of our institution to prepare the way for the state to intelligently, suitably and safely improve its methods of educating deaf mutes, and of enlarging its facilities for meeting the wants of and discharging its duties toward this class of persons, we deem it proper to ask your honorable body that you will at this time take such action as may be necessary to authorize and instruct your committees on Education and Charitable Institutions, also the state board of charities, to visit our institution from time to time, and report upon the same, especially as to the comparative merits of the articulate and sign methods of educating deaf mutes. In conclusion, permit us to add that whenever the time shall arrive when the state can consistently relieve us of a responsibility which it is our duty to assume, we shall willingly surrender all of value that our institution may possess, to be owned and controlled by the state in carrying out the articulate method of educating deaf mutes. Leave of absence was granted to Senator Dering until Tuesday evening, and to Senators Anderson, Grimmer and Rankin until Wednesday morning. RESOLUTIONS. By Senator Van Schaick: Res. No. 29, S., Resolved, That Mrs. Harlan M. Page be requested to sing (with i |