Another sample brick in the history of
Republican care for the educational In
terests of the state is the treatment accorded
the university in the legislature of 1885, the
next session after the destruction of the
science hall by fire. The regents, according
to a report made by the board of the legisla
ture in 1887, asked for an appropriation of
$245,000. The legislature finally appro
priated $190,000 and allowed the insurance
of $41,000, and this was done through the
efforts of a Democratic United States sen
ator, William F. Vilas.
Senator Vilas was in the assembly that
year and he took charge of the university
measure. He worked hard and there was
every prospect that It would go through.
The commit tees had cut off (he armory ap
propriation and had reduced the others a
trifle, but there was every reason to hope
for the passage of the amended measure.
