The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-17

various portions of the State, that o;
very general impression prevails that
there should be an essential modifica-
ton IN the constitution Of Che 90
verning body of the Unirersity-the
Board of Trustees. AT present it
consists Of thirty eight members, Of
which eighteen are ec 96lcio, includ-
ing the Governor and Lieutenant-
Governor OF the State, the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, the Chair
man of the Committee of Education
of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, respectively, the Judges
OF the Court of Appeals, the Circuit
Judges of the Courts of Law, and the
Chancellors, and twenty other per-
sons elected by joint ballot of the
General Assembly, to hold their office
for four years, and until others shall
have been elected.
The cunbrous and unwieldy char
acter of the Board, rs at present con-
stituted, detracts materially from it's
efficiency and usefulness. Where
responsibility is divided and dissi-
pated among 30 many, tits almost in
evitable that it should be lightly ap-
preciated; and engaged as many of
the Trustees are in other important
public duties, anu residing at con-
siderable distance from the capital of
the State, it is not to be wondered
ut, that their obligations connected
with this appointment, often merely
complimentary, should be frequently
overlooked and neglected. To such
an extent has this been carried, that
important meetings of the Board
have had to be repeatedly postp oned
for want of quorum, although but
nine members Of the thirty eight
were requisite for the purpose. 1t
has been suggested that the remedy
for this evil Is the substitution of II
Board of five or seven Trustees, Sc
lected for their special capacity and
aptitude for the position, and who
would be willing to devote more Of
their time and attention to the im-
portant trust confided to them.
1t has, also, been suggested that
the internal regulations of the Uni
versity would be more satisfactorily
managed if .he election of the Chair
man of the Faculty were left to the
members of the Faculty themselves.
The experience of the past two
years admonishes us that some
changes in the tuition fees are neces-
sary to popularize the University,
and bring its advantages within the
reach of the greatest possible num-
bcr of students. The present charge
of twenty five dollars per term, for
each academical school. with ten
dollars additional for the library to
each student, whether used by him
or not, prevents many Of the
youth of the State from enjoy
ing the educational advantages of the
institution. It is deemed advisable,
therefore, to reduce the tuition fees
for each school to one-half the pre-
sent amount, and corresponding
diminution in the charges for the
library and other extras.
In order, however, that the Pro-
fessors employed shall be insured a
reasonable compensation for their
services, it is recommended that an
appropriation be made by the State
of $4,000 per annum, for each of
them, and also to allow them the
additional sum of $500 per annum
from the fees for tuition, should n
sufficient amount be received for
that purpose, and if not. then the
amount so received shall be di-
vided among the Professors pro
rata. All moneys received for tut
ton fees, and other sources of re-
venue, shall be deposited with the
Treasurer, and accounted for in his
annual report, or at any time when
called on by the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees have au-
thorized committee of the body, if
deemed advisable, to arrange with
the State for an increase of free
scholarships, on the basis of annual
appropriations for the salaries of the
Faculty.
A small appropriation-say about
S6OO-is required for necessary re-
pairs to the University buildings
have submitted briefly such sug.
gestions in reference to the Univer-
sity as 1 deem important to its pros
perity and the public interests, and
earnestly invite to them yonr care
ful consideration, pledging myself to
cheerfully cooperate in carrying out
the policy which may be designated
by you.
There are many matters of detail
which will apprODriatelv come nm fo,