The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-05-08
THE REPonT ON rnE UNuvER.
SITY.

nost im Poftohs PoAs9s m PoosneN ~
the Post
To make the work OF tho University
as efficient as possible, aud TO render
its educational training OF the greatest
possible use, your committee urge the
Importance OF continuing the school of
mines and more fully equipping IL
OF adding q physiological laboratory
with something toward proper equip
ment a philosophical laboratory and
suitable appliances, and a cheap build
ing with suitable instruments for the
use OF students in astronomy IN the
regular course. We have the assurance
that the building will be erected with
out G Dot 10 the State, and will only re-
quire equipment at the public expense.
An addition is also needed to tho build
ing occupied by the dental school. A
library building il also needed. The
generous offer OF Levi Bishop. Esq, OF
Detroit to donate TO tho State for q libra
ry building for tho University the sum
of $40, 900 or Si5, 900, with these condi-
hons, attached, viz that tho State
should pay TO him during the lifetime
OF himself aud his present wife the sum
OF eight per cent. on the amount donat-
ed, and five per cent. 10 the survivor
after the death OF either. and the fur
ther condition that tho State shall con.
tribute $4,000 toward the building.
and a small sun annually for the care
conservation and increase OF the library
is regarded as q matter Of great conse-
quence TO the University. both as an
evidence OF tho hold IL has upon the
affections Of the people, and also sug-
gesting a solution ia part OF the quss-
ton, How shall the University be put
on q basis OF certain and permanent
supportf"
In the opinion Of your committee
the several departments OF the Uniysr-
sity are all doing q good work. Nor
can the people OF this State afford to
commit TO them lsss than 10 now ex-
pected. On the contrary, step after
step should be taken to make the in
stitution more and more thorough and
efficient. The recent action OF the
Board Of Regents in afording equal
advantages for clinical work and in
struction 10 the professors and students
in each of the medical schools is to be
commended. No less grateful nnst
every thoughtful person feel for the ac-
tion OF the regents in regard to extend.
ing aud grading tho course OF medical
instruction at the University. II re-
quired no little courage On their part,
when other medical institutions were
reducing their course OF study and
lectures TO secure patronage, to adopt
a longer. moro thorough and expensive
enc. Should this change in the course
and quality Of medical instruction be
rendered complete, the diploma OF O
graduate from any medical department
OF the University OF Michigan will not
be likely to DO diseredited by either
medical associations or tho people.
Your committee do not feel called up
on 10 give any lengthy review OF the
educational work done by the CLiver-
sity In the past, or even OF that now
being done. That has been exhaustive
ly treated by the messages OF the retir-
ing and present Governor and also by
tho Committee OF tho Senate on the
State University, 10 which especial at
tention is invited.
We trust also that II viii not be
deemed out OF place 10 refer to the IN
happy difficulty which has grown out
OF irregularities in tho chemical lab
oratory at Ann Arbor. At the COM
moncement Of this session Of the Legis-
lature public opinion seemed 10 require
an investigation OF that matter. Many
members, however, felt On extreme
delicacy in taking any steps which
could be construed a. an Interference
with the appropriate duties OF the re-
gents, and all the moro SO in this mat
ter, because il was understood that the
whole case would be committed 10 the
courts for settlement
In this sentiment most OF your conn.,
mittee sympathized fully. The Legis.
lature, and your committee as well, were
very much relieved from such embar-
rassment by hearty and apparently
sincere request from the Board of Re
gents 10 have the whole matter thor
oughly investigated, together with
their treatment Of the same, and pledg-
ing every assistance IN their power to
aid in such exhaustive investigation.
Iu conjunction with q like committee
from the Senate, and by direction OF
both Houses, this examination was en-
tered upon at the request OF the re-
gents themselves. Both parties in this
unhappy controversy disclosed their
case and presented all the testimony
they desired. This had never occurred
before in any full investigation. The
fullest opportunities were given to all
parties concerned. The most complete
and exhaustive examination was had.
IL was not surprising that conclusions
should have been reached under such
circumstances, differing from those
reached by other examinations under
less favorable circumstances.
Your committee are profoundly i'm.
pressed with the generous confidence
reposed in them by this House during
and since the investigation. II is also
gratifying 10 know that the evidences in
this case, though only in part put be-
fore the House yet, is abundantly sufi-
cient 10 incline its members to substan-
TALLY the same conclusion to which We
have arrived.
Nor will We permit ourselves to
doubt that the Board OF Regents, on q
careful review Of this sad affair, will
hasten TO retrace any misstep which
they have inadvertently taken, or re-
dress any wrong they have unconscious
Iy committed. With this confidence.
and also with the fullest assurance OF
their ability TO 80 conduct the great
interests involved in this crowning in
stitution Of learning in our young and
prosperous State, We heartily commend
the University OF Michigan TO their
care, and to the generous support OF
the Legislature and the people.
At the conclusion of the reading OF
the report, the committee reported q
substitute for three appropriation bills
which had been referred 10 the CON-
mittee, which was, on motion Of Mr..
Hoyt, ordered printed and laid on the
table by 0 vote Of 50 10 9, Messrs. Con-
ely, McGinuis. Morrison, Norris, Rob
bins and Wood voting no. The several
items Of the appropriation have already
been published in the Post. The ag-
gregate Is s42, 900 for the year 1877.
and S35, 800 for the year 1879 The
amount 10 the same asked by the Board
Of Regents with the sdditional sum
rendered necessary by the extension of
the terms in the medical departments.
The bill viii probably not be taken
from the table until after the special
r,net;ng of tha Bosrd Of R<uente