The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-18

Editors Dispatch; Allow me TO make
few remarks on the bill 500 4 10 be submit
ted TO the General ASsembl continuing, on
certain conditions, the ann .ullv OF $4,000 TO
the University OF Virgin N, and TO present
10 the consideration OF the Legislature a
simpler scheme, which. I am confident, will
be at once more favOra ole to the University
and better protect the Interests Of the Com
mOnweath at large.
The bill, in sectif N l, requires the Uni
yersitv to "educate forty students from the
| State OF Virginia ore from each senatorial
dstrict-the stud snts to be designated by
the senators from the respective districts,
without charges for board, tuition, text
books, rooms, other expenses connected
with the cOurs e.r
Section p' Divides that out OF this annuity
Of 100000 :" all the expenses OF educating
said forty s. .udents shall fist be paid -; the
balance to 20 for repairs. for interest on
the Univ ersity debt, and $500 per annum
for sin xing fund.
Sectic IN repeaIs the act approved 26ih
Febrr airy, 1916.
THIS bill is better than the act OF 1876,
whi' IN il supersedes. That act was the fatal
blu nder OF the University. II raised the
ar .nuity from $4,000 10 100000, aud made
aition free to Virginia academic students.
In other words, It was an appropriation OF
,public money to pay the tuition fees OF that
very class OF our people most able to DIS
charge their own bills, aud for an article
University educstiOn-w bich is not possible
, TO one family in hundred. Other oblec-
tons, not less fatal, attach to that act, none
OF which | shall now discuss. The repeal
OF this law | regarded then, and have done
% ever since, as inevitable. My fear was
that the law would bring so much popular
odium on the University that its repeal
would be effected in way calamitOuS to the
institution. That such may not now be the
! case Is my chief object in writing this ar
tice.
Tue proposed bill is, however, in several
respects seriously Objectionable. The NJ
pontment Of beneficiary students By pOlitl-
clans is bad. The Faculty would make
: better selections. Nor should the Uni
versty be required TO provide board, books.
fuel, lights, and, A. far as we can see, clothes
and Washing, for these beneficiary students.
Let the University dispense TO them the
articles only in which it deaS-to Wit: Tut
ton. rooms, library, and maTculJtiOn fees.
The University does not deaf in beef and
; mutton, IN coal and candles; nor does 1t
: keep clothing store, nor run laundry.
Again. how the money is to b. used is
I not plain. Confusion and misunderstood
ing is inevitable. Let us see:
Whole appropriation ............,,.....,.. H3OOOU
For board 40 students, say -.....,,..S1OUO
, For books &C, 40 students, SIy... IOOO
For tuition and room rent. matricu-
latOn and library fees, sdy....... 5.uOO
For sinking fund. 0OO
/, For interest on debt 1881 500,
mostly at per ccnt............... 6,5OO 5000
1900
Balance. .'''''.'.. ploOOV
The foregoing embraces all the items
/ which are to consume the annuity. except
repairs, so that the balance Of $4,000 must
be spent on repairs, whether necessary or
not. This certainly is not wise.
suggest the following plan;
Put the annuity a............., 100000
TO be disbursed AS follows:
, Interest on debt. fb.oOU
, Sinking fund. LUIS $500
1900
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS HiZ'OOO
to be distributed among the professors and
/ for other purposes rs the Board OF Visitors
, NAV direct. Repeal the act Of 1876, and
require the University TO educate forty
, meritori0us INDECENT young men-Onc from
each senatorial distrlct-t0 be selected by
, the Faculty, and free as 10 tuition, matricu-
, | lofion room rent. and library fees | for