Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-14
A FREE UNIVERSITY.

Despite the outcry that was raised
by the action Of the six Supervisors Of
the Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
ut the meeting Of July I'd, in voting
for tho reorganization Of the Faculty;
and in tho face Of the bitter denuncia-
ton addressed them Through the pub
lie prints, these gentlemen, impressed
with the rcctitude Of their motives,
submitted their proceedings before a
Board lacking but tho presence Of two
Of its members; and under tho Presi-
dcncy Of the Acting Governor Of the
State, their course was duly sustained
by q majority vote Of seven against
five.
1t is human to err; and if the ma
jority of the Board have committed
blunders, they have done so after a
patient investigation of ftho affairs Of
tho Institutionj being actuated in
their course by the single desire to
promote the interests Of the people of
T.onisiana and tn further tho cause of
education, by applying, according to
the best of their Judgment, the public
funds appropriated for so good a pur-
pose.
They have taken steps to organize
the Agricultural and Mechanical
branches of the Institution and have
elected a full corps of experienced and
talented Professors. They have fur
ther ordered that the parents of stu
dents shall have tho option of board
ing and lodging them ut the Univcr-
sity, or without, as will suit them
best.
All cadets will be on an equal foot
ing. They will be required to pay %
matriculation fee Of ten dollars per
session, on entering, which fee will
be for expenses Of stationery, etc.
They will purchase their own text
books and supply themselves with
the uniform designated by the com
mittec. No other charge will be made.
During the nine months session,
those who reside at tho University
will be charged a total of ~? per
month, only, for board and lodging,
washing and mending, physician,
medicines, etc, payable, quarterly, in
advance, so that there will be cash
on hand, to purchase, at lowest mar
ket rates, the necessities to supply a
good table and provide necessary COM
forts.
There will thus be no danger Of
running the Institution in debt.
Such arc in brief the principal mea-
surcs adopted by the Board, who re-
spectfully ask Of their fellow-citizens
and the press that they withhold their
censure until full and fair trial has
been given the University as organ
lied by the present Supervisors.
Those gentlemen believe that the
system inaugurated by thom will
bring good to the greatest number Of
our youths, and afford a great free
Institution Of Learning to the people
of Louisiana, and in this, that they
will have strivcn to carry out the in
tent of the National and State legisla.
tors, who voted the public moneys
adequate for its support.
The session of 8O-el, will open on
the 5th of October next, and it now
remains with the people Of the State,
to avail themselves of the opportunity
of educating their sons, within it,
limits, at a cost as low, if not lower
than elsewhere.
We hope that a public spirited re-
sponse will sustain the Board of Su-
| pcrvisors in their earnest and honest
! efforts to establish a home Institution
that will reflect credit on the people
and the State of Louisiana and that
the coming session will show q larger
attendance than ever before.
| Col. Z. w. ROBERTSON was, or
yesterday rcnominated by the Con,