Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-06
tbs srA1z UNIVERSITY TROUBLE.

port of the Advisory Commlttee OF toe
Board of Regents, just made. indicates that
wholesale changes are sought for by at
least part of the Board but whether these.
changes are sought solely in the interest OF
better government and instruction, or
whether, as is alleged in some quarters,
they have been proposed from partisan
political motives, it is almost impossible to
ascertain. There can be no doubt that
much of the present uncertainty in regard
to this matter arises from the refusal of
the Regents to hold public sessions. By
excluding the press from their meetings
they have given opportunity for the circu-
lation of all manner of mischieyous
rumors, and when once the public have
acquired the belief that partnership is at
work in the Board, it will not accept the
representations Of the Secretary as to what
is done in the secret meetings. The
Advisory Committee say that the
management of the University is unsatis-
factory, and they intimate that President
LIE Conte is not capable of discharging the
duties of his Office. They recommend his
removal therefore, but they also recon-
mend his removal from the Chair of
Physics, and this recommendation Ger.
tainly requires explanation. For it is I'M
derstood that if President LIE Conte has
failed in the discharge of his administra-
tive functions, it is because his professional
duties make too great demand upon his
time and energies. 1t would appear, sup
posing this view to be correct, that the
proper course was to relieve him from the
Presidential Office, and thus allow him to
devote all his time to instruction. To re-
move him from the Chair of Physics, how
ever, is to impeach his capacity as teacher,
and this the Advisory Committee have not
attempted to do in terms.
The removal of Professor Welcker from
the Chair OF Mathematics is also proposed,
and the cutting down of some of the sala-
ries of other instructors. The chief inter
est, however, lies in the cases of LIE Conte
and Welcker. These gentlemen have es-
tablished and considerable regulations.
Until now it has never been suspected by
the public that they were not among the
most useful and indispensable members of
the Faculty of the University. If then
they are to be removed, the Board OF Re-
gents owe it to the people of California to
make known their reasons for this action.
That the University has not been SO sue
cessful as it ought to have been ia certain,
but it is by no means so certain that this
is the fault of the President or of any of
the Faculty. The executive business of
the University has been in the hands of
the Regents themselves. It is even said
that they have virtually deprived Presi-
dent LIE Conte of authority. They have
not at all times manifested spirit con-
ducive to the prosperous growth OF the
University, as the public are aware, and
we are inclined to think that their exclu-
sive, secret and Unpopular management
is responsible, quite as much as any other
influence, for the alleged decline of inter-
est in the institution.
In the present case, however, it is pro-
posed to make changes which reflect most
severely upon the capacities OF several well
known teachers, and it is only just that all
the circumstances which have led to the
making of the present report of the Ad.
visory Committee should be given to the
public. The fact that Messrs. LIE Conte
and Welcker are Democrats must neces-
sarily strengthen the suspicion that they
are obnoxious on account of their politics,
if the vicious policy of silence to which the
Regents have hitherto adhered, be main
tanned. 1t need hardly be said that if such
belief as this once gains possession of the
public mind, the University willbe doomed
The introduction of partisan considera-
tions to the management of such an insti-
tuition woald be fatal to its usefulness, and
therefore it has become necessary that the
truth should be told. II Messrs. LIE Conte
and Welcker are to be removed from their
positions, the grounds of their removal
must be such as can be justified before the
bar of public opinion, or the proposed ac-
ton will only precipitate the downfall of
the University. Much as we appreciate
the necessity of maintaining that estab-
lishment. we should not hesitate to advo.
cate its abandonment by the State if we
were once convinced that it had fallen
into the miserable rut of partisanship; and
every true friend of education would, we
believe, take the same position.
The Regents cannot afford to let their
motives in the present state of affairs re-
main obscure. They must come forward
and say what rational grounds they have
for the proposed changes. They must
prove that politics have nothing to do with
their new programme. They must make
it clear that they are acting solely in the
interest OF the University. They must
meet and refute the damaging accusations
which the Democratic press is daily bring
ing against them. The people believe,
rightly or wrongly, that the Board of Re-
gents stands in at least as much need of
sitting and reorganization as any other
part of the University. The financial
management in the past has been sharply
criticised, and not without justification.
Should it now proceed to make revolution
airy changes in the Faculty without ex-
planning its reasons, heavy blow will be
struck at the institution, and no possible
good can come of the movement. We de-
sire the University to prosper, and there
fore we urge the Importance of frank and
prompt explanation of the new situation.
WHAT TIE RAILROADS HAVE DONE
FOR THE FARMERS.
a very interesting exhibit OF the bene-
r 4