The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-02-12
REGENTS REMONSTRANCE
Against Unfriendiy Legislation DR.
Wooten Invites Fall Inspection of
the University,


the University.
The following communication from
r.4heS. ~ " uoten, sent in yesterday
to the senate. is self-explanatory 1t
is a weil-written document and should
command the earnest consideration Of
the parties addressed:
10 the Hon. Barnett Gibbs, Presid Mt, and
members of the senate Of the Nineteenth
Legislature OF Texas.
On January Goth last, your honor
able body passed a resolution, in
troduced by Senator George Pfeuf-
fer. chairman of the committee
on education, in the following words:
Resolved, hat the committee on
education be and the same is hereby
requested to make a full inspection
into the condition, affairs and wants
of the state university, with authority
to send for persons and papers, and to
report as soon as practicable by bill or
otherwise. This resolution was,
according TO its terms, placed for exc
cution in the hands Of the committee
on education, and as l am informed
upon inquiry, the committee referred
the proposed inspection to sub-com-
mittee.
AS the only member of the board of
regents of the university Of Texas
now present at the capital, and as
fully representing what know to be
the sentiment and desire of all my as
sociates, [ beg to call the attention Of
| the senate and Of its committees TO
| the following facts:
LIST. The University Of Texas has
been and now is under the control OF
| board Of regents, by whom from time
to time its faculty has been selected,
its expenses incurred and paid, and Its
| general management directed.
I'd. Its faculty has been selected
from the most eminent and promIs-
ing literary, scientific, and classical
scholars Of America, and are by their
attainments, age, capabilities and am
bltion worthy to fill positions in any
Institution.
3rd. Its students have been and are
composed of the most aspiring and in
genious youths OF this and other
states. and their assidious iaborS have
proved them worthy of the benefac-
lions Of the state.
4th. The regents who have from
j time to time constituted the eXecu-
tive board OF the university, have
been men without political, local, Or
personal prejudices; and have endeav-
ored to administer their trusts with
no other object and purpose than those
Of public veal, and the best advance
ment OF the state.
They have come from remote parts
of the state, and have served without
compensation beyond their actual
expenses. So far as l know, no pro.
fessor of the faculty and no student
has ever been called On to testify to
any fact connected with the condition
of the university. l am not advised
whether tho bill Senate bill No. 1922
introduced by Senator Pfeuffer is in
tended to respond TO the resolution
introduced by him on January 90, but
if it is, then l respectfully state that
40 such full inspection into the
affairs of the University of Texas has
been had as would warrant measure
so revolutionary in its provisions, and
so subversive of the present law on
the subject as the bill proposed.
In behalf of the board of regents, of
the faculty and of the Students, 1 il
woke the full inspection and inYeatf-
cation contemplated by the resolution,
and to that end, for the regents, ex-
tend andiassure to every member Of
the senate every possible opportunity
and means of information as to the
present and past management of the
university-itS expenditures, its
course of instruction, the personal and
and professional character and qnal-
ifications of its faculty, and in fact,
any and everything calculated to
throw light on the subject Of its
proper administration.
Until full inspection is had and a
thorough hearing granted from all
sources. and especially from those
who have labored most earnestly and
periodically for the establishment
and success of the institution, L pro-
test against any action by your honor
able body, calculated by intendment
or implication to destroy the present
organization of the university, or to
seriously impair its efficiency. l have
the honor to be, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
rHOs. ID. WoOTTEN,
University Regent.