The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-13
THE HOUSE.
The State University Appropriation Reduced
from $4,000 to $4,000.

The State University Appropriation Reduced
from $50, 900 to $4,000.
Representative Townsend opened the House
with prayer yesterday morning.
The special order was the continuation of the
consideration of the bill appropriating $780, 600 to
the State University the question being on Mr..
Gordon's minority report, recommending that
the appropriation be reduced to $50, 900, and
that the regular annual appropriation be re.
duced to $4,000 and the revenue arising from
the endowment of the institution be discon-
tinued.
Mr.. Adams-If it were possible for us, as
members of the Legislature, to get ON the good
side of our constituents by saying we are
standing by the people and standing by
the treasury, when we go home, crtaiuly
would have warm places in the hearts
OF our constituency. I presume everyone of US
and our constituents are somewhat interested in
this measure. We have been asked to app ropri-
ate 500 900 to enable the university to equip the
buildings now constructed. Over S120 600 or
Sl50O00 was lost TO the State by the fire two
years ago. This bill proposes to get back all that
was lost for $50 000 That is the size OF it. We
ought to place some credit in what the board
of trustees say. They are reputable business
men and have the interests of the State
at heart. They propose with this $4,000 to
put in a museum and library and EQUIP the
buildings They have already built, without it.
the buildings The argument is that we shall
strike down Indiana University at Bloomington
and put our young men and young women in
sectarian institutions, such as those at Wabash
and GreencasJe. You might just as we'll talk
about striking down the eonmen-school system
in Indiana
Mr. Passage-Tt resolves itself into this ques-
ton. Is the State of Indiana going to maintain
a State university or not? Fifty thousand dol
lars Is very small endowment. Is this State
to be the only State without university!
Mr. French think if you make calculations
you win find that this bill costs the tax
payers less than five cents each. and yet you
grumble about it.
Mr.. Mock. of Wells-I was here last session,
and voted against similar endowment bill.
did not believe it was right then, and l am Of
the same opinion now. In 1861 there an
appropriation of S. 600 made to this institution,
and IN 1873 there was an additional one or
$l3 000 making $23 600 Only last session we
were told if we would favor that bill and vote
for that endowment they would ask for no
further appropriation. If you will examine that
law you will find this proviso: Provided,
further, that no further appropriation shall be
made to the State University" and notwith-
standing that, they asking for this appropria
ton.
Mr. McMuIlen-Tt has been said bv some gen
leman that some of the counties do not derive
any benefit from these appropriations. | venture
to say that onehaf of the people do not derive
any benefit from the common schools, and yet
would you say we must not help to support the
common schoolss Gentlemen, this question long
since has been settled in the State of Indiana.
The people have said that the educational insti
tutions are part of the State. believe the ap-
preparation asked for is just ard right; believe
1t Will be to the benefit of the people of the State
Mr.. Moody demanded the previous question
The demand was seconded by the House, and,
under its operations, the minority report
jected-yeas 43. nays 40.
Mr. Gordon moved to reduce the appropriation
to $50, 000 Mr.. McMullen made an Intellectual
motion-yeas 40 nays 49--to lay the amend
ment on the table. The amendment was adopted
yeas &c, nays AZ The bill ordered
crossed