The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-03
"a increased income with VIII

state. If a first-class "plant" is secured,
and men of reputation selected as prof es-
sors there will soon be in attendance
enough students to make, at the usual
/ rates for tuition in medical schools, the
institution self-sustaining.
| In the case of the departments already
organized at Austin, il is believed that Ill
| timately the income from the bonded and
and landed endowment will be smp'e
/ to support them on a scale commen-
surate with the demands likely to
be made on a frst-class university, but
| from past experience and present indica-
! tons it will be several years before this in
come ID large enough. For the efficient
support of these departments in the mean
time, the regents are compelled to ask
help from the state. They are compelled
to ask that an appropriation be made
from the general revenue, in addition to
the appro priation of the University in
come, for the maintenance and support of
the University as is now made for the
maintenance and support of the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College, for the nor
NAL schools, and for the asylums. In
making such an appropriation until
an income can be derived from the
| ing for few years what Virginia, Ohio,
Indiana, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin,
California and every other state that has
university finds it necessary to do every
year. The universities of these states
have, without an exception, it is believed,
fund from the interest of which they are
partly supported; but the respective legis-
latures make liberal appropriations to
supplement these incomes. In that way +,
and in that way only, these states are able
to maintain free universities. 1t would
not be necessary to make large appro-
| priatiop. Twenty thousand dollars per
year for several years would enable the
University to bridge over what threatens
| to be crisis in it's history, and enable it
to grow in strength and usefulness, and
for this amount the regents therefore ask.
In making this request the regents are
aware that in the opinion of some direct
appropriation from the general revenue
for the maintenance and support OF the
University would be unconstitutional. AS
matter of fact this view of the case has
prevailed heretofore, and consequently
the regents have never applied for an ap-
propria ton from the general revenue.
But after careful consid Grafton they are
convinced that the legislature has right
to make such an appropriation under seq
ton 48 of the constitution of 1876, which
enumerates the purposes for which taxes
may be levied, and mentions "The sup
port of public schools, in which shall be
included colleges and universities estRb
lished by the state.
For full discussion of the legal aspects
of the question, attention is respectfully
called to an opinion upon the unconstitu-
tionality of such an appropriation. (See
Appendix W.
In oopolusion, the regents beg leave to
say that in this report they have endeav-
ored to lay before your excellency full
statement of the present condition of the
University, its present needs, and the
steps that should be taken to supply these
needs. 1t has been shown, in the first
place, from the statements of the comp
troller and treasurer, that the University
has no inappropriate available fund,
and that the total income is only $44,
91939. 1t has been shown, in the second
place, from an enumeration of the actual
wants of the University, that it needs an
available fund, and by comparison with
other state universities, that its income is
place, that the only source to which the
regents can look for an available fund is,
owing to the proViso in the act making
the loan of May II, 1888, another loan
from the state, and that the only source to
which they can look for an increase in the
yearly income is an annual appropriation
from the general revenue.
This report has been full and in detail
because it is apprehended that some Will
say, and doubtless think, that the loan
asked for (S2OO0O0) Is excessive, and that
to ex poet the state to contribute to the
support of the University from the general
revenue is unreasonable. 1t is believed
that the exhibit made in this report of
the present status of the University will
convince those who know what great
free university is, and who desire to have
such an institution in Texas, that the re-
quests for aid from the state are neither
excessive nor unreasonable. To those noe
awere of the fact, it cannot be told too
often, nor realized too soon, that it takes
money, and great zeal of it, to run a
first-class university. Especially is this
the case when the University, as it is in
Texas, is absolutely free, This is evident
ITOm Ju6 eAdlD PIE VI buO ObhOL uhi'SiciuAOo
mentioned in this report 1t is also evil
dent from the nature of the case.
great modern University-one worthy of
Texas and her people-wil require nu-
merous faculties, imposing buildings, ex-
tensive laboratories, large libraries and
many museums. Even if there are fees
for tuition, the greater part of the ex-
pense of establishing such an institution,
and OF its proper maintenance, must core
from other sources. But when there are
no fees for tuition, this expense must be
borne entirely by the endowment fund; or,
as in the case of state institutions, by that
fund supplemented by appropriations
from the general revenue. Such is the
course pursued by all other states than
Texas, and such must be the course pur-
sued by Texas, if the people wish uni
versity of the grade outlined by the
founders of the state.
The regents have no interest in this
matter other than the interest of sll the
citizens of Texas, except desire to dis
charge faithfully the trust that has been
imposed upon them. They believe, with
every other friend of higher education.