The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-19
in organizing and directing

has exercised that discretion, by pro-
viding in the constitution of 1876,
that it shall be ga branch of the uni.
versity for the instruction in agricul-
ture, the mechanic arts, and tie nat
ural sciences connected Herewith"
Here is specific direction, as to what
should be taught in that institution,
and that it was so intended is mani
fest from the fact that the constitu-
ton made it only branch of the I'm
iverslty OF Texas, whose general OBJ
jects were declared to be ''for the pro-
motion of literature, and the arts, and
sciences, includingau agricultural and
mechanical department" and then ex-
pressly indicated what learning should
be taught in that branch or depart
ment OF the University. II some learn
b ed member of the legislature would
take the trouble to examine closely
the curriculum, or course of study Of
!. the agricultural and mechanical
6Eanch, and that also of the Normal
PEchool, and compare them with that
of the academic department of the
University, he might we'll conclude,
judging from them, that the legisla-
ture had put up, or rather had allow
ed to be put up, three Universities in
stead OF one, for the general collegiate
education of the youths of this State.
This is not referred to in oppo-
sition to those schools but rather in
favor of them. For the best results
are to be attained in those schools as
we'll as in all others by their being
confined to the special objects of their
creation. 1t is the business as we'll
as the duty of the legislature to look
to that matter in regard to all of the
schools of the State made so by the
constitution.
In the constitution of 1876 we find
the following provisions: "The legis-
lature shall, as soon as practicable,
establish, organize and provide for the
maintenance, support and direction
OF q university of the first-class, etc."
"In order to enable the legislature to
perform the duties set forth in the
foregoing section it is hereby declared
that all lands and other property
heretofore set apart and appropriated
for the establishment of the univer-
sity of Texas together with all the
proceeds of sales of the same hereto
fore made or hereafter to be made and
all grants, donations and appropria
tons that may hereafter be made by
the State of Texas or from any other
source, shall constitute and become a
permanent university fund. And the
same as realized and received into the
treasury of the State, together with
such sum belonging to the fund as
may now be in the treasury, shall be
invested in bonds of the State Of
Texas, if the same can be obtained, if
not, then in United States bonds, and
Y the interest accruing thereon shall be
subject to appropriation by the legis-
n lature to accomplish the purpose
EN declared in the foregoing section"
~, Its to be observed that there is no
q Ae1press provision requiring the legis-
Hre to appropriate money collected
" revenue to the available fund to be
I'd annually, as it was provided for
e support of the public free schools.
Prom which, as we'll as from
other considerations, it may be pre-
sumed that the University was in
tended to be supported mainly if not
entirely from the accruing proceeds OF
its permanent fund. Upon that there
has been some difference of opinion.
There is no question, however, that
the legislature may appropriate any
amount of money or bonds to the per-
manent fund. The legislature has
heretofore 10th loaned and approprl-
ated money from the revenue for the
support of the University as it has
been needed, and unless some i'm
portant action is taken to increase
largely its permanent fund, that
course must be continued for the an
nual maintenance of the University,
as now organized, for an indefinite
time in the future. A very general
view OF the present situation will illus
trate this. AS shown in the Regents
Biennial Report of December, 1898
(Which is probably not very different
from the report that would be made
now, the annual expenditure for the
academic department was $44, $50, and
for the law professors in connection
with that department, $1,000, making
a total of $51,525. To say nothing
,epow OF additional professorships need
hit is estimated that it will take
10 900 to erect the west wing OF the
main building at Austin. The agri-
cultural and mechanical department
will require an occasional appropria-
ton for its enlargement, as it has re-
ceived heretofore. The medical de-
partment, it is estimated, will require
an additional amount of $75,0OO for
building and outfit, and after it is put
ia operation it will require annually |
sos coo for running expenses to main
tain it. 1t was evidently contem-
plated that ut some time it would be
deemed practicable to establish
branch for the instruction OF the col
ored youths, which would have to be
done out of the available fund Of the
University entirely, as required by the
constitution. Leaving out OF
view for the present the fund
and ,