Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-02-25
THE UNIVERSITY.
Governor Francis Refers to This
Matter at Some Length-The
Legislature Sure TO Act
Promptly and In.
telligently.

ofSiAoA L fAuISAs III Ailp iiooooSO
to the extra session of the Legisla-
ture refers at some length to the
State University. He reviews the
good this institution has done and
is likely to do. He speaks in refer
enee to the fire and gives an itemized
statement of the insurance amount
ing to $147,0 900. In closing, he re-
fers to the matter as follows:
PLANS OF THE cuRATeRs.
The Board of Curators, aided by
the suggestions of the President and
faculty, have formulated a plan for
the construction Of a building that
will meet the requirements of the
university in that line for ten years
to come. The scheme is elaborate,
but not unduly expensive. 1t con-
templates the expenditure of about
$400, 900, which sum will be suffi-
cient to complete a main building
of imposing elevation and ample di-
mensions, to erect five departmental
buildings, and to furnish and equip
all with library and scientific appa-
ratus adequate to answer the de.
mands of the immediate future.
OF the amount desired, the board
will receive about s147 900 from in
surance. The State will owe to the
university by January 1, 1893, $685.
60s.S4, being twenty-one months
interest on the certificate of indebt
edness for $646, ,95s.35, bearing 5
per cent interest, payable fifty years
after date, April 1, 1891, and issued
in favor of the State Seminary fund,
in accordance with the bill passed
by your honorable body, and ap-
proved March 26, 1891. Said sum
can, with propriety and safety, be
appropriated from the interest fund.
Of that interest one-ffth, or 20 per
cent, belongs to the school of mines
at Rolla, the remainder $45, 1887. .O8
can be used for buildings and equip
ments. I can see no objection to
your appropriating the balance of
the sum desired, or about $3.50, 900,
out of any moneys in the State rev.
enue fund not otherwise appropriate
ed. An appropriation so condition
ed would net involve the State in
any obligation beyond her capacity
to Hquidate. 1t would not necessi-
tate the floating of any warrants or
the incurring Of any Indebtedness.
If the revenue of the State should
permit its payment, it would be
paid as the progress of the building
required. 1t is possible that the
revenue of the State might be so
increased, and the other appropria-
tons be unused and revert to such
an extent as to permit most all of
this appropriation to be paid. If,
however, only small portion of it
could be disbursed, the act making
the appropriation on the condition
named would be reassuring to the
friends Of the university, restore con-
fdence and be an evidence of good
will. believe it would insure the
scholastic year of 1884 beginning
with 1000 students. l can find no
inhibition in the Constitution against
an appropriation of this nature and
know of no reason why it can not or
should not be made. Under the
Constitution all appropriations con-
tinue in force until two years after
their approval, unless otherwise
specified.
STATE FINANCE.
That there is not likely to be
surplus in the revenue of the years
1892 beyond your appropriations
of the regular session is no refiec-
ton upon your honorable body mol
lupon the State. 1t lis the wel-known
if policy the ofparty in power to collect
from the people only such amounts
as are necessary to pay the interest
on obligations hitherto incurred, tc
rednee those obligations from veal