The Press., 1893-04-20
SToRRS AGRICULTURAL COL LEGE.

SAONKS AGNlOOLONAL NOL- LEGE.
 Thedebate in the Conn. senate on Thurs day last upon the bill giving to Storrs Ag- ricultural College (late schooD the United States agricultural fund, which has here- tofore gone to Yale, was as follows: Senator Coffey, chairman of the agri- cultural committee, read a long and care fully prepared statement studded with facts and figures, showing the great ben eft Yale College has enjoyed in the past and the fair claim the farmers of the state have upon the money for their in stitution. Senator Holcomb said that the farmers and others from 130 towns appeared be- fore the committee to advocate the bill and there was opposition only from a few friends of Yale. These funds are to be handled by the legislature as trust funds. Yale has received the income from the funds of 1899 and 1890. The contract with Yale in 1863 cannot affect fund not ere ated until twenty-eight years later. The appropriation by congress is for the pro- motion of agriculture and mechanic arts. When you take out of Sheffield School certain teaching in mechanical branches, you have stripped it. Yale has misap- propriated the fund; in the last three years not an agricultural student has been graduated, and only about eighty since l the fund was established. The fund now at issue, as shown by the act, is primarily | for the promotion of agriculture. A speech of Senator Morrill, in the United States senate shows that congress had in mind aid to agricultural colleges only. Yale's ball team almost always wins, so does her football team, and when her boat crew is behind it almost gives me. said Senator Holcomb, ssthe gripn Ee believed in Yale and her great benefit ard lin1uence to the state, but in this case He lppuld not stand by her. Yale to-day lis Iyiolating the provisions of the original
 PaRsf | what is charged when the pupil himself pays for for tuition. Yale explains that this is justifiable because tuition is fur nished at less than cost, when the interest on the great investment in buildings, etc., | is counted into the expense of conducting the university.
 Senator Fox inquired whether the bill did not provide that if a commission found that perpetual contract existed between Yale and the state and the fund goes to Storrs, would not the state have to pay to Yale, as damages, whatever amount was found by the commission appointed l under the bill, to be due to Yale, as such | damages?
 r Senator Holcomb admitted that there was such provision in the bill, but there is no certainty that the commission could find that any damages should be paid to Yale.
 A discussion arose between Senators Fox and Holcomb as to girls receiving in- struction at Storrs. Senator Fox read section 1, ,716 of the statutes, showing that and Senator Holcomb replied that he pro- posed to have the statute amended during the present session so as to admit girls. Senator Pierce said that he would vote for the bill because he believed that the farmers were entitled to have an agricul- tural college. He believed, however, that there should be an improved administra- tion at Storrs. The money should be spent in practical instruction. There is no teaching of breeding of stock, nor black smithing, dairy work, harness repairing and other practical things of daily need on the farm. He wasasatisfied, however that improvements are to be made, and believed that it was right that Storrs should have the fund.
 Senator Fox argued for the contract ex. isting between Yale and the state-a con. tract which includes this fund and which the state has no right to violate. Storrs is not conducted in the interest of farm
 CTS; it has admitted girls there, studying things having no relation to, farming. The school should be so situated that the soi
 around it could be cultivated, instead so
 on the barren hills of Mansfield He de
 scribed the buildings and surroundings
 and claimed that there was something wrong in the management Only two . boys were there when the committee call
 ed. The girls were catalogued in the lis of students, but put in as IF. Jones" -o ssJ. Smith, so that the annual repor
 would not reveal that there were girls 1T the school. If this bill passes, the matter
 will go to the courts. Yale may get tn,
 money and Storrs only lawsuit. U nde
 the bill, Storrs would get the United States
 money, and the state treasury would hav'
 
 there would be a double payment if tn
 commission provided for by the bill fount
 that Yale was entitled to the fund. Fl A discussion arose between Senator Flo,
 and Senator Coffey as to practical farm
 CTS graduated from Storrs. Senator Coffe,
 named several, and Senator Holcom1
 asked whether Senator Fox knew of an, : practical farmers who were educated a \ the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale
 Senator Fox said that he had not looke
 into this matter
 }. Senator Phelps said that speaking fror
 personal knowledge, he must resent tn , unjustifiable attack on the school. H
 challenged the statement.that the fun e will be "turned into a rat. hOfen if give Ito Storrs. Continuing, Senator Phelp
 described the buildings and farm, and sai : that the soil was so diversified that a
 the crops known in the state could U
 grown. The tuition is thorough and prat tical. -.''.
 The school is well situated. It ha
 none of the temptations and evils of cit
 life for the students. It is entitled to th Z support and encouragement of the stat
 that our farming interests may be ben, IT fited and built up. In conclusion, Senate
 Phelps fully analysed the legal question