Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1893-01-13
Lillis Smith Talks College.


Lillis Smith Talks College.
Lillis f. Smith, chairman of the
board OF county commissioners, in an
interview published in the Commoner,
expressed himself emphatically upon
the state agricultural college difficulty.
He said:
"The Pullman agricultural college
ought to be elevated to higher plane
as place of advanced scientific educa-
ton. There is an annual appropriation
of from $4,000 to $4,000 for the sup
port Of the school, and that amount is
increased $1,000 per year from the
United States government until it
reaches $4,000. Besides this are the
appropriations made by the state Of
Washington, 100000 wing been voted
for agricultural college purposes by the
last Legislature With tho annual APP
preparation and other funds to draw
npon, president might be employed at
a salary Of $4,000 year, and corps OF
professors at salaries ranging from ST.
500 to $4,000 year. The amount of
money available would command some
OF the best talent in the land, and might
take some of the able teachers away
from such famous institutions as Yale,
Harvard and Ann Arbor In fact, bring
here educators whose names and rep
utations would be an impetus in the
advancement and future Success of the
school. 1t would be a universal adj
vertisement for the institution.
pullman college can and should be
made one of the best places of learning
on the Pacific coast | believe it is in
the power of the next Legislature to
bring about the desired change for the
better by proper action at the approach
ing session.
The first mistake in this matter
made by the last Legislature was when
it provided for the appointment of five
regents who sohuld have entire control
of the expenditure Of all moneys, cree
ton of all buildings, appointment of all
teachers, and who should dictate the
policy of the school. They are the
sole managers, and they give bonds in
the sum of $4,000 each. TO requite
them for this great responsibility they
are allowed the munifcOnt sum of SO
per day while they are in session, to-
gether with actual travelling expenses.
at is a direct invitation to Doodle on
the face Of it to expect men OF sufficient
ability TO manage an institution OF this
kind, to go out of their way and exert
themselves for the meager pittance al
lowed.
ut is strange that members of the
present board OF regents, none of them
noted for their philanthropy or for their
interest heretofore in higher education },
should be willing to sacrifice so much
valuable time to the interests of the
state almost gratultously. 1t cennoG be
that those men deem themselves amply
remunerated at SO day. Or ia their
ability in the premises 80 meager that
SO day is high figure for such services
as they are capable of rendering?
Il care but little about the fight so
far as Prof. Lilley and Prof. Heston are
concerned, but think we ought to have
a man Of higher standing than either as
president of Pullman college.
al have no particular fight against
any member OF the board OF regents, but
I think that they have demonstrated
their total unhtness for the office, and
the 81 ate senate ought to refuse to con-
firm any one OF them. The regents
ought to be, like CAESARS wife, above
suspicion.
''The legislature ought to increase
the pay Of the regents to $40 day,
and man who is qualified to take such
place, and who honestly discharges
his duty, will certainly be public bene-
factor l cannot see why regents should
give any bond at all.
AT least three OF these regents should
live within easy call of the college, and
two OF them ought to live in Pullman;