The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-25

ask whether things have right to eX
ist any longer, not whether they have
existed for long time. Again, one of
the principal objections tax payers
have to appropriations for higher edu
cation is that they see no end to it.
Take the University for example, $4,000
in 1885, $15, 600 in 1885, $50, 600 in 1893
Yet DR.. Manning weuld imply that be
cause the tax payers have paid these
bills they must continueS to do so.
suppose the title to these benevolences
on the part of the tax ptyers must be
acquired by the old common law doc
trines of prescription. Tne tax payers
say because I have paid So much I ought
not to pay any more. u. Manning
says you must keep it up because the
Univels sity is a part of the Constitu-
tion, and the Legislature cannot abol
ish it directly nor Indirectly by with
holding its support. Did not the Uni
yeTsity exist for five years under this
same Constitution before it's friends
and managers discovered that it was
part Of the Constitutions Was it
part Of the Constitution during tht Sc
five years9 Why was not the require
ment to establish In connection with
the Univerity department. Of agricul
ture, mechanics, mining and of normal
instruction" also obligatory on the
LogisIature7 Why are they not there
to day. The Constitution quoted by
DR.. Manning requires it. Butts says DR..
Manning, "We have a school of nor.
NAL instruction" Wnen was it estab-
lishedG Not for many years after the
adoption of the Constitution. The old
Summer normals were not part of
the University.
Again, in the matter of free tuition
DR.. Manniug quotes the Constitution
and argues therefrom the right of the
State to tax it's citizens for the support
of the University. He says:
''Now section ordains "The Gen
eral Assembly shall provide that the
benefits of the University, as far as
practicable, shall be extend ed to the
youth of the State free of expense for
tuition
How cen IL! General Assembly PRO
vide that the common schools shall be
free of tuition! Answer, by levyiDg
taxes to pay the salaries Of teachers
and other expenses.
Now can the General Assembly
ELO @on "a
practicable, shall be extended to the
youth of the State free of expense for
tuition9 Answer, by contributing such
sums of money for it's support and
maintenance as may be necessary to
enable it to offer free tuition to all, to
whom it is practicable to attend the
University and unable to pay tuition.
In the opinion of the trainers of the
Constitution it was practicable for all
the youth of the State to attend the
common school"
Now I say e cOnUeTsO that if the
right of the State to make the appro-
priation is based on the above quota
tion, then when there is no free tuition
the right to the appropriation is at an
end. Now the Acts of 1882 attempted
to abolish free tuition except for min
isters' SONS, candidates for the minis
try, cripples, and for students in the
normal department, and the report of
the President made two years ago
stated that there were only nine re
oo;r,i~,o. froo %,7iEio1 Nou vubv did
DIR. Manning, with his construction of
that clause of the Constitution, allow
the Legislature to pass law to abolish
free tuition and never take any steps
to have it declared unconstitutional
The authorities of the University claim
that they do not give free tuition; they
have scholarships now instead, and the
Normal department can be utilized in
that way, tooi
To make a long matter short, the
whole history of the institution, from
1875 up to the present time shows that
les most ardent friends have never
considered that there was anything IN
the Constitution compelling the Legis
lature to support the University. 1t
is q matter of choice with each Legs
lature, and it may take from, add to or
change the appropriation as it may
see ft. At the present time the only
pertinent question is what should the
Legislature dot Should the taxes be
exsorted from the poor people Of the
State to support these schOols9 It costs
the tax-pay ers of the State now $780,
600 per annum to run the University.
This would pay the tuition of 500 boys
at other schools. Is not the State pay
ing too much for teaching the number
now present. If the State is going
into the work at all ought it not be
done cheaper suppose there are
about 3UO young men now at the Uni
Izorei+1 evolI1SJve of students in the