Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-26
At AuousTANA COLLEGE.


Matters Before the Board Of Directors
-Today's Commsncemsnt.
Yesterday was class day at Angus
tana college. The board Of directors
have been In session all today
passing upon matters of the greatest
importance to the institution as q
whole. One of the most prominent
| matters which has engaged the
boards attention is no doubt the an
swer Of the general faculty to . set
of resolutions passed by the board at
its meeting of Jan. 2S. 1t will be
remembered that this resolution
came in the form Of a query. as to
| whether or not the memoe of the
general faculty would consent to .
reduction of IS per cent in their sal
aries during the ensuing two years.
The following is in substance the
facu1ty's answer to the boards reso-
luton. the same being submitted to
the board today:
The general faculty of Augustana
College and Theological Seminary
appreciates the occasion and the
motives that have given rise to the
boards proposition for a temporary
reduction of salaries. The individ-
| ual members of the faculty are in
full accord with the board of directors
aud the friends of the institution in
their efforts to relieve the institution
Of its financial EN- barrsssment.
Upon careful consideration of all the
facts concerning the financial cir
cumstances of the several professors.
their actual needs, their necessary
and contingent expenses. the quality
and qantity of work done. the time.
labor and money requisite to qualify
them for their respective chairs, and
the salaries paid for similar grade
aud quantity of work in most other
institutions. it is the judgment of
this faculty that the amounts re-
ceived by the professors, as COM
pensation for their services, are very
| moderate. 1t is the conscientious
conviction of this faculty that a re-
duction of salaries such as has been
proposed would financially embarrass
most OF the professors, weaken their
hands, and greatly impair their
efficiency in the work to which they
have been called; that such financial
EN- barrassment and weakening of
personal efficiency on the part of the
professors, would unavoidably be
followed by corresponding reflex ef-
fects upon the institution as whole,
and upon the general educational
work of the synod. In view of these
considerations, be it
Resolved, That we, the members
Of the general faculty of Augustana
college and theological seminary,
severally and as whole, deem the
proposed reduction of salaries detri-
mental and unjust to the individual
professors, harmful and inexpedient
ton; therefore, We do not feel justi-
fed in acquiescing in the proposition
of the board.
Resolved, Further, as a mark of
our interest in the welfare of the in
situation, that we. as individual pro-
fessors, hereby obligate ourselves to
contribute to the funds of the insti-
tuition to the full extent of our
ability, in such way and form as we
may deem best.
1t is generally suppo ed that the
board will. during this session, form
ulate strong financial policy for the
institution, which will be presented
for consideration by the synod at its
meeting in Omaha the 4-lO of next
month. Few if any changes in the
teaching force are expected during
the year.
This evening at 8 begins the
lyceum entertainment. At ~ o'clock
tomorrow morning occurs the grand
recital by the students of the con.
servatory OF music. At p. m. the
business college will celebrate its
eighth annual commencement. Aside
from an excellent musical program,
two addresses will be delivered; one
by Prof. c. K. Chind blom, the elo-
qusnt orator and president o; Martin
Luther college, Chicago. The other
address will be in the nature of q
valedictory by Orlando L. Peterson.
a member of the class. The exer-
cises will begin promptly at O'Clock,
and the public in general is invited.
The business department is one Of
the most important in the institu-
ton, and aside from this the popu.
, larity Of the talented superintendent,
j. f. Gustus. in the city always at.
taches unusual general interest in