The record-union., 1897-01-21

resents the people. therefore they are
etitled to every facility for information
as to why this tax levy is asked.
Regent Arthur Rodgers made an
elaborate statement of the history Of
the university, the sources of its in
come, the gifts from the Nation, the
State and private persons which have
contributed to its growth. His argu-
ments for the levy were the over
| crowded condition of the buildings and
class rooms, the too limited number OF
instructors and professors, and the
many inconveniences suffered by the
phenomenal increase in the number of
students from 306 in 1887 to over 800
ten years later, and the inadequate
increase of income.
Regent Reinstein being asked to
speak. called on State Superintendent
Black, who spoke briefly and in a prae-
tical way concerning the duty of the
State to it's children, and its educational
institutions.
Professor Plehn gave figures showing
how much greater has been the propOr-
tional increase in student numbers than
in the population of the State; ten
years ago the university students num-
bered 81 per 10000 of population; now
it is 109 per 10000, the student body
| having increased four times as fast as
| the population.
Professor Haskell of the mathemati-
cal department illustrated the over
crowded state of the classrOoms. There
is not one room at the University that
will hold all the students; not one
which Will hold all of one class. His
own classroom, twenty y-five feet square.
is wholly inadequate to the sixty stud
ents in algebra, while the room was
also used for five other classes during
the day, and there was no chance for
ventilation. There are 800 freshmen
alone, and the number of instructors
is wholly inadequate.
President Davis of the Alumni Asso-
citation made an eloquent appeal for the
added income. He spoke of the Univer-
sity and the system of schools of which
it is the crown as the only State in
stitution which aids in the making of
the State. The asylums are refugees,
the prisons reformatories, but the
schools are creators of the common
wealth.
At this point Senator Dickinson rose
and asked some pertinent questions the
answers to which might naturally be
eXacted of Legislators by their conStit-
uents with regard to a levy which just
doubles the present tax for University
purposes. These queries We're as to the
present income the present expenses,
the sum necessary to meet present re-
quirements, what the necessary inn
provements would cost, how that cost
was to be provided for and will the
proposed tax do it. 1t was, he said, a
plain business proposition: sentiment
pays no bills; it takes cold coin.
The questions, Mr.. Rodgers stated,
would be answered in a set of statis-
ties which were in the hands of the
printer and would be ready for the leg
i6lators to-day. Meantime questions
and answers developed some facts. The
proposed levy will yield, on present
valuation, S112, 800. About $50. 900 are
needed at once for increase of accom-
modations and temporary buildings TO
last until the expected donations of
over S2,0OO,O0 shall enable the new
plan of buildings to be inaugurated.
About $4,000 are needed for addi-
tional instruction and for equipment
much needed in all departments. Then
$4,000 is needed by the department of
agriculture for extension of its work
and for the Farmers Institutes lately
inaugurated. Professor Hilgard spoke
at length on this topic and was follow
ed by Mr.. Pierce of Yolo an alumnus
and farmer. Then by the terms OF
the bill in consideration not one less
than half the remainder during ten
coming fiscal pears shall constitute
fund for future buildings.
The committee adjourned at late
hour.