Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-02-21
MORO NTowN, W. VA TUESDAY FEBRUARY 81 1884,
MORE FAIRNESS.
And Less Discrimination ir
State Appropriations.


intelligencer Fakes up the Cudgel Fol
The University Ought to Have Had
More-Its Needs And its Right to The
Money Asked For--One Third Less
Than Necessary Given.
The appropriation bills in the legis-
lature provide for about 81, 700 900 for
the two years, the senate bin provid-
ing for 500, 900 in excess of the house
bill, which covers the total named
The aggregate is comparatively small
increase Says the Intelligencer) over
the last biennial appropriations,
which, considering the new institu-
tions tc be provided for, the greater
demands in consequence OF these
things, and the growth of the bust
ness OF the state, Is not as great an
increase as might have been expected.
Nearly every appropriation asked
for has been scaled down by the COM
mittees of both houses, some of them
entirely too low, and perhaps others
not low enough. At any rate, taking
everything into consideration, the
total per year for the conduct of the
state administration, including all the
institutions that must be supported
in a state which has grown to a mill
lion population, and is advancing all
along the line, is proportionately not
so large as in other states. So rapidly
have the demands increased and the
state developed that it is a wonder
that the needs do not call for greater
sums.
In the scaling down of appropria-
tions for state institutions it seems
that the committees have shown a
disposition to make unjust discrimin-
ations. The Intelligencer does not
believe in extrayagant appropriations;
1T believes In the strictest economy
without impairing the usefulness Of
our public institutions, or embarras-
sing their conduct. This unjustness,
for some reason which does not seem
to be apparent outside of prejudice, is
most strikingly illustrated in the case
OF the University, an institution
which, during the past two or three
years, has grown far beyond the pro-
portions expected of it that long ago
With aa attendance approaching close
to thousand students, nearly double
what it was during the last legislature,
with its influence broadening, and it's
work benef1tting the entire state,
with the attainment OF high stand
ard among the universities of the
country, it is proposed to cut down
the estimate more than cne-third.
while the chairman of the house COM
mittee, Mr.. Mansfield, actually gave
notice in d conference of the house
and senate finance committees that
he would have the house bill reported
without any appropriation for the
University whatever. Finally it was
agreed that the University should be
given 5000, 900 for the two years, one
third less than was necessary.
In other cases similar cuts were
made, such large cuts that the insti-
buttons have in some cases had their
interests jeopardized. In the mean
time the appropriations will be but a
little greater than two years ago, with
all the increased need of the state.
We see, under our present system, no
extravaganza about that; on the con-
trary, there appears to be, in some
cases, a straining at economy which
would be better were more fairness
shown and less discrimination.