The San Francisco call., 1899-07-02

. 4mIainaged universities Of the East He
-. called attention to. the figures presented
. by the Governor, which Indicated eX-
D.. travagance as compared with the cost Of
maintaining the Michigan University.
I Regent Hallidie replied that the Coy
ernor's statement of the cost of maintain
ing the University OF California for the
year ending june 80. 1898, embraced IN
part the amount expended for construct
. inc the buildings Of the Affiliated Col
fe6es The regent contended that the
amount Of $125 900 expended for buildings
+ in 1898 should be deducted from the Gov
. eTnOT'S estimate OF $6l3,4l2 81.
! Regent Hallidie'S explanation was not
accepted as conclusive. When stephen M
White began 70 reVolVe d searcn!lght Tor
/ facts concealed, il became manifest that
the Gage reserves Were coming into
Regent Houghton came to the rescue of
the finance committee with an eXplana-
ton Of the expenditure OF $29o,0Vc Tor the
( covered a period of two years and should
not be charged against the university
Regent White insisted that the subject
. was one Of great Importance and that
some one should be able to account Tor
the excessive expenditures.
Governor Gage said: wv hen you deduct
the 100000 from the building account of
the Michigan University and S125.OOO from
our State UniVersity's building account
the conditions are practically the same as
, stated by me-
Regent Kirk renewed his motion to elm
mate the registered fee.
Regent Wallace apologfzed for talking
on the old topic Of eXtravagance He
said Il have always been opposed TO this
proposition to tax the students. knew
that we would round up the people or the
State if we put on the tax. On that point
am clear. 1t is shock to hear that we
have been extravaganza
Regent Hallidie traced the growth OF
the university from the beginning and
contended that the cost was not eXces-
sive. He remarked that the university
would probably lose six men this year,
who would be, attracted elsewhere by
larger salaries than they now receive.
Judge Wallace wanted to know Of the
chair how the comparative figures We're
obtained. The Governor responded tina
he had telegraphed TO Eastern unlVerSl-
ties. The figures relating to the cost of
our university were obtained from the
secretary of the Board Of Regents.
Regents FO0te, Kirk. White, Slick,
and Waymire each sought TO introduce
resolution or substitute that would reSclnd
the registration fee and not disturb any
other clause of the adopted budget The
point was reached finally by reconsider
ing the vote by which the report of the
finance committee was adopted at the
last meeting. Finally Regent FoOte, with
the assistance of General HOughtOn, pre-
sented this resolution:
Resolved, That that portion Of the
report of the finance committee which
places a registration fee upon each
student attending the University Of
California be not concurred in, and,
/
concerned, is hereby rescinded.
Regent Reinstein insisted that the tax
on the students of the scientific depart
ment would still remain.
Regent Hallidie spoke in opposition TO
the resolution. He caused some surprise
by producing the record to show that the
Michigan University eXacted a tuition fee
He said tWenty-One Of the State uniVer-
sites charged an admission fee. The fee
IN the mining department or the Cantor
MIA University was $35 a year If we made
a sweeping rule not to charge fees the
medical department. now charging 500,
would be included in the exemption.
ITO a certain degree said Mr.. Hallidie
free education is a. political and moral
obligation, but beyond this degree educa-
uon Is a privilege In fact, the poor peo-
pie pay the taxes and the burden Of free
education falls on the poor. Whether the
tax be called tuition or registration fee
the students of the University of CaiifOr-
mia should, as do the students of other
great colleges contribute. something to
the support of the uniVerSity.'
The discussion of the topic was pro-
lOnged. Stephen NJ. White spoke sQuarely
against the proposition to impose a tax.
He remarked that it was an advertised
proposition. The people Of the State were
familiar with the question and We're op-
posed to the tax on principle.
Judge Waymire spoke of his own
course in voting against the tax hitherto.
but called to the mind of his hearers that
the university was imposing a tax on the
students in the laboratory chemical and
mining departments. He believed it
would be more equitable to levy uni
VerSal fee than tax one class of students
and exempt another
Speaker Alden Anderson referred to his
vote In the Legislature in favor of the
2-cent tax and mentioned that his con
sutuentS applauded his course. He said
the people in his community were now
against the proposed tax. They were op-
posed TO it on principle
DR.. ROwell declared that the students
in the scientific departments who were
now taxed and always had been were the
l'least able to sustain the burden. His
idea was to eliminate the laboratory tax
f. Speaker Anderson mentioned the State
Board Of Examiners as source Of relief
in the event of a deficit. Judge Wallace
saw the Importance of the suggestion and
sought TO obtain from the Governor
hint that the Board of Examiners would
entertain a proposition to grant relief.
The Governor was on his guard and did
not commit the board to a promise.
Judge Slack proposed to refer the whole
subject matter again TO the hnance com
mfttee, presenting in the reference sug-
gestion that the sense of the board was
against tax on students.
Regent Kirk apprehended that this
would leave the question unsolved.
The roll was called on Regent Foote's
proposition TO rescind the tax.
Lieutenant Govern4r Neff, in explaana-
gcpd rule: in life. when he was not famil
lar with proposition, to be guided by the
Judgment, Of a cOmmittee that had given
the subject thorough investigation. There
fore he voted NO"
Mr.. Neff's vote in opposition to the
stand taken by Governor Gage created
some comment.
When Regent Hallidie's name was
/ called he, began to explain his vote, but
the explanation embodied so many ref
erenceS to the constitution and the
organic act OF the university that a point
Of order was raised against him. The
chair advised Mr.. .HaHidie to vote, and
the Regent said the chair had no right to
choke him off. Governor Gage sustained
the point Of order that Mr.. Hallidie was
not in order.
:. Regent Hallidie--I appeal from the de-
I cision of $the chair.
Governor Gage--The, appeal is not sec
|. .0nded
is.not required:
1 Judge Slack with ready tact moved that
+ Mr. Hallidie be permitted to- make his
statement and permission was. granted
Mr.. Hallidie- then argued that proper no.
tide, had not been given Of the meeting,
and cited the law to sustain his conten-
ton. -
/, The resolution to rescind the tax was
then adopted by the following vote:
+ .:Ayes-Gage, Anderson, Kirk,
I Barnes, Budd; Foote; Pardee, Rodgers,
Slack, Wallace, Waymire, White-12.