The San Francisco call., 1899-06-25
THE TAX UPON STUDENTS.

F the Regents OF the University give any heed to
public opinion they will at their next meeting re-
l scind the resolution by which they have imposed
upon students registration fee OF $50 for the ensuing
academic year There is sufficient justification for
such a tax and its imposition hardly fail to work
an injury to the institution we'll wrong to the
students OF the year.
The State University was founded for the purpose
OF placing an opportunity for higher education within
the reach OF all young men or women in California
who choose to avail themselves OF it It was designed
that its advantages should be open equal terms to
the poor as to the rch and accordingly its tuition
was made free. 1t was upon that understanding the
people undertook its support and have willingly
maintained it by general taxation.
When It was announced a few years ago that the
rapid increase in the number OF students had rendered
necessary larger income to provide for their nstruc
ton, the people, 50 far from feeling annoyed by the
request for more money, animated by just
pride in the evidence OF the growing importance the
institution and the augmented number Of students
who were prohting by its instruction, and they
promptly voted to double the amount OF taxation that
had been imposed for its support.
In addition to the proof given by the public OF a
willingness to vote any amount OF revenue needed to
maintain the university free institution many OF
the wealthy citizens OF the State gave largely OF their
private fortunes to upbuid and advance its interests
Such gifts have been remarkably generous and even
munihcent of late No university in the United
States has brighter prospect before it than that OF
California, and none can count more surely upon an
abundant support both from public revenues and
from individual lberalty.
Ghe very brightness OF the outlook for the imme-
diae future increases the annoyance OF the people
over the imposition OF charge for registration The
doubling OF the former for the university and the
reports of the superb endowments and gifts offered
for buildings and other equipments, led the pub
lie believe that the institution to enter upon
career OF wider usefulness than before. 1t was
therefore with something like shock of keen disap-
pointment that the announcement was received that
so far from giving more of free education to the youth
cf the State the university is for one year at any
rate to impose a tax OF $50 upon all who enter it.
The amount OF the tax imposed may small to
the parents OF OF the students, but to a consid
erable number it will be heavy burden The tax
will block the doors OF the university to some who
pay their share OF the public charges to support it.
and therefore, however small it may be, it is unjust
and unfair. Nor can the imposition be extenuated
upon the plea that it is for one year only. Why
should the students OF year be burdened any more
heavily than those OF another? Furthermore when
precedent for such registration fees has once been
established and submitted to, who can assure the
people that it may not be followed again and again
until last such fees become fixed charges and the
advantages OF the university be virtually confined
the children OF the weather. class?
California is rich, and all her resources are behind
the university There is no institution which the
people will more willingly support so long as its
education free Such temporary deficiencies in the
exist can be overcome without the
imposition of unpopular and unjust tax and if the
Regents earnestly try they can find way to accom-
pish If