The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-17

Benjamin Ide Wheeler, Unanimously Elected Presden
Of the University Of California.

public will think we are unable to ad-
minister this great trust If we put a fin
ancial burden on the students. The pco-
pie viii sustain US in our contention for
free education. The people, represented
in the Legislature, did appropriate the
money. but the Governor. for some reason
l suppose, vetoed the bill He had his
reason no doubt. We are organized to
spend money, not to accumulate it as my
good friends on the finance committee
seem to fancy. The university is endowed
with great riches by Congress and the
State. Can we degrade II to catch
penny concern? The wealthy men of this
State, whose hearts are as large as their
purses, would advance this money rather
than tax the students. | implOre YOU not
to make the fatal mistake of imposing
this tax. Give the people chance to
come to the rescue of the university.
There is no deficiency. There cannot be
a deficiency when the wealth Of the State
is behind the university"
Regent Denicke asserted that the bills
vetoed by Governor Gage We're for per
manent Improvement and had no bearing
on the budget. He maintained that there
was a deficiency and the regents had to
provide some way to raise the money
needed.
Ayes-Kirk, Denicke. kellogg, Hough-
ton, Miller, Barnes, Rodgers, Rowell,
Slack, Handle, Reinstein--11
Noes-Budd Foote. Pardee, Wallace-4
The diploma fee was abolished and the
laboratory fees were reduced one. half
Phelps were presented by a special COM
mittee, Regent Pardee. chairman. The
strong character fine qualities and sterl-
lug devotion to the university Of the la
mented regent were highly eulogized. The
resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Recess was taken until p. N.
There were several amusing and inter-
esting incidents in the afternoon session.
one episode created little excitement.
Regent II. 5. FoOte resented what he
considered to be a personal insult The
resentment took the form OF a dose OF
deserved discipline administered to c. NJ
Gayley. professor of English Language
and literature The story behind the in
suit is this: Professor /. d Syle, cou-
sin Of Regent Foote, desired promotion
from assistant professor of English to
the grade OF associate professor. NO one
openly questioned the merits OF Mr.. Syle
No increase Of compensation was re
quested: hence objection could not be
made on the ground of increased expense
1t appears that President Kellogg and
several professors OF MS conhde,1luaI CT
honorcd by the regents. When Regent
Foote wrote TO Professor Gayley. sug-
costing the advancement. the latter re-
piled that the President and himself were
against the promotion.
The battle was brought on yesterday
when President Kellogg spoke TO mo-
fessor Style The president read recon-
mendation OF himself and the head of the
department against the advancement.
This opposition justified Mr.. Foote in
bringing out in public discussion the fact
that that Professor Gayiey had written TO
each regent OF the board letter, in which
Style were outlined. The assistant pro
fesSor was mentioned as one whom he
(Foote) calls his cousin"
In a splendid outburst, Regent Foote
said to his colleagues on the board: do
the members Of this Board of Regents
propose TO disgrace me? The term whom
he calls his cousin insinuates that per
haps he is not my cousin.
There was good deal OF PLAIN language
used by Mr.. Foote. The fact was cited as
magnifying the atrocity Of the G2fE-ley
dispersion that the blood of Henry Win
tiers Davis and George Washington
coursed through the veins of Foote and
Syle. The regent asked as a personal
favor that the promotion Of Mr.. Syie
Regent John e. Budd testified to the cx-
cellent original work performed by FRO
lessor Syle. He recognized that certain
elements in the faculty were hostile to
the young professor.
Regent Hallidie sought to smooth mat
tiers. but rendered affairs worse. He said:
1T is something entirely new for one re-
gent to ask another to render him per-
sonal favor, especially a favor against am;
the recommendation OF the presid tent
caoy in the situation. have that feeling
and entertain the highest regard for Re-
gent Foote, but 1 shall look TO the prn-
ciple involved. l think Regent Foote IS
mistaken in his course.
Regent Foote addressed Regent HALL
die in a tone Of mingled wrath and cour-
tesv. the tone of courtesy dominating:
sT withdraw the personal request as to
YOU, sir / do not ask you to vote to sus-
tain me-"
Syle to the grade of associate professor.
Regents voting in the affirma tive were
Kirk. Denicke, Pardee, Foote, Barnes,
Reinstein, Rodgers, Slack, Budd and Wal
lace.
There was some talk of raising Profess
sor Heaton's salary from $500 to Sl2OO 1t
was discovered that Heaton was working
three hours week. hence the proposition
TO increase his salary was received with
some degree Of favor. The matter was
referred.
In the discussion of the budget. Mr.:
Foote disclosed the fact that a clique of
professors jealous of the fame which
Henry Ardev Is acquiring in the line of
art instruction, had schemed against him
and secured a reduction of his salary from
S2iOO to $1,000 1t was said that the purpose
Of the Jealous professors was to down
Ardley before the new president should
note the work of the art department The
Ardley case was referred LOT HlNcSlSd-
ton.
Judge Slack suggested a reference to the
committee in order to secure readJust-
ment In the salaries of Professors Bailey
and F'lagg. The salaries were inadequate
r. Regent Albert Miller was appointed to
fill a vacancy on the Wilmerding School
The budget was then adopted.
The event of the day was the next fea
ture Of the session. When the chairman
order" Regent Reinstein suggested in
view of the absence of Governor Gage and
Mrs Hearst, and the fact that General
Barnes had Just taken his place in the
board. day should be set apart for the
election of president
Arthur Rodgers objected, citing the cir
cumstances that Governor Gage had signi-
fed determination not to participate in
the election A telegram was read show