The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-07
YALE TAX FOR ATHLETICS.
\ New Method of Raising N.ncs Pro-
posed to the Students.

NEW HAVEN, Jan. 6.-The new plan
proposed to the Yale students for the
financial support OF the, various athletic
| associations will be considered at a uni
versity meeting to be held soon The com
mittee which prepared the plan is com
posed of Alfred II. Richardson, President
of the Rowing Association William NJ.
Fincke, captain of the Yale track team,
and Elbridge L. Eliason, manager Ct the
baseball nine. There is no regular sys-
TEN of taxing Yale undergraduates for
the support OF Yale athletics, and the
committee proposes one. 1t says:
1t is an undoubted fact that the fresh
men class who are solely responsible for
the financial support of their own ath-
letics, are also depended upon for con-
siderable proportion of the support of
the university athletics. A second OBJ
lection is the ratio of support which the
major and the minor organizations re-
ceive a present 1t is no uncommon oc-
currence for a collector for an organiza-
tion whose expenses are from $4,000 to
$4,000 a year to receive a subscription
of 50 because the man making it has al
ready subscribed $40 or S15 to an organ
iZation whose expenses are less than
1000. Another serious objection is the
growing sentiment among the alumni and
undergraduates that the present system
is detrimental to Yale loyalty in that
there viii be a stronger spirit of support
behind every team when every man in
the university is doing his share toward
its financial support.
I'VE believe that it is because of gem
eral misunderstanding as to the disposal
Of the football and baseball receipts that
upper classmen are not more ready with
their support than at present. When We
see a net income of $40, 600, for instance,
for the football season. it is a natural
conclusion to draw, at first thought. that
the sum is sufficient for the other branches
which need support. But when we learn
from the report of the treasurer of the
Financial Union that in spite of this
amount and the subscriptions received at
present. there is frequently a deficit in
the running expenses Of the Organiza-
tons; when we know there is debt on
the field, the interest of which has to be
paid every year; and also when we con-
slider that if. as has happened in the past.
the time should ever come when for any
reason the games which yield this income
should not be played we would be left
with practically no support except sub
scriptions; then we can see for ourselves
that there is an urgent need for everyone
in the university to make some contribu-
ton every year
Our suggestion is that one small con-
tribution. no larger than is customary in
most preparatory schools, be made every
year of the course by every one in the
university VINO cen afford to do so, to be
divided among all the athletic Organiza
tiUns which now ask for subscriptions We
believe it would be possible to ascertain
the total amount needed yearly BY all the
different organizations. deduct from this
amount the amount which we may reason
ably expect to receive from the football
and baseball games. and divide the re
mainder about equally among all the
classes Of the university. making of
course an allowance for a certain number
OF men in every class who are not ex-
pected to contribute. As to the freshmen
we would suggest that they be asked TO
bear the expenses Of their own Organiza-
tions and share perhaps, slightly small
er than that of the upper classes. of the
university expense. We believe that if
every man in the university who can af-
ford 10 do so would contribute a small sum
every year probably between s. and SO,
that that amount. together with the pro-
ceeds from the football and the baseball
games. would provide for all the athletics
of the university"