Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-20

the inspections. 1t appears that about
$500 of the funds of the college at Ames
j were used in paying the expenses OF
members of the faculty to attend the
| session of the Twenty-e eighth genera
assembly. This included hotel bill fol
one person for nearly 800. Bills for
similar purposes but for small aggre-
/ gate amount We're allowed by the re-
! gents of the State University. 1t is our
! understanding that expenses may be in
Cured by officers of the educational as
we'll as all other institutions in attend
| ing sessions of the general assembly
which are proper to be allowed as
where they are made necessary TO ap-
pear and give information at the re-
/ quest of the general assembly or of its
committees, but the expenses criticised
/ We're not of that character. but were in
Cured for lobbying purposes to secure
| legislation, and not merely to give infor-
nation or assistance asked by legisla-
| tive authority. That such use of funds
whether public or private, is danger
| Gus, is we'll established.
1t must be noticed that the board
| clearly admits in this last paragraph
| the right and propriety of these educa-
tional institutions in responding to calls
of the legislature. but they clearly deny
that the expense thus incurred were of
this character They in effect charge
that they were for lobbying, pure and
simple, to carry ort some purpose
| which the officers of the institutions,
and not the legislature, had in view.
Before accepting the criticism as just
in sweeping all such efforts off the
slate, occasions might be cited in
which such lobbying would be justifia-
ble
The Cedar Rapids Republican con-
dennis the action of the board without
measure and betrays its extreme preju-
dice against the members of it in its Sc
fort Is expended in showing up what it
holds to be the boards parsimony. 1t
does not even admit the leeway the
board provides in the above statement,
but ignores 1t by propounding the sub
joined questions:
Pray tell Us who ia to inform the leg
islature as to the needs of these institu-
tions Who is to plead the cause of the
colleges before the appropriation cong
mittees? Do members and senators
have intuitional knowledge as to the
affairs of these educational institutions2
Or does the board have in mind that
these men who are giving their lives to
educational work for bare living are
going down to Des Moines to work, not
for themselves, but for the school, and
pay their expenses out of their own
salaries?
The Des Moines Capital is inclined to
endorse what the Cedar Rapids Repub-
ican says, but modifies 1t in this way:
And while endorsing the sentiments
expressed. the Capital is of the opinion
that any general criticism made of the
recent report Of the board of control is
one which is equally applicable to the
average state legislature. 1t has ever
been herculean task to procure the
necessary appropriations for the educa-
commonwealth which is prone to pirate
about It's high grade of literacy it is a
singular fact that regents and trustees
and presidents Invariably feel that If
there was ever a time when they earn
their salary it is when they go after the
members of state legislature to pro-
cure the necessary money appropriation
with which to carry on their work. We
do not know why this Is so unless 1t is
because the Iowa atmosphere is inhab-
led by the microbes of an impracticable
spirit of reform. They tend to swarm
about the capitol during the sessions OF
the general assembly; statesmen inhale
them into the system; and the result is
scaling down here, a looping off there,
and curtailment somewhere else. and
the various educational institutions
finally take what they can get and then
go home to hope that perhaps in two
years more they viii fare better We
realize that in expressing views of this
character one must expect to be charg-
ed with counting extravaganza; of hav-
ing designs on the surplus in the treas
ury'' and being stumbling blocks in the
way of true reform. However. these
are views which this newspaper has al
ways entertained. and we have not the
slightest disposition to change them
now The state which is rich in resour-
ces and capable of doing things on a
broad, liberal and magnificent plan, and
fails to do them is fully as deserving OF
criticism as the wealthy citizen who
piles up his wealth about him and re-
fuses to aid In substantial way the
worthy enterprises by which he Is sur
rounded
The Clinton Herald throws its light
Upon the subject in an article entitled Il
Mountain of Mole HILL" from which
the following is taken:
A few newspapers seem to think that
they have discovered mares nest, and
one has even gone to the trouble of get
ting out cartoon representing the Ag-
rciuItural College and the State Univer-
sity as blindfolded highwaynen holding
up the state of Iowa. What nonsense.
The State College al Ames actually
expended about 5000. and the State Uni
versity and the Normal School combined
a sum of less proportion. The Legislature
was in the act of making an appropria-
ton of over half a million for these in
situations. The members wanted to
know about the needs of the schools. The
regents and trustees had set forth their
needs. but the legislature could not al
low everything. Then came the question
of what to cut out 1t would be easy to
make a mistake costing the state thou