The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-13
President of Board of A. & NJ.
College Defends Boards
Interests.
IN SCOTT EXPENSE BILL
Cites Law in Support of COL
Iege Directors Position.

/ Guthrie, o. T, March I2-Frank ].
Wikon, president of the board OF the
A. and NJ. college, has addressed q let
! ter TO Auditor Baxter on the question
I Of the payment OF President Scott's ex-
penses for his trip to Washington. The
letter follows:
saltwater. o. T., March 10, 1902
Hon L. X. Baxter, Auditor, Guthrie
0. T.
Dear Sir: H. NJ. Hand, clerk of the
A. and n. college, has handed me- the
letter of Deputy =. P. McCabe of the 9th
instant. IN whic hhe inquiries under what
law The board of regents allowed the
expenses Of President \. c. Scott incur
red in his recent trip to Washington.
Il beg to say that the board relied
upon Article 4 Of Chapter 2S of the Laws
of 1853 fov the authority of this expen-
diture. The levy therein provided for the
A. and II. college is indicated in the
following terms:
:" 'One-tenth OF a mill each year for the
support Of the Agricultural and Mechan-
ical college at Saltwater
In the opinion of the board, Presl-
dent SCOTS trip to Washington and his
work there were undertaken and carried
out strictly for the support Of this in
stftution He went because the board
believed that his presence and Efforts
there would material assist in securing
for this institution, and thereby for the
territory. large additional endowment,
which vii mot only be Of great benefit
to 1t, but which. If secured, viii relieve
the territory Of a material part Of the
burden OF caring for it in the future.
The lands and endowment sought being
such as congress has heretofore always
given to the various agricultural col
leges of the United Staes, and such if
not secured now by this college, would
be utterly lost TO the territory Out Of
this tax levy fund the territory pays
President Scott \ portion of his salary
for the administrative duties of his Of
fee. the thousand and one things which
A president must DO to promote and
build up the institution over which he
presides e
Il trust may be permitted to add that
7 think it would be unfortunate If a
ruling should be made which would prac-
tically restrict the activities Of the heads
of our institutions to the towns where
the institutions are located. Take the
experiment station Of this college, for
instance. Constant calls are made upon
the members of the station staff to visit
different parts of the territory TO inves-
tigate animal and plant diseases. to at
tend farmers Institutes. etc. Their ex-
penses are paid from the Hatch fund,
and cordially approved by the department
at Washington and just so. I think, the
president should have the privileges so
long as it is not abused, and upon special
authorization by the board. to extend
the influence and acquaintance Of the
institution over which ne presides among
the people, and to look after those things
which virtually affect its welfare, even
if they do. carry him out Of the limits
OF his town-and If he does as much of
this as he should do in the course of a
year it is hardly right for him. at all
times. to bear the expense of it.
Since writing the above 1 have re-
ceived and read the opinion of the at
torney- general concerning this claim and
while / think the reasoning good and
the conclusion sound. as a principle. and
unless it is superseded, so far as am
abel, see that it Is strictly confouned to,
sim I think there may be circumstances
under which The best interests Of the
territory would justify wholly the ueces-
sary expense for such purpses.
kindly return the rejected claim to
the clerk. and some disposition win be
made Of it among ourselves.
Yours very truly
FRANK 7. WIKOFF.
president OF the Board"
Rfngwood Boring for OH.
Enid. O. T., March PA stock com