The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-15

3 E So
weighs greatly with us we feel. how,
ever. that the faculty are none the less
to be considered. and regret that tnele
Is want OF unanir:ity between tne
board and faculty upon this matter. Ins
primary prerequisite is to harmonize tne j.
faculty and the board and set the alumni
In hearty alliance with them upon atl.s
proposed change, and upon other qu V-
tons affecting the University. !.
But at the threshold there Is alieseu
the want OF legislative authority IN tn !. .
board to create this Office, and ev !. ,a =. :.
= that IS resolved affirmatively as TINS y
State institution dependent lal s a. :
upon annual appropriations from lne
public treasury. 1t seems to US not o.iy
eminently polite at least, but also mani
# testify right and proper that this change
should be first authorized BY the Less
lature. we think that the General 4. AS
sembly has the right to REQUIRE Tn 9. ,
When many Of the most eminent lesa.
authorities agree with Mr.. Jefferson tnat
under the law the board cannot create
the Office Of president, 1t seems 70 us
that that doubt should be eliminates ny.
Legislation. either requiring or else au-
thorizing the board to elect PRESIDENT
Moreover. II the Legislat, 1re Should so
amend the law as to resolve TINS o ouot.
we think the functions and l'm1tat ors OF
the office Of president Of the UNIVERSITY
should be defined by statute and not lett
to be formulated by the Board Of Visi-
tors liable to constant charge, and m
consequence having less weight With the
board and faculty, and beng likely to
prove a source Of constant friction and
trouble. Your. committee cannot but
conclude that however unanimous, the
board may be in favor Of a president
the leglaity5 of 1t If the action ought TO pc
unauestioned and unauesfionaF =, ana
that when a law is enacted requiring or
authorizing the change in the duties and
powers Of the Office should thereby be
expressed and defined.
INCREASED EXPENSE.
Directly cognate to this question comes
the matter of salary. and the increased
expense growing out of the office OF pres
ident. and the -unwisdom. not to say
danger to the institution Of asking from
the General Assembly. at this tine the
creation Of an Office the incumbent OF
which must command salary as large
at least as that Of the Governor OF the
State. with incidentals if the Office should
be of much worth which would add
largely to the annual cost Of the Uni
verrity. and wl1;,, we believe that the
outlay will be we'll invested. it Is at least.
very doubtful whether the Iesislat ure
will so regard 1t, and the agitation OF the
q,'estion at this time may prove produc-s
tive Of the loss or a least diminutlon.
Of the annuity now enjoyed.
Your comm ttee also regards the rtsk
of this particular Office as becoming poll
tica, at least worthy Of consideration.
and therefore empha sizes the importance
of having the Office. its tenure, duties.
qualifications. etc. all fixed by act of
legislature under. the best advice Of our
wisest men before it is created by. the
board. with q doubt upon its legal au-s
thority to create it, with a division In tt
self. and between it and the faculty, and
amongst the alumni, both upon the adj
Visibility and policy of the change. and
with no agreement as to the nature anr
tenure Of the office.
Your committee therefore while believ-
ing that the Board Of visiotrs has come
to It's conclusion wholly in the interests
of the University, and itself, after
months Of investigation feeling con-
strained to conclude that some such
change is advisable under proper lirnita-
tons with unquestionabe legality, and
supported by the concurrent sentiment
Of the Board Of Visitors, the faculty and
the University, would respectfully report
as the result of their delibera tons that
the president of the General Society Of
Alumni Of the University OF Virginia. do
submit to the rector and Board Of Wis
itars of the University Of Virginia on
behalf Of tho alumni the foregoing re-
port. and most res pective1y request that
the board postpone the creation Of the
Office Of PRESIDENT Of the University until
THE REASONS.
First AnJ, annSSiI1a doubt Of re
right to create such an Office be resolved
by proper legislation.
Second. The tenure. duties. functions
and limitations Of such Office be duly de-
fined by law.
Third The more complete concurrence
Of the Faculty and Alumni be secured
to make the change one Of certain sue
cess rather than the occasion of further
friction To this end we suggest that
the President of the Society of Alumni
name three Alumni. that the Board OF
Visitors name three Of Its number. and
the Faculty name three of Its number;
that these nine constitute committee.
who shall, during the winter Of '97-S.
prepare and formulate such amendments
to the law of the State as may be neces-
sary to authorize the Board Of Visitors
in its wisdom to create the Office of
president Of the University. defining by
law Lue lSuUl =, pO"S1S olid VI
such Office, which bill so prepared shall
be reported to the next anual meeting
g the Fca-1 Of Visitors in June. 1898.
Your committee therefore proposes the
1onowins resolutions. to be submitted to
the Rector and Board of Visitors of the
University of Virginia on behalf OF the
Alumni:
Resolved. That the Rector and Board
OF Visitors of the University of Virginia
are respectfully requested to further
postpone to the annual meeting In June.
1885, the consideration of the question
Of the creation of the Office Of president
Of the University. which has been al
ready adjourned to their meeting to be
held in November, 1897.
Respectfully submitted.
JAMES P. HARRISON.
Chairman,
w. r. ABBOT.
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