The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-28
SEEMS LIKELY TO
BRING 1T ABOUT AT UNI
VERSITY
JUDGE MAHoNEY FAVoRs IT
State Does Not Realize How the Uni
versity Has Grown and That
Its Financial Needs Have
Increased.

Inc attempt of Eastern colleges to lure
popular professors from the University
OF Minnesota has resulted in an agitation
which seems likely to remedy a very m
fortunate condition which has long been
considered one of the few things to the
discredit of the great institution For
years 1t has been pointed out that the
University of Minnesota paid much small
er salaries than otherScoHeges of the same
class. 1t has been recognized that the
salaries were in most cases not commen-
surate with the services performed But
the salaries have remained the same with
few exceptions. Able men who have Civ
en- their lives to the upbuilding of the
university have la.bored for the most
meager compensation. This is all likely
to be changed by the board of regents.
and very shortly. President Northrop's 5
salary was increased last year, and there
is evidence that there will be a raise all
down the line now. The possibility of
losing DR.. Richard Burton, Prof. Wood
bridge and Prof. McVey awakened the
student body and an agitation has been
started looking to a material increase in
the salary list of the university. Presi-
dent Northrop has gone on record as urg-
ing it. Secretary Stephen Mahoney, of
the university regents in speaking of the
matter yesterday, said:
''There are at the university several
professors who have been there many
years. They started in with salaries OF
81, 800 br $1,000. These have been increased
from time to time until $2 400 was reacn-
ed. This has been considered by a kind
of unWritten law to be the maximum,
and is the maximum except for those
who are deans of colleges or who do eX-
ira work in addition to their regular du-
ties. These salaries are from Is to so per
cent less than professors receive for SINH
lar work in other universities of the first
class. Consequently our best men are
constantly receiving offers to go else
where. Several have gone in the past and
there is imminent danger that we shall
lose three at the end of this year.
Not only are the salaries inadequate,
but the facilities furnished the professors
for doing their work are not as good as
they ought to be. No professional or sci
can have equipment that will enable him
to do justice Sto himself and those for
whom he labors. They must have labor
atories, scientific instruments, libraries
comfortable for themselves and their stu
dents. In this respect conditions have
very much improved in recent years by
the erection of new buildings and the
purchase of additional apparatus, but
they are still far from perfect and much
inferior to the facilities in other institu-
tions which have ample funds at their
command The great difficulty is that the
number of students, and consequently the
necessary unavoidable expenses, have in
creased out Of all proportion to the in
crease in income. In 1887 the number of
students was 412. In 1901 it was g. 419. But
the income does not keep pace with this
enormous increase and consequently sal
aries must be kept down and facilities
must remain below the proper standard
until sufficient funds are provided. These
will be provided as soon as the people
fully realize the necessity and Importance
of providing them"