Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-27

Colonel w. L. Peek has an article in
The Southern Cultivator of March 18th in
which he discusses the State College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which is
run in connection with the university at
Athens, Ga.
His contention is that the land scrip
fund and the Morrill, fund appropriated
by the congress Of the United States
should be used for the establishment and
maintenance Of agricultural schools, apart
from and away from the University of
Georgia at Athens.
Friends Of the university claim that
these funds. together with all appropria-
tions that can be obtained from the Geor-
gia legislature, are actually needed to
maintain the university up to a reasonable
standard, and that farmers sons are
yearly getting the benefit of practically
free tuition, that the theory of agriculture
Is fully taught in the university. and that
the teaching of practical application can
not be successfully taught.
Colonel Peek says: Our friend who has
written to me says, I am familiar with
the university situation, and the universe
ty has no funds aside from the Morrill,
fund, and to remove 1t the people have TO
be taxed to replace it. "
In reply to this Colonel Peek says:
LET us examine into the matter with
all FAIRNESS TO the university anu 10 IAlc
farmers of Georgia, and see If my friends
statement will bear the turning on of the
x-rays for investigation of the Morrill,
fund, and in so doing l want to say in the
beginning that am friend Of the state
university and love and honor the many
great men it has sent forth to shape the
affairs of our state and nation. I am also
a friend to the farmers of my native
state and I am pleading for justice that
our sons may also become great and good
men, masters in agriculture and bless
ing to themselves and to those who con-
sumo the fruits of our fields
Here are the facts and figures. In Mr..
o. B. Stevens new book of 1901 Georgia.:
Historical and Industrial, we find besides
the various gifts for specific purposes and
the annual appropriations by the state,
that DR.. William Terrell bequeathed
$4,000 to the university in 1854 as a perpet-
ual fund. In 1888 Governor Joseph E.
Brown gave II $4,000, and almost from its
birth our state has paid to 1t $4,000 inter-
est on 100000 of the states bonds. This
$1,000 is nearly as much as the income
from the endowment funds Of Emory or
Mercer.
"The acts OF our legislature are full Of
appropriations year by year for the main
tenance of the university. If the reader
will examine the appropriation acts Of
1900 and 1901, he will find that the last
stitution and its branches. Mr. o. B. Ste
vens says in his book on page SIS that the
above appropriation was for each fiscal
year of 1901 and 1902. The same legislature
reduced the appropriation of the common
school to 100000 annually.
Now, we come to the Morrill, fund of
So, 900 a year, which my above quoted
friend says is the life of the University.
If my friend had not stopped his investi-
cation so soon he would have found that
away back of this, for thirty long years
the State University has been receiving
SIG, 954.3O a year. A sum total of $5OS620,
including 1902, from the Land Scrip fund.
(See advance sheets United States Bureau
of Education, 1901, of Agricultural and
Mechanic 'Arts).
If the same reports are correct they
have had the use of the Morrill, fund for
twelve years to the amount of $245,0OO
(see page 95, report of secretary of the
interior. fiscal year ending June 80. 1900.
Aside from the Land Scrip and Morrill,
funds the facts show that our State Uni
versity has been cared for by state appro-
priation in that liberality due such an in
stitution, and 1t ought to flourish now
without a cent of the Land Scrip or Nor
rill fund.
HERE is THE LAW.
Let us see how those acts read or what
their captions are, for all men of legisla-
tive experience know the caption of any
act has to contain the purpose of the law.
Thus reads the caption OF the Land Scrip
Act, approved July 2. 1862. IAN Act. do
mating public lands to the several states
and territories which may provide colleg-
es for the benefit Of agricultural and the
mechanic arts"
Under this act Georgia received 10000
acres Of land for each senator and repre-
sentative in congress, which gave our
state at that time 100000 acres Of land,
which was sold under the act and the an
nual proceeds net an income to the state
of S16954.30 annually. This is a perpetual
| fund,
WHAT WAS DONE WITH MONEY.
In 1872 Governor Smith passed an order
| transferring this fund to the trustees OF
| the university. At this act of the gov