The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-05-19
StR0OL INTERPOLATION.

SShpOb CONSOLIDATION. a
Some time last month The True Don
Ocrat republished from the Dunnellor
Advocate, with expressed approval, ar
article advocating the adjustment OF
consolidation Of some of the so-calleo
State institutions of learning which
have been drawing money from the
State treasury without rendering to the
cause Of higher education anything re-
sembling an adequate return for the ex-
penditure. Afew days earlier we noted
the attendance at the University of Vir-
GINA Of thirteen students from Florida,
and at Emory College, Georgia, of seven
teen others, remarking upon the lack Of
State pride which prompted parents to
send their boys out of the State for an
education.
These two editorial attitudes are by
no means homogeneous or conflicting, for
the simple reason that some State insti-
tutions are entirely worthy of the high
est patronage and competent to afford
collegiate education to Florida youth,
so that the apparent necessity for send
ing them away to other States does not
actually exist.
That the views then expressed con-
corning the expediency of closing the
doors Of the treasury to a considerable
number Of schools which have been re-
ceiving their support wholly, or almost
wholly, from that source, have met
with approval on the part of Legislators
Is demonstrated by the subsequent
course of legislation on the subject.
the latest phase of which was the intro
duction in the House of Mr.. Buckman's
substitute for Mr.. Wallis school regent
bill.
Mr.. Buckman's bill is a monster in
size, the title being more than one-fifth
Of the entire bill in size, and the whole
five columns Of space in the
Times-Union Of May IL. The impossi-
Dility of giving even an abstract of the
dill in oQr limited space will be readily
Appropriated. In brief, the purpose of
he measure is to wipe out of existence
he six institutions named below, which
IRE being fostered or entirely main
aimed by appropriations from the State
reasury, viz: Florida Agricultural Col
eye, now known as University of Flor
da, at Lake City; West Florida Semi
lary, now known as Florida State Col
eye, at Tallahassee; White Normal
school, at DeFuniak Springs; East
florida Seminary, at Gainesville; South
florida Military Institute, at Barlow,
nd Florida Agricultural Institute, in
)sceola county. In the place of these is
the University of Florida"
nd the FLORIDA Female College" The
olored Normal School, at Tallahassee,
nd the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Insti-
ute, at St Augustine, are retained, '
18th relocation of all of those named 7
Or permanent establishment. /
OF course, so drastic a measure will I
@ bitterly opposed, and it's enactment /
ITO law, in any shape, is somewhat a
but its introduction is a sig r
ificant illustration of the State of pub 5
c sentiment on the entire subject, and {
n indication that the taxpayers of the +
tate have become weary of witnessing G
iccessive Legislatures fritter away t
leir hard-earned money in wasteful eff !
1rts TO build up local schools for the S
Die benefit Of ambitious local commu- !
tiles.
Whatever may be the outcome of I
gislation with respect TO these vam- ]
ire institutions at the present session, |
he prediction is safe one that their
eriod Of fictitious prosperity at the ex-
ense of worthier institutions is at or
cry near it's end.
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AN INSURANCE SYMPOSIUM. ,