Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-01

doin College, put a rider on the appro-
priation bill which had for its object
the discontinuance of the A. B. degree
and succeeded in having a committee
appointed to investigate and report on
the condition at the University of
Maine. That brings us down, you see,
to the last Legislature; and 1 will read
little from that report. Now this is
coming very near to our own time. We
are now coming to that time when we
can see very clearly what the sense
of the people is and what the major
ity of the people in that report thought
about the university after making Il
very careful investigation at Orono and
after a public hearing of that commit
tee in the city of Portland. read from
this report. Senate Document No. 90:
This is the third time when a spe-
cial study of the institutions work and
curriculum has been made. In 1880 an
effort WAS made to remove certain
studies on the curriculum which would
have resulted in making the institution
ard agricultural and mechanical
school rather than college. In
1897 the committee of the Cover
nor's Council reported unfavorably
on the then policy of the institution.
The report was to the effect that if til ;
policy were continued the college would
become a university. After receiving this
report the Legislature not only voted an
appropriation for a term of years but
changed the name from the Maine State
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
to the University of Maine.
nj in
the spring of 1906, and visited several of
the departments of the university. We
found the laboratories occupied to their
fullest capacity. We found the work
we'll done, so far as the facilities permit
ted. We found the chapel, which is the
largest room on the campus not large
enough for the whole student BODY to b.
seated at one time. We also found that
there is but one Gormitory for men.
which will care for - students. AS there
were at that time Gil students enrolled.
and we learn six months later that there
are GS7 students enrolled, we are decided
ly of the opinion that the buildings, in
Guiding laboratories and dormitorieS, are
totally inadequate to care for the number
of students now in attendance. If it
were rot for the fact that nine fraterni-
ties occupy houses of their own, it would
be absolutely impossible to receive the
students who apply for admission. We
find that the agricultural department is
compelled to give in struction in six diff
ferent buildings, and very few of the
rooms are properly adapted to the kind
OF instruction to be given. 1t is obvious
that q building to take care of the agri-
cultural department is in immediate need
a subsequent meeting of the committee
was held in Portland on the ed Of May
and there appeared before the committee
several persons interested in this inves-
tigaton of the university's affairs. A full
stenographic report of this meeting has
been published for the benefit of the
members of the Legislature.
A great deal of interest was manifested
in this public hearing. A number of per-
sons spoke favoring the university and
its work. The investigation disclosed but
one question upon which all parties inter-
ested in the. matter differed in opinion.
Aside from that there seems to be no
uncertainty as to the news of the uni
versity or the duty of the State toward
it, This question was as to the contin-
uance of the courses leading to the B. A.
degree. On this point there was disclos-
ed decided disapproval and opposition
to what was called tine university's du-
plcating at the expense of the State thu
liberal arts courses of the other Maine
colleges and giving the bachelor of Arts
degree" Arguments were presented to
support this view. In the opinion of the
committee they We're not sufticien to
show clearly that the trustees of the uni
verSity were wrong in maintaining these
courses or to warrant change. Without
considering the question whether the act
was wise or in accord with the best in :
tercsts of the university to establish
these courses in the first place. the facts.
as your committee finds them. arc: that
the trustees acting fully within the scope
of their authority, nine years ago COM
mittcd the State to that policy and that
course of instruction. Many students
have i'll good faith entered the universe
ty for the purpose of taking these
courses. and many others have entered
there with the idea of taking somo of the
studies in these courses. They are now
established, and many students would bo
affected by change. Your committee.
then, feel that it would be unwise to rec
omrnend any change in this respect
That is what the committee said
about the A. Il. degree. Now We must
remember that that committee was APP
appointed at the last Legislature and
those We're their views and it is signed
by Harry W. Davis. Frederick Hale.
Lincoln II. Newcomb and George f.
Thompson. A little further along L de-
sire to read from he minority report of
that committee and to make some COM
nent as to what their views were.
Ten years ago there was an appro-
rriation made of 100000 a year and
that appropriation expires in the year
1907. ! think it has been well said that
| in making a comparison with tho State
of Maine and its educational institu-
tons. that our State is more like a
Western than an Eastern state. We arc
| more like Minnesota, Oregon, Iowa or
| Nebraska than we are like Rhode Is
| land or Connecticut or Massachusetts.
Now the resources of the university are
| these: Income Morrill, fund. $25, 600; Co
| burn fund, $4,000: Land Grant
| MT cfII6pnt (