, 1907-07-19
REPORT
OF THE COMMISSION

of coal for the institution. This fact
has been cited as an instance OF
graft" While the commission be
lieves that the fuel for the university
should be purchased by competitive
bids, there is no evidence upon which
a charge of graft or dishonesty a be
predicated. We find that the least
expensive coal, suitable to the needs
of the university, was purchased, and
hat a reasonable sum was paid there
for, and that the institution got value
received for the money spent for coal.
However, the commission believes that
If the board Of trustees had followed
the plan of purchasing coal by com
petitive bids, the institution would
have been relieved of a great lea of
criticism and suspicion that has been
directed against it.
University Printing.
With regard to the printing done for
the university, we find hat this has
been done mostly, if not altogether, by
The Laramie Republican, and that com
petitive bids were not called for in
letting the contracts. This has also
been cited as an instance Of dishonesty
and graft, and has been made the sub
ject of such charges. But in this par.
ticular we desire to make the same
observations as were made with re.
gard to the purchase of coal above re-
ferred to. We can find no instance
where the university has paid an un
reasonable sum for printing, or where
the institution failed to receive full
value for any money expended. On
the contrary, we find that reasonable
prices were paid for printing, and
that the institution received good work
for the money expended.
Prices Are Reasonable.
We have been unable to find any
tangible evidence of where the univer-
sity paid unreasonable prices for print.
ing, or where the university suf 'red
any material injury in consequence of
its failure to let its printing contracts
by competitive bids. But in this par
press and of various citizens relative
to the methods of the university in
letting its printing contracts without
competitive bids are not wholly with
out merit. We believe that an institu-
ton should not place itself in the posi-.
ton to be criticised, OF its methods laid
open to suspicion. by its neglect to fol
low recognized business methods in
letting contracts of any considerable
amount. The same business methods
should be used in the conduct of the
business of the university as are rec.
ognized and employed in successful
private businesses.
Politics in University.
1t has been charged that political in
iuence ~pervades and dominates the
ations govern the board Of trustees,
especially in respect to the purchase
OF supplies and letting of contracts.
We have investigated every particle
of evidence we could find, bearing up
on this charge, and find that the same
is not sustained. In pursuing this line
of inquiry we have examined numerous
citizens in the city of Laramie of diff
ferent political affiliations, also every
professor Of the faculty within reach
of us, and find no evidence whatever
upon which such a charge could be
founded.
No Politics in Its Business.
We find that while a republican
newspaper has received all of the
printing business of the university, on
the other hand a democratic merchant
of the city of Laramie has for the last
two years received more than one-half
of the university business distributed
among the merchants of the city of
Laramie. We have been unable to find
any tangible evidence of where the
board of trustees has been governed
by considerations OF politics in the
expenditure of funds of the institu-
ton. Neither can we find any tangible
evidence, or even hearsay opinion,
that any political test has eve been
applied by the board of trustees in
the selection or dismissal of profess
sors or servants of the institution.
We examined all of the professors
that we're available to the commission,
and in every instance they testified
that no political influence was ever
sought to be used owe them either by
suggestion or demand; that they were
absolutely free and untrammeled in
their political convictions and actions,
and that the only restraint to which
they felt themselves subjected was to
endeavor to keep politics and political
influences out of the work of the uni
versity.
Misappropriation of Money.
1t has been charged that the board
of trustees has been guilty OF a misap-
preparation of the funds of the univer'
sity. In regard to this charge we find
hat the same Is made with reference
to the appropriation of money from
one fund of the university, when, it is
| said. the same should have been ap'
| propriated from another fund. But nc
| instance has been cited and no EVIL
| dence has been produced of any dis
honesty or irregularity in the expendi
ture of the money. We find that the
| funds of the institution have been hon
estly expended, and every dollar &C
counted for.
Boards Discretionary Power.
The appropriation of funds from one
fund or from another is a matter rest
ing in the discretion of the board o.
trustees, and so far as the evidence
before the commission Is concerned
no funds have been illegally appro
priated from any fund. The commits
sion finds the finances and the &C
counts of the university are regular
and that the charges of illegal ap
preparation and expenditure OF funds
il without foundation. This conclu
sion Is sustained both by the examina
ton and report of the state examine
and by the report Of the examining OF
ficer of the United States government
ALLEGED Interference.