The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-03
NATIONUSESKNIFE
Auditor Cuts University ApprO-
priatiOn Quarter of Million.
Recommends That the Medical
School Be Abandoned.

State Auditor J. M. Nation has cut
the Kansas university appropriation
estimates as compiled by Chancellor
Strong over a quarter of million dol
lars. The university asked for only
$1,211,915 and Mr.. Nation Topped
$2S6,915 off this amount. Two years
ago the legislature gave the univer-
sity $9s2,259. Nations estimate for
the next appropriation is $4,000 less
than that sum. The auditor cut out
the 100000 asked for a general hos
pital building. $4,000 for girls dor
mitory, $500 for a botanical garden,
and about 100000 asked for general
maintenance.
The auditor gives reasons for his
cut in the amounts asked for as fol-
lows;
1.-The university is asking for an in
crease in general maintenance of $44.-
842 for the fiscal year 1912 over the
amount appropriated for the fiscal
Increase for 1913 over 1912 of s16.-
$50. I think an increase of $44,S42
in maintenance in a single year is too
much. The estimate l have given,
will, in my judgment, amply meet the
imperative requirements Of the institu-
ton.
They are asking for s135.245 for
special repairs and permanent i'm
provements- Some of the things they
propose to do could well be postponed
to some future time. I think $4,000
a year ought to be sufficient for this
purpose.
They are also asking for 800, 600
for a hospital building for the medical
school in addition to the unused $780,
600 appropriated for that purpose by
the last legislature. I am not includ-
ing this in my estimate for in my
judgment there are some matters of
policy that ought to be decided by the
legislature before the state constructs
an expensive building of this kind. Is
1t to be the policy of the state to fur
nish at public expense, a first class,
high grade medical school? If so, an
up-to-date hospital would be neces-
sary part of such a school. The up
building of first class medical school
would add Immensely to the annual
cost of maintenance of the university.
The legislature was encouraged to
engage in the medical building at
RoSedale, Kan. The effort to build
up a school with this donation as a
nucleus has not met with success. It
is apparent that the school must be
located elsewhere and the state will
probably lose the benefit of the Rose
dale donation. The state has spent
nothing for the Improvement of this
property, and sc far as medical
school is concerned we are back where
we were before we ventured into the
medical school business. Therefore
before this appropriation is made the
legislature must determine two things:
First, that a medical school is such a
necessity to the state that one must be
esta blished and maintained at public
expense. Second, that a high grade
school must be maintained, that will
equip students for the active work of
the medical profession. In my humble
Judgment the legislature ought not to
go this far until the university proper,
the liberal arts department is more
securely established. The university
has just commenced the construction
of a liberal arts building that is ex-
pected in the next few years to tax
the state nearly half million dollars
The first two years of the university
medical course is now taught at Law
renee. think the property at Rose