The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-23
SMALL BODY OF HELENA PEOPLE
VOTES IN FAVOR OF FOL-
LOWING THE BILL.
IS FAR FROM UNANIMOUS
Minority Holds That at General EIec-
ton People of the State Should Be
Permitted to Say Whether They
Should Retain Site Selection for
Themselves.
(Staff Observation-Disclosures


Helena, Jan. 22.-What was intended
to have been a unanimous promoters
meeting for consolidation here tonight
turned out to be quite a different af-
fair. The promoters. however, did not
let the meeting get entirely away from
them, and by a vote Of 20 to Is de-
feated a motion which, had it pre-
vailed, would have permitted the peo-
PIE at the same time they voted on
the proposed million dollar bond issue
to vote on whether they were willing
that the site of the consolidated uni
versity should be left to committee
of outsiders as proposed by the pending
bill, or whether they would vote to re-
tain that privilege for themselves.
The motion looking to this end was
made by Frank ]. Edwards of Helena.
Answering Mr. Craighead's query as to
just how much delay might be occa-
stoned by submitting the matter in the
form suggested by Mr.. Edwards, the
latter pointed out that if the people of
the state were in harmony with the
plan of the doctor to have the site Sc
lected by outsiders, they could SO vote
on the same ballot with which they
voted to issue the bonds. Therefore,
there would be no delay whatever II,
however, the people preferred to retain
the privilege of selecting the site, the
legislature, which would meet soon
thereafter, could provide the means
for doing so.
On Record.
Notwithstanding, the meeting went
on record as stated, and by the vote
of 20 to Is decided that the people OF
the state of Montana should foot the
bills for consolidation, but have no
voice in determining where the money
was to be spent.
The reading of the consolidation bill
by Senator Whteside, who today Of
fereC it in the senate, was followed by
discussion of many important fea-
lures of the bill. Mr.. Edwards in
quired if there was any provision by
which the universities in other states
We're made bodies corporate. To this
a negative answer was returned. Mr..
Edwards followed this by inquiring as
to the necessity for that provision in
| the bill which would authorize the
proposed university to engage in mer-
camille, manufacturing and industrial
activities, to include the building Of
dams and bitches, and railroads. cleo
trio lighting plants, etc. TO TINS
| President Craighead replied That the
site for the university might be chosen
at a point several miles remote from
any city, and that, therefore, the build
ing of railroad for the convenience
of the university might be a necessity
He did not make it clear, however, as
to just why there should be such
sweeping provision for the other lines
of mercantile, manufacturing and in
dustrial activities had been provided
for in the bill.
Another inquiry from Mr. Edwards,
which ELECTED no definite reply was
as to whether it would be probable
that the lands to be selected for the
university site would be of such a
character as to permit of it's being
irrigated by a gravity system, that is.
the water being taken out of some
stream at higher point and conveyed
by bitches, or whether it was intended
or probable, that the lands selected
would be convenient to some large
power plant which could raise the
+, water Il IlelSHl anu Coil-
vey it in pipes or otherwise at heavy
cost to the state, and for all time to
come.
There was an interesting passage OF
question and answer between Senator
. Whteside and Mr.. Edwards concern
ing the power to be conferred upor
the board of education in the eXpendi-
ture Of moneys for the purchase OF
, lands and the construction and equip
ment of buildings that would be re-
. quired. To query along this line
Senator Whiteside replied that the
board would have to procure authori'
zation to that end from the legisla'
ture. Mr. Edwards then asked VIII,
it was that the bill now in the senate
in express terms conferred plenary
r powers upon the board in the expen
. ditures necessary to a completion o
q the project. The senator's answer wa
so vague and indefinite as to be prac
: tically meaningless.