The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-13
EDUCATIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.

EDUCATIONAL APPROPRIATION
/ 1t will be false economy Lat will
work injury TO Kansas if the leglsia-
ture is at all niggardly with its appro-
priations for the state educational in
stitutions.. This is particularly true
concerning the appropriations for their
regular maintenance. In the conduct
of these institutions nothing that
/ savors of lavishness or extravaganza
should be tolerated or encouraged But
it isn't at all likely that the active
head of any of the states colleges is
disposed to go in that direction
These remarks are especially per-
tinent in respect to the appropriations
for the University of Kansas. Two
years ago the budget of the university
asked for a maintenance appropriation
of s1,300OO0. This was cut down by
$500, coo by the legislature, and Governor
Stubbs Topped off an additional $4,000.
The faction of the Republicans then
in the saddle in Kansas were being up
braided on all sides for the increasing
taxes under their regime. But their
efforts to court economy were followed
in the wrong direction in their slashh'g
away at the maintenance funds of the
educational institutions. They might
have rendered better service to the
state, for instance, if they had gwen
more money for the actual conduct OF
the colleges and provided for some
what fewer than 125 state oil inspec-
tors Because, the reduction of the
maintenance fund of the state univer-
sitv has seriously crippled the admin
istration of that institution. 1t act
uaIlv made necessary a reduction III
The teaching force. And besides in ad-
ditfon to cutting down the mainten-
ance fund the legislature actually ao-
ded 100000 to the current expenses OF
the institution by increasing the
amount of it's work for the state in
the way of analyses of foods, drugs,
water supply, etc.
There may be room for differences
of opinion over the necessity for new
bull ngs for which appropriations have
been asked by all of the states educa-
tional institutions. A new administration
building at K. L. is partially construct
ed and an appropriation has naturally
been sought for it's completion But if
the legislature has any idea that such
an appropriation would warrant cut
in the maintenance appropriation, it
WOuld De DelCeL IlOL 70 IieiAC IL ct an
and allow the administration building
to remain uncompleted, An insight
" decoration on Mt. Dread for the
next couple of years would be far bet
ter than a reduced maintenance fund
which would further cripple the con-
duct of this fine institution that is of
such essential advantage to the youth
of the state
Proportionate with it's population
Kansas is among the richest of the
states in the Union. Its admirable edu-
cational institutions have been the
pride of it's people. They are intelli-
gent enough to know that an inces-
SAINT development of these institutions
along proper lines will be of incom-
putable value to the boys and girls
of today who will be the men and
women of tomorrow, and, who, as
such. will have to bear the burdens
of the commonwealth on their own
shoulders. Education is the keystone
of a progressing civilization. And Kan
sans will soon begin to lose patience if
each succeeding legislature makes it
point. on the plea of economy, to whit
tie away at the funds that are neces-
sarv for the maintenance of the states
colleges and their reasonable develop
nent. There are other avenues in state
affairs where economy can be paraded
without doing so much damage to the
Kansas of today. but more particu-
larly to the Kansas of the future.