Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-12
TRUSTEES DEFEND
STATE UNIVERSITY
President Benton Pleads for
Institution before Educa.
ton Commission.
ATTACKS FURST REVIEW
Chief Justice Powers, Robert
Roberts and Treasurer c. p.
Smith Review Special
Phases of Issue.

Montpelier March Ga meeting of
the educational commission was held
at the State house at two o'clock this
afternoon, at which trustees of the
University of Vermont and State Agri-
cultural College appeared in relation to
certain features Of the report of the
Carnegie foundation. Justice John II.
Watson, chairman of the commission.
presided, and the other members pres
ent were Horace f. Graham of Crafts
bury, Eli Porter of Wilmington. James
| B. Estee of Montpelier. and Allison f.
Tuttle of Bellows Falls together with
George Hunt, clerk, and Miss Mildred
Brooks, stenographer The university
was represented by Dr. Guy Potter
Benton, president DR., Henry c. Tink
ham, Chief Justice George NJ. Powers,
Hon. Robert Roberts and Judge e. c.
Mower of the board of trustees and
c, p. Smith, treasurer.
DR.. Benton made an earnest plea for
a square deal for the university
cupyinc about an hour and a half's
time He reviewed the history of the
college from the foundation to the
present time and made a strong argu
ment for the retention of the State
university principle, which he en-
pHdSlZeu WAS DdCheu Dy OrlClH, lrdul-
ton. history and present conditions.
In the course of his address to the
commission he quoted freely from ad-
dresses and statements made by Sena-
tor Morrill,, whom he characterized as
the father of land grant colleges, con-
trasting with these the attitude of the
Carnegie survey.
DR.. Benton referred to the Furst re-
view in the report on the agricultural
college as an unfortunate statement"
He said that no claim was made of
culpable conduct the part of the
trustees that the money for the agri-
cultural college had been expended in
other departments, but one paper had
made reference to it and the trustees
felt it and believed the statement
ought not to rest unanswered.
PROOF IN FEDERAL. AUDIT.
In this connection he mentioned the
audit made by the federal government of
funds for the Agricultural College be-
fore such accounts are allowed and paid.
Inspectors visit the institution frequent
ly to ascertain II the money was ex-
pended lawfully, which in itself was suf-
fcient proof AS showing the care with
which the government examines the ac-
counts It was stated that the item Of
expense of the Good Farming Special
about $780, might properly be charged to
agriculture, but the bill came back dis
allowed because the money had not been
spent on the campus.
DIR. Benton said the trustees were
touched most keenly by the statement
that the college was not a State univer-
sity and was not entitled to State aid.
He followed this with an argument to
substantiate the claim of the trustees
that it was State institution and had
been considered such from the early days
Of the State with the reputation OF being
the first State university in the nation.
He called attention to an act passed in
1892 which forbade State institutions EN-
ploying trustees but exempted the Uni
versity of Vermont from the provision
OF the act.
He also pointed out that Justice Wat
son, the chairman, was member of the
Senate and Mr.. Porter member of the
House when the bill was passed 1t was
referred to the judiciary committee OF
the Senate, Of which Judge Watson was
a member and came back with unani
nous report and so far the records
showed was passed without opposition.
For % years at least Vermont had
recognized by statute the university a!
State institution. That the institution
was controlled by the State was no
controversial he said He then reviewed
the history Of the university from its be
ginning, its union with the Agriculture
College, and the various acts of the Leg
isature TO show that 1t was recog
nized by tie State. From 1910 to 1923 al
trustees were elected by the Legislature
The State now controls the election of
majority of the trustees.
FATAL TO MEDICAL COLLEGE.
Or. Benton then considered what woul,
happen if the subsidies We're destroyed l
would mean the ultimate eradication o
the medical college. He admitted that tn
entering class last year contained on
three students from Vermont in a class o
h. but said this was due to the fact tina
the standard had been raised He point
ed out that Cornell had only four student
when that college raised the standard.
the figures had been taken this year, h
said, the number would have been 49, wit
Fl per cent from Vermont, and there wer
"a students taking the college preparation
course to meet the higher requirements
The withdrawal of subsidies would seri
busly cripple the college of arts. He sal
he was not a champion of the idea q
scholarships The custom of permttin
senators to give out the scholarships h
,harac terized as vicious and said tn
rustees knew his position on this subjec
He said he would grant free scholarship
10 all residents of Vermont without re
gard to political influences
WOULD MEAN LOSS OF $4,000.
The withdrawal of State aid he sale
was equivalent to a loss of an endowmer
BIZ $500, Oo0 the loss of eight professors at
salary of 5000 each or scaling down {
alaries Ths university was cr1ticise
or paying small salaries, but If the repol
was adopted how was the situation to /
improved? he asked. The agriculture
olleee likewise would be crippled, lesser