Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-06-09
lBY Clio uarper

Little Rock, June S--It has been found necessary to abolish at least six positions in the University of Ar kansas faculty during the ensuing two years, on account of the limited appropriation. This is the report made by President J. c. Futrell, at the annual meeting of the board of trustees Monday of this week. And yet by careful management and hus- banding of resources, thework of the school for the next year will not be greatly impaired
 The aggregate attendance in all departments of the university for the past year is 1869, of whom 744 were students of the college proper for the nine months session, and 635 at the Rural Life conference which was held for ten days during the summer of 1914,
 That the condition of the states finances seriously hampers the work of the university, is shown by this paragraph from President Futrell's report:
 q find that In general it will be necessary to offer somewhat larger salaries than if you were able to guarantee the payment of salaries in cash. The members of the faculty have borrowed money by putting up their vouchers as security, and they have been compelled~to pay 10 per cent per annum. A few months ago. it became apparent that there would not be enough money in the state treasury at any time this year to take up the state warrants outstanding and that statew arrants must therefore be sold at discount. Most of the uni versity warrants have been sold at prices danging from .11a to 95 per cent. The members of the faculty, in addition to paying interest, have been compelled to stand this loss also. I estimate the reduction in salaries due to this condition at not less than s per cent. It may reach as high as 12"
 President Futrell recommends the plan of hiring young men beginning with salaries of $900 to S1,000 a year and increasing at the rate of $100 a year and fearlessly dismissing those who do not make goood or who in a few years have reached the limit of usefulness. He says. "It must be thoroughly understood by the lnem- bers of the faculty that mans ten ure of office is contingent only on continued efficiency and good behay- iOr."
 Special Tax Desirable.
 President Futrell unqualfiedly sup ports the millage basis for the tinan- cial support of the university. He says:
 During the past two years, I have collected as much information as pos sible about the methods of securing financial support for the state uni versailles in the different states of the union. I find that in all those states where the university is compelled to ask the legislature for financial SUD- port from the general fund, and to en- ter into scramble with other state institutions and departments of state government for a share of those funds. which are never large enough to allaw all the appropriations that are asked by the various interests, it is necessary for somebody represent ing the university to be in attend ance at the legislature for the good part of the session and practically to make himself lobbyist. In most of the states this duty falls upon the president of tho institution and it is the most disagreeable task that he has to perform.
 'The best opinion everywhere is that the best remedy for this situa ton is to provide for the needs of the university by a special tax This matter has been discussed in Arkan sas in a rather desultory fashion for number of years. but it appears to me that now for the first time, pub lie sentiment in favor of such tax is crystalizing rather rapidly The suggestion has been offered that an attempt should be made to initiate a law of this kind and secure its adop- stion by the people at the next general election The friends of some of the {! other state educational institutions are favoring similar law for the