Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-04-02

Word reached Middlebury this morn
ing that Governor Gates had affixed his
signature to the Weeks bill, H. 451,
making an annual appropriation of
S12, 800 to Middlebury College, which
includes $1,000 for thirty senatorial
scholarships. This makes the total
State appropriation S28, 800 annually.
The bill passed the House Monday and
the Senate yesterday Not a vote was
cast against it in either House, nor was
any amendment offered. Governor
Gates has handed to Speaker Weeks,
for presentation to President Thomas,
the pen with which he signed the bill.
The act of the legislature of 1915 con-
firms and makes permanent the appro-
priation of 1912, which was for two
years only. Middlebury College will
now receive from the State exactly
what it has been receiving the past two
years, but the appropriation is perma-
nent, good until repealed, and it will
therefore not be necessary to petition
successive legislatures for assistance.
The State appropriation can now be
counted on with reasonable certainty,
which will enatle the trustees to plan
work ahead and be of great help in pre-
pairing budgets.
The passage of Judge Weeks bill
closes period of anxiety for all friends
of. the local institution, which has ex-
tended over two years.
On November 8, 1912, while college
appropriation measures We're still pend
ing, Governor Fletcher sent a special
message to the legislature suggesting
the appointment of an educational COM
mission to report on the rights, duties,
and obligations of the Vermont colleges. |
and to recommend a reorganization of |
the State school system. President
Benton of the University of Vermont in |
public addresses claimed the honor of |
suggesting such Commission and in |
a degree upon Governor
Fletcher hailed him as IAN educational
1t was declared that the
result of the Commissions work would
be the recognition of the University of
Vermont as a State institution.
The Commission invited the Carnegie
Foundation to make survey of YER
mont education, and their report was
published December 27, 1913 1t criti-
cized all the colleges severely, especially
for seeking State appropriations, and
It's findings against the misuse of agri-
cultural funds were particularly drastic.
1t declared that Vermont had no State
and that all three colleges
stood upon practically common basis.
On July 80, 1914, the Commission
ssued an abstract of its report, which
was published in full little later. The
indings agreed with the Carnegie
Foundation in the main, although they
an appropriation for Middle
'ury's Department of Pedagogy and
or training teachers of agriculture at
Burlington. Much space was devoted
o the question of the legal character of
he University of Vermont and the de-
ermination was that it is private insti-
ution, of the same legal character as
ther colleges of the State
The views of the commission were
in bill, which found almost
% supporters in the Legislature and few
n the State. The objections We're
hiefy against the proposed increase of
tate authority over school matters. A
ubstitute measure was prepared by
sgislative committees and has now be-
ONE law. This measure has nothing
0 say of the colleges or normal schools,
nd in the interest of these institutions
eparate bills were introduced.
AT first the members of the commits
ion declared that their bill must stand
n fall on its merits, but later the COM
mission undertook an advertising cam
aign, which brought upon them some
riticism Their efforts seemed to be v
irected chiefly against the colleges and t
ormal schools, rather than in favor of a
heir scheme of educational admnistra- '
ion. The discussion has awak ened C
widespread interest, not only in Yer 4
mont but also far beyond her borders. i
educational journals and metropolitan t
apers have commented frequently on
he subject By the friends of Middle 7
ury College especially the debate has /
een followed with keen attention, in