The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-03-17
A DUTY YET TO PERFORM

The Nevada legislature has done much good work at this
session and is now in the rounding out and Cleanup" stage. But
there is one thing it hasn't done, so far as the Tribune has observed
from its reports, and that is to propose an amendment to the consti-
tuition under which the regents of the university may be appointed, and
to provide such security for that institution as will invite the class OF
educators the state would like to have.
The point has already been raised that no tenure of office under
our present constitution can be more than four years, and while the
Tribune doesn't read the constitution that way, yet if others have the
courts may do so. In such event, the recent recommendations of the
committee that investigated the university will fail of their purpose.
We have facing us now this situation: Three regents chosen at
the last election took majority control; a Joint legislative committee
investigated their action under such control and condemned i, unani-
committee was in the right, a sharp conflict exists and will continue,
and the future contains nothing more certain than that, under these
conditions, the university will be in politics next year. Neither death,
taxes nor recurrence of the seasons is more certain.
The committees recommendations, in time, would afford relief,
if valid, at least some measure of relief, but why not start the machin-
ery of government in the direction that some day it must take?
We have now three regents who are in position to control the
board for two years, and two years only. We have many predicting,
and with the utmost confidence, that their control will end in two years.
The Tribune doesn't assume to know what two years will do, but it
does know that n man of the type Nevada wants at the head OF her
university or in important positions in the faculty of that institution
is going to hitch his kite to that kind OF a star. And II the constnu
ton is it stands would prevent more than a tour-year tenure, then the
legislature must put some curb upon the authority of the board, or at
least a mere majority of the board, pending an amendment to TN con-
sttution, that will give some measure of stability under which an in
vitahon to service in the university will mean something to the edn-
Gator who receives IT.
nations sounds well. but means nothing. 1t isn't party politics that
has cursed the university; it has been institutional politics. 4 they
be right who hold that a tenure OF more than tour years is IN con-
fnt with the constitution, then We are certain to have OF only next
wear. but in every succeeding campaign, a recurrence OF what we nave
had for many years, eliminating n the situation we now face.
1t may be that the old regents. now a minority, will work in harmony
with the new members, now a majority, but the invitation to do so
has not been cordial. And the new man or men who come to the in
sitution will know in advance that neither the present majority nor
the present minority can give any promise that will bind them OF the
institution longer than two years.
The paramount duty of the legislature is to find a final and eternal
escape from this situation, and pending such relief to bridge the stua-
ton as effectively as it may.