The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-02-01

There seems to be very much con-
fusion as to what the words "gradu-
ate courses" mean. They simply mean
comforting of knowledge to students
after they have taken the ordinary
course, and secure degrees therefor,
and wish to obtain higher degrees or
distinction along those lines to give
them professional prestige in their
special lines. Most of these courses
are conducted to make especially fitted
students capable Of assuming posi-
tions in schools of higher learning.
The degrees they receive are of the
Phd. variety and not of the ordinary
college graduate. These courses have
been severe drain on the tax payers
of this state, and there have not been
students enough at the Washington
State College in these departments to
warrant the continuation of the ex-
pense.
The foregoing are the only subjects
which House Bill No. Is takes from
the Washington State College. They
should be the only subjects of discus
sion. It is not the question of what
the University gives up or what the
State College gives up. There is
greater question, which is: Shall the
tax payers of this state conduct two
complete state universities with all it's
branches and sub-branchcs, or should
the proper body in this state, the leg
islature, designate to what extent
these state institutions should be al
lowed duplication in expensive and
special courses, and should not the
legislature recognize that under dupli-
cation in certain branches many of the
students will be half-baked and incap-
able of practicing any profession they
might be instructed in?
Should the state of Washington al
low duplication, and should the state
legislature acquiesce to the demand
of the partisans of the state college,
they would be the only legislature in
the United States which would throw
out two big lump sums of money to
ambitious colleges and say ego to it"
we want and can afford two state uni
versities in this state, regardless of
the fact that no state in the Union is
today supporting or feels that it can
support two universities. No state
ever proceeded on this theory and the
state of Washington has wasted more
money to date than any state of its
population in the Union in duplication
of courses allowed in state institu-
lions. ~ .Es
I believe that the commission of six
men appointed two.years ago was alb
solutely fair. Half of that commission
were Washington State College parti-
sans. They agreed to House Bill No.
Is, or the provisions therein, and these
provisions were supplied them by the
eastern experts selected by President
Suzzallo and Holland of the two in
stitutions. At the conclusion of the
survey all parties were agreeable to
the findings. Also the Spokesman
Review commented on what a benefit
their findings would be to the taxpay-
ers of the state and to the students
who attended the institutions. It has
only been within the past few months
that the agitation for reputation of
the survey has been initiated. And the
old question arises: does the state of
Washington wish to be the only state
in the Union to put itself in the ridic-
ulous position Of being the only state
in the Union throwing away its money
by duplication in courses for two state
universities? This is the question
which believe is more fair than the
question which is continually address
ed to me by my constituents: "are you
going to vote to allow the Washing
ton State College to be destroyed?"
On the other hand, let me cite the
courses left at the State College, and
you can pass judgment whether a stu
dent attending such college can Sc
scure liberal education. The State
College has the exclusive right to teach
agriculture and domestic science in all
it's branches. It has the exclusive