Americus times-recorder., 1919-05-18
CHAMBER NOT
TO RAISE A.&M.
FUND---PERKINS

That the local Chamber of Com
nerce will not undertake any cam
,aign to raise $4,000 to match an
qual sum that might be appropriated
y the state Legislature for the Third
district A. & NJ school here, was
lated yesterday by Secretary Perkins,
peaking for the Chamber Following
ne meeting of the board of trustees
f the school Thursday, which was
,ttended by five representatives of the
Chamber of Commerce, it was an
,ounced from the college that a reso-
Jtion had been passed instucting. the
egislative committee of the board to
SIX the legislature to appropriate $780,
90 for general purposes, contingent
pom an equal sum being aised in the
,istrict, and to be available when this
lual sum was raised. Although it
vas not specifically stated in the
esolutiOn, it was said to have been
.nderstood that the local Chamber of
commerce was to undertake the fund
aising campaign.
1t develops that the board was serv-
4 with notice at the meeting that the
hamber did not approve of the pro-
.osal, feeling that the people should
,ot be asked to donate funds to
cate institution, which the safe was
tn Anr-t chn
nd that it would not undertake such
fund raising campaign.
MIR. Perkins Statement.
The following statement given out
y Mr.. Perkins, one of the men at
}nding the meeting, setting forth the
,ews of the Chamber:
The announcement recently made
lat the Chamber of Commerce would
ndertake campaign to raise $4,000
)r the Third District A. & NJ school
y popular Subscription to be offered
S an inducement to the legislature in
rder to secure the appropriation of a
Ike amount from state funds, is in
ccurate. The Chamber of Commerce
,yill not undertake such campaign,
Mess there is decided change in
onditions existing at present.
Every one of the gentlemen who at
ended the recent meeting of the A. &
M. school trustees as representa-
yes from the Chamber of Commerce
,rongly opposed the resolution which
laGe any appropriation from the state
0ntingent upon the raising of a like
I'M by popular subscriptions. How
yer, the full cooperation of the
hamber of Commerce was assured the
rustees of the school in any effort
secure state appropriation on the
ame basis as other state institutions
like nature.
Called Unreasonable.
THE resolution as adopted by the
hool trustees is probably without a
recedent in the state. The physical
roperty of every one of the twelve
5ricultural schools established
roughout the state rests in the State
University, and it is unreasonable to
SIX the people of Sumter and other
ounties comprising the Third district
} contribute to state institution
Fhich happens to be located here
lille other schools throughout the
ate are fully maintained by legisla-
We appropriations.
"Americus and Sumter county have
ct every financial obligation promis-
in connection with the A. & NJ
3hool, Every citizen of the commun-
entertains a deep and lasting in
rest in the success of the institu-
5n and is ready and willing to exert
Eery reasonable effort to relieve the
nancial difficulties which exist
Trough the proper channels, that is,
legislative appropriation. But it
seriously doubted whether the peo-
q of the district will be willing to
stand for any plan which contem-
lates state aid for state institution
ontingent upon popular subscriptions
j the fifty-fifty basis when other in
itutions of a like nature enjoy full