The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-03-14
COLLEGE MATTERS
UP THIS WEEK
lContinued ION Paee II

extensive building program viii be
authorized for the institution at Ok
ford, Starkyille and Columbus, espe-
eially on the campus at the University
Of Mississippi, where the educational
plant is in such bad shape that it
needs what amounts to practically a
complete rebuilding.
Nor can it be taken for granted that
the legislature is going to authorize
four or five million dollar bond is
sue to be spent in haphazard fashion,
according to the whims and notions of
the various governing boards. When
the bond issue comes from the ways
and means committee it can be pre-
dicted with considerable certainty that
it will provide for the creation Of a
special building commission, to be
composed Of first-class business men
who will direct the expenditure of
the money in a business-like manner,
similar to the way in which the new
capitol building was constructed; that
every possible safeguard will be
adopted to see that the money is not
only properly expended, but that the
buildings be erected in accordance
with harmonious plans, and not have
the program messed up by various
and sundry architects who will appeal
to governing boards with fanciful
ideas and bizarre plans.
z Want Links Services.
Several leaders in both House and
Senate have expressed the hope that
ii may be possible for the state to re-
tain the services Of Theodore c. Link,
the St. Louis architect who designed
the new capitol building, and also
supervised the restoration of the old
capitol, to prepare general plan for
the needed improvements and new
structures at all the state institutions.
The legislators, especially the veter-
ans who have served many years in
the two bodies, have complete confid
ence in Mr.. Link, and would feel con-
fidcnt that if the bond issue is spent
in accordance with his plans, after
survey has been made of the
needs of the various institutions, that
the work will be properly and effici-
emily done. In fact, they are so
strong in favor of this program that
Mr.. Link was summoned to Jackson
several days ago for an informal con-
ference with the lawmakers.
Chairman Hemingway, of the House
committee, served the
first formal notice on members yes
tcrday, when the budgets for state in
stitutions were taken up, that no new
buildings or permanent improvements
will be provided for by direct appro-
priations that if such work is author
lied it must be paid with funds raised
by bond issue.
This statement was not merely a
setting forth of Chairman Heming-
ways personal view but was an ex-
preston of the sentiment of the men,
bers of all committee heads and floor
leaders in the two bodies dealing with
the states financial affairs. All items
pertaining to improvements Of per-
manent character this does not
include needed repairs - have been
stricken from the original draft of
appropriation bills still pending for
consideration.
Good Headway Is Made.
The boards Of trustees of the sew
eral institutions will no doubt be glad
to be relieved of the trouble and re-
sponsibility Of supervising building
programs during the next year or so,
and the building commission idea had
taken firm hold among the members.
Good Roadway has been made with
the disposal of the appropriations
during the past few days. Chairman
Hemingway, in the House, and Chair
man Kyle, in the Senate, have been
feeding bills into the hoppers with
monotonous regularity, and by Mon
day or Tuesday of the coming week
they will be able to see at least the
beginning of the end of their labors.
The budget is by far the largest
ever considered by lawmaking body
in this state, totaling nearly 10000
900. Had that sum been proposed to
legislative assembly in this state
twenty years ago the members would
have dropped dead with fright. And
yet, despite the immensely of the sum,
the leaders in the two bodies frankly
declare that they see no way in which
ii can be reduced without detriment 10
the best interests of the state.