Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-08
EDITORIAL Comment
The State and the University
portland Press HcraIdD

| In a recent editorial in the Even
! ing Express, Intended to support The
/ contention of Governor Baxter that
the University of Maine is not en-
titled to be regarded as State in
| stitutiOn, the statement was made
! that the university is "a privately
owned and privately managed in
| Stitution," that its standing with the
State is precisely the same as that of
BridgtOn Academy, Arson Academy
and all the other privately managed
preparatory schools in Maine.
The only connection the State has
with the academies named is that in
! the past the Legislature has granted
| them financial aid. the State having
no voice in their management.
But the relation between the State
and the University of Maine is en-
tirely different.
| Maine owns every foot of the $40
acre campus at Orono.
The State owns every one of the
! university buildings, including the
| privately donated Carnegie Library.
! The State inSureS, in its own name,
and pays policy premiums on all the
university buildings.
| Not dollar can be paid by the
! university 1oI supplies or maintenance
until the bill is approved by the State
| Auditor.
| The management of the university
| is vested in a board of trustees APP
| pointed by the Governor.
When the university received from
| the Abner Coburn estate gift Of
| 100000 in 1887, the State took over
! the entire amount in trust and the
! Legislature thus resolved: Said
treasurer shall apply the same in
payment of the debts of the State of
| Maine, and shall issue to said col
lege an Unacceptable registered bond
for the sum OF 100000"
Addressing the University faculty
ana students in the chapel in Novem-
Der, 1921, Governor Baxter said:
THE University of Maine is in
! every respect a State institution, and
the Governor welcomes the respons-
| lblilty which comes to him as in a
sense the head of this splendid
university"
Every representative of the univer-
sity who had. occasion in 1921 to
travel on official business was
exempted from paying war tax on
railway fares by the possession of a
cara declaring that he was IAN en-
pioye OF the State of Maine, travel
ing on official business and entitled
to exemption from the Federal tax
on railway and Pullman transporta-
llon. This ticket of exemption bore
the signature of Governor Baxter.
Last year the Federal Government
contributed to the State for the
University of Maine, $4,000; for the
college of Agriculture extension
service, s56,4S3; for the Maine Agri
cultural Experiment Station, SIC. 900.
Inc Federal Government cannot con-
tribute TO a private institution.
From the foregoing it will be seen
that the University of Maine is not
a privately owned and privately
managed" institution. 1t is looked
upon by the people as a State institu.
tion and it has been SO regarded bv
the Legislatures of the past.
President Little says that If the
state does not provide adequate
funds to support this institution its
work VIII be greatly curtailed if it is
not necessary to close it altogether.
rms the people of Maine do not
desire to have occur.
The double ouse in Federal street
ISflnswick, owned by Arthur w.