Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-28


period, great savings could be made.
Some Of these may be briefly listed.
% The time of legislators and or
trustees and university officers would
! be left free for other activities. You all
have too much other work to do and so
have We to spend weeks of labor try
ing to convince each succeeding legis-
| lature of the value of an action which
| should be as welcome is not economy
of time for anyone concerned.
60 In spirit and morale of the
students and faculty. While students
and faculty realize that the State Is not
willing to trust them on more or
| less permanent basis one cannot ex-
pect of them spontaneity of effort
and degree of effectiveness which
| would result from the feeling of per-
manency Of organization whichsa long
time agreement would give. They have
| hope at present-what they need now
is fath,-this can be given by a 10
| year agreement.
go In cooperation with the State
department of education. 1t is at
present of no value to consider educa-
tional programs involving cooperation
with the primary and secondary
schools, for the University cannot plan
ahead or give assurance of it's ability
/ to participate in any scheme no matter
how meritorious-of over two years
| duration.
| 4) In efficiency Of administration
rot only can the details OF hiring, and
promoting within the University be
much more economically handled under
a long time program. but the inter-
relations of the work in forestry, agri-
cultural experimentation and extension
can be more efficiently and economi-
cally administered in their own inter-
relations and in relation to the Univer-
, sity Labor can be saved. better con-
| tracts with personnel can be made,
| overhead can be cut down and book.
keeping simplified.
t5) In keeping students in the State
of Maine. a long time program would
make possible the obtaining of infor-
nation concerning future opportuni-
| ties for the employment Of graduates
within the State and for the establish
| ing of relations between engineering
agricultural and other industries within
the State and University employment
bureau. Ny. these means opportunity
| for Work in the state can be featured
as general matter and checked up by
detailed and specific information as to
"a
( ticular time.
CD In soliciting outside help and
gifts. 1t is not possible to convince
| potential or prospective donor of the
future of State university which is
known to be waverngly supported by
its own legislature. A 10 years pro-
gram will mean. / feel sure. from
$4,000 to 100000 year for that Pc
riod from alumni and friends for build
inSs and permanent improvements.
We can subtract from the sS16.S00 be-
fore mentioned. $1,000 600 each year or
81 100000 in 10 years for this purpose.
With biennial appropriation and an
uncertain basis the amount and indeed
even the existence of such gifts and
support became problematical.
ca In buying. building and repair,
and in preparation of grounds. The
value of having ones hands free to
plan ahead is seen nowhere more clear
/ ly than in this respect. Much more
advantageous buying contracts could
be made. available help could be far
more effectively ard steadily employed
and real financial benefit derived
from a long, time program. While one
cannot CT course. estimate to the dollar
it seems probable that we could under
10 year program consolidate and
combine by rigid economy to carry on
the $S1G.S60 annual activities by $672,-
600 or the income of one mill tax
plus outside gifts amounting approxi-
mately to 100000 per year or $1,000
coo for the 10 year period.
There is no use in contemplating
less than S672.O00 income. for even
with that amount. we shall have to
pinch and pull to educate the properly
qualified students adequately. Less
than that will almost certainly mean
return to the legislature with emer-
Sency measures before the end of the
10 year period.
Alternatives to the Requested Appro-
priation
There are two ways in which the
legislature can assume the continuation
OF the University of Maine with an en-
rolImcnt equal to the demands of prop
erly qualified students now applying
One of these is by granting the budgets
asked for. for 192324 and 1924-o5, to-
falling $6S2. 1852 and s704.c76.S3 re-
spectiVely, the other is to include under
single appropriation of the income
from one mill tax for at least 10
years the University. the Agricultural
Experiment Station. the Agricultural
Extension work. instruction in fores-.
try and the outstanding indebtedness.
Less than the above must be met by
the trustees and the University au-
thorities by cutting down the student
body to point where only a number
than can be adequately educated with
up to date equipment. in suitable
buildings is admitted. Because of the
condition of the plant at present and
the absence Of necessary buildings the
cut in students which will have to be
made following reduction below the
hgures asked for will be extensive. 1t
Will mean denying the right to educa-
ton to properly qualified boys and girls
or Maine-it will mean cramping of the
instruction at the University and prob
able complete degeneration within q
10 year period.
We are, however resolved to admit
only those who can be educated ade-
quately with what finances we are Civ
en-. For years to come the process of
purchase. repair and construction must
go on until we have suitable facilities.
To postpone the decision for another
two years is to bring about the exclu-
sion OF a large number of boys and
girls and to gain nothing. No one
realizes better than l the difficulty in.
VOWED both officially and unofiicialIy
IN passing a mill tax: there are how
ever certain matters which must. in
every self-respecting state be given
whole-hearted and cooperative support
these are the care Of the sick. and
the dependent, and the education, Of the
coming generation. In the first of
these Maine has made, and il making
an enviable record-in the matter Of
primary and secondary schools the
nnanclal situation is admirable. The
Tine mas now come to give the State