The Little River news., 1923-02-17
DEBATE OHl ks0V!NG
 UNIVERSITY STAGED
Legislative Committees Hear Argu- ments fer and Against Reseren-
 dunn; Contract Discussed.

Little Rock, Feb. 15-In a plea which alternately glowed with e!o- quence sparkled with wit, and lashed with satire, J. V. Walker of Fayette- vile last night denounced the propos- al to let the people vote on removal of the University of Arkansas from it's present site as violation of the sol Iemn contract of the people of Arkan- sas."
 He appeared as the sole representa- tive of Fayetteville at joint hearing of the Judiciary and Education Com mittees of the Senate and the Educa- tion Committee of the House, which was to have been held in the Hotel Marion, but which was transferred to the courtroom of Judge Wade because of the large crowd which attended Sen. Robert J. Wilson of Washington county presided. w. B. Smith and T. M. Mohaffey appeared in behalf of the referendum bill on university removal pending in the General Ass embly and MT. Walker opposed it. By agreement, each side was allowed an hour to pre- sent it's case.
 This proposal" MT. Walker began. is part of an effort now quarter cen- tury old to violate a solemn contract of the people,"
 He identified himself as the head of the Fayetteville lobby which has been reported as working on the leg islature, and said that he as captain has originally commanded "three pri- vates," one of whom, however, has been scared away" -
 Tells of 'Selfish Interests
 He devoted a considerable portion of his time to ridiculing the claim that those active in the removal movement are actuated by public spirited motives declaring that the commercial inter- ests of Little Rock are fostering the project from selfish motives. Several times he identified these interests with the Board of Commerce.
 He said that in 1871, when the uni versity was located, the people Of Washington county and Fayetteville contributed the equivalent of $454. coo for it's use, while the people of Pulasl{i county voted, 756 to 78, agains the is- sue of $150,OO0 in bonds as bid to bring the university here.
 Opposing the claim that the univer- sity would thrive here better than at Fayetteville, he called Little Rock "a cemetery of colleges" after reading list of seven institutions which. he said, "died" here.
 In opposition to the argument that central location is necessary for a thriving state institution of learning, he read list of 31 colleges and uni versailles in other states, none of which is located more than 50 miles from the state line.
 He. declared that if the university is removed to the site discussed, at Camp Pike, an expenditure of $3,000000 for buildings will be necessary at once, and asked where the money is to come from. Even if the people of Pu- laski county were willing to be taxed in an improvement district created for the purpose, no improvement district can be formed to do this he said, and quoted a decision in which the Su- preme Court of the state has held that improvement districts can only be ere ated for the actual benefit of the ad jacent lands, and not for any public building or institution such, for examp- le, as the erection of county court house.
 Argue for Referendum.
 Both MT. Smith and MT. .Mehaffy, in their arguments favoring the referen- dunn, recited from the statistics which have become familiar since the remoy- al movement has been active. The present university, MT. Smith declared is not state but local institution, drawing half it's students from five nearby counties, although the 70 other counties pay all but $7O000 or ESQ., 900 of the maintenance