Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-03-03
BY Martin w. Odland.

BY Martin w. Odland.
st. Paul, Mimi, March 1.-The Uni
versity of Minnesota versus the big
Three"-that is the biggest issue now
looming up before the Minnesota leg
islature. In their famous budget, the
"Big Three" cut about 100000 out
of the requests of the university, and
the university has appealed to the
Legislature for more generous treat
ment. At public hearing before the
house appropriations Committee
Thursday night, President Coffman
and F. B. Snyder, president of the
board of regents, stated their case in
very earnest and positive language,
and earlier in the day a bill was in
troduced in both branches of the leg
islature calling for appropriations on
items which the board of administers
ton and finance did not include in
the university budget, these items ex-
ceeding 100000.
Instead of waiting for action by leg
islative committees on university bud
get proposals, members representing
the university district introduced the
bill which calls for definite appropri-
ations for the entire university sy-
stem. The maintenance item fer the
university is left blank, to be filled in
later, but items for various schools
and for various special activities are
put in.
Reimbursement of the University
hospital for care of patients alone
would take $4,000. Items for the
various branch agricultural schools
are sought though denied by the bud
get board. Reductions in special fields
such as business research, agricul-
tural extension and public service re-
search, which the budget board made,
would be ignored and the university's
larger requests granted. Authors of
the bill are Senator Lewis Duemke
and Representatives H. A. Johnson
and Calvin Deming.
II think it would be tragedy if the
Legislature took action to limit per-
manent improvements to those author
lied by the legislature" Dr. Coffman
said at the public hearing. what
would be the attitude of William
Henry Eustis in giving the money he
has provided for the crippled chill
dren's hospital if he had to wait two
years for the legislature to order the
buildings erected? What if some
person died few days after the leg
islature adjourned, leaving will pro-
ings, and then we had to wait two
years before taking advantage of such
generosity? And / have reason to
believe there are such wills. What if
there were a sudden increase in stu
dent enrolment that necessitated more
buildings. for their accommodations"
Give us. free hand to use the
funds you see fit to give u.s." Mr..
Snyder said. 'Iimit us, if you will,
to buildings financed out of the state
appropriations, but not out of the
money that acorues to the university
through it's various other incomes"
The department of administration
and finance, which prepared the state
budget, allowing the university $780,
600. for the next biennium, an in
crease of 100000 over the amount
granted by the 1925 legislature, but
this was reduction of 1891, 446 from
the total requested by the board of re-
gents.
Twenty to 25 per cent of high school
graduates in the state enter the uni
versity, he said, and enrolment esti-
mated in 1921 to reach $4,000 in. 1881
already has been exceeded last year
by 1,421. In the last biennium 200
new students entered the institution
and this year 800 more. Replying to
criticism of accepting nonresident
students, he said many of these are
sons and daughters of alumni and if
barrier were erected and neighbor-
ing universities did the same toward
MinnesOtans, the enrolment would be
increased because more from Mime
sofa are enrolled elsewhere than
come to this state from other states.
Student fees have been raised twice
in his presidency. Dr. Coffman said, to
meet expenses, although the state has
been fortunate in receiving large
gifts. He replied to Mr.. Hitchcock's
question that so per cent of enroll
ment is from the Twin Cities, but
some of these are students whose fam
lilies have moved here to give them
the university training advantages.
Another big issue that is chal-
longing the attention of the legislature
at this time is the proposal to substi-
tute county assessor fer the town,
city, and village assessors that have
been making the local assessments
ever since Minnesota was organized.