Evening star., 1954-12-11
Nd. U. Studies
Bid 10 Bolster
Autonomy Law
Change Would Curb
Doto Now Open to
Legislators
BY fhe Assoei0ssd Prsss

BALTIMORE. Dec. A
two-word amendment to the
University Of Maryland autono-
my law, which would sharply
restrict legislators and the
Board Of Public Works In ask
ing information. is being con-
sidered by university authorities.
Judge William P. Cole, jr..
chairman Of the Board Of
Regents, was directed by the
board yesterday to confer with
State legislators about the pro-
posed change. The law was ap-
proved by the 1853 Legislature.
The law as 1t now reads. with
the proposed two-Word insertion
In parentheses. follows:
1.-THE university shall provide
the Board OF Public Works, or
any member Of the General AS
sembly. with any information
about any phase Of (the finan-
ciaD operation Of the university
that may be requested.
Elkins Consulted.
DR.. Wilson H. Elkins, president
Of the university. was asked to
join Judge Cole in discussions Of
the problem with appropriate
members Of the General As
gembly.
Concern over the autonomy
act which granted the university
q large measure Of self-govern-
ment outside the controls inn
posed on other branches Of the
State government. resulted from
court action In which Delegate
Whitworth, Republican. of Alle-
gany Is seeking to force the
regents to turn over to him q
confidential accreditation report.
"A stipulation of the autonomy
act provided shat the university
must make available to legislators
information they aske about the
schools operations.
The accreditation report be-
came an issue In the recent
gubernatorial campaign in which
DR.. II. c. Byrd, former president
of the university, lost to Gov.
McKeldin.
Judge Cole told regents yes
terday that the court action
makes it necessary for the uni
versity to assure the legislators
there never has been any attempt
to withhold information.
Should BE Amended.
1.-THE law should be amended
and we should go back to the
way we were before" Judge Cole
said.
Citing the fact the university
is working on some secret re-
search projects for the military
services, Judge Cole said. "It is
unfortunate some new and spe-
cial act Of the Legislature might
possibly embarrass the uni
versity."
If the information provision
should be strengthened, he sug-
gested. the university might
conceivably be stripped of any
confidential relationships. This,
he said. might break the secrecy
of the defense work. Faculty
changes and student failures
might be used for political pur-
poses, Judge Cole said.
In other business. DR.. Elkins
reported to the regents the uni
versity had taken in $235, 900
more In fees than It anticipated
because of increased enrolment.
The regents notified Baltimore
Contractors. Inc, to proceed
with work on a new $380.000
swimming pool at College Park.
They delayed, however, the
start Of work on a new $500. 900
pharmacy building at the pro-
fessional schools in Baltimore.
The delay was imposed until
the administration decides on
details of a new f1ve-year course
contemplated at the pharmacy
school. There was an objection
to a plan to have pharmacy stu
dents do both their two years OF
academic work and their three
years Of special pharmacy work
In Baltimore.
Students at all the other pro-
fessional schools are required to
take their two years of academic
work at College Park, 1t was
pointed out. DR.. Louis L. Kap-
Ian, one Of the regents. said
he could not see why pharmacy
students should be excepted.
Rockville Post Office