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Show JOHN C. CUTLER, GOVEUNOUOFTHESTATEOFUTAII J Wo arc advised by newspaper reports that certain cltlcns of the ! State have pctltltloned your Eccllency-to convene the Legislature In J special session for the purpose of considering such amendment to tho 4 Constitution as may be necessary In order to consolidate the Agrlcul- ! o tural College and the University of Utah Wo aro further advised of- J llclally that counter petitions will be unavailing unless tiled at once. ( We theicfore, without entering upon any arguments on tho question v! of consolidation, respectfully, but most earnestly remonstrate against calling tho Legislature in special session, and urged that In oui opinion thore is no sucli emergency at this time, as to Justify such cxtraordln- J ary executive action J J In this connection we respectfully submit the following consldera- J tlons: First. That tho statements for consolidation In the petition J above referred to aro not only not germane to the question now under J consideration, but are In many respects obviously Inconsistent and misleading J Second. The several reports of tlio Commission to Investigate the J dupllcatlon.of the work in the two Institutions have not yet been printed, and uo opportunity has been airorded the peoplo of the State J 2 to famlllarlc themselves with the various contlictlngstatements made J " therein, or tho arguments for or against consolidation, and to deter- mine for themselves the morlts of the question. , S 2 Third. The present members of tho Legislature were elected at a J time when thero was no Issues as to tho question of consolidation and they may or may not reflect at this time tho views of their constltucn- 2 cy upon this question. The voters of the Stato should Have tho op- J portunltyof electing to the Legislature members who aro in accord 4i with the majority sentiment of their respective districts, before tho S m question of consolidation Is acted upon by tho legislative body. 2 Fourth. That the period intervening between tho time of tho 4i submission of an amendment to tho Constitution by the Legislature, a providing that body should so order, and tho election upon tho same J 2 would bo too short to allow the voters or the Stato to Investigate the merits of tho question. That tho College-University Commission a reached such conflicting conclusions after months of Incessant Invcstl- " 2 gation, submitting three widely different reports; that educators and 4i o statesmen of conspicuous ability and standing hold opinions upon tho a 9 subject in diametrical conlllct; can it bo expected ttiat tho peoplo as a g whole can arrlvo at any "safe or satisfactory conclusion In tho short a period allowed for such purpose If the question is to bosubmitted to S 2 tho voters at the next Stato election? 2 Fifth. Wo aro In hearty accord with all eirorts calculated to so- g cure economy In the expenditures required for the development of the e o higher educational interests of tho Stato, but wo do not belleye that a 2 undue hasto should characterise the consideration of a question In- vo'vlng tho removal of a Stato instltutl6n upon which has been ex- S e ponded $1,600,000 of money and which has entered so vitally Into the a g life of the people. a o Whatever our personal views may be with reference to the merits " o of consolidation, wo believe that no emergency exists at this time de- " niandlng an extraordinary session of tho present legislature, and wo Jj respectfully urgo that your Excellency deny ttio petition asking for a same. Respectfully Suom'lttcd, 2 2 a |
