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Show R' ! EXTRA SESSION OF LEGISLATURE. H I'ruvu Kmiulrir. H The petitions to Governor Cutler, 1 r nsklnn for a special session of tho li-n- H lslaturc to consider the reports of the H committee appointed by the Governor H to Investigate the ('inestlon of consoll- H dallon of the State University and the H Agricultural College or the ellmlna- H tlon of the duplication of studlcs.werc H framed by and have been circulated b) H I ' the members of the University alumni H ' and It is said that tho intention of the H I originators of the movement was to 1 obtain signatures of only a few promt- H I ncnt men, and not to trouble tho or- H , dlnary cltlens with tho matter at all. H Tlie Alumni association wants the H j . special session called In order that the H amendment to the Constitution, which H is necessary beforo the consolidation H can be atTectcd, may be submitted to H the people for their vote at the elcc- H tlon this fall, and If confirmation at H the polls, consolidation may be provki- H ed for by tho next legislature in 11)07 H If this is not done- It Is argued that a H i special election will have to be called H ' to vote on the amendment after the H ' regular session of tho legislature, or H the matter will have to go over for an- H j other two years although this latter H i alternative has probably not been H 1 1 thought of serious consideration, be- H I cause those who favor consolidation H II' aro opposed to any delay. Hi , It is with some trepidation that we K ' i express tho thought, against the opin- U ' Ion of the alumni, that delay would K not be dangerous and mlgatcvcnbe K: ' beneficial. It would give the people V ! rnore time to consider the question, H I i and if It Is one of sutllclent Impjrt- H ! ance to bo entitled to thorough lnvcs- B i ' ligation and earnest thought. The H argument in favor of consolidation pre- H i sented to tne public In the majority M ' report and by the alumni is the sav- M , Ing in costof malntalnancc that would H I follow consolidation. This, as we re- H , member tho majority report of the In- M , vcstlgatlon committee. Is nearly WO,- H 000 a year, while the minority report B places It at about $7,000. Hut which- M , I ever amount It Is and It Is possible m ,' that neither Is correct the State has H some $400,000 worth of property In the M Agricultural College buildings and , H grounds, which it is practically unau-1 H Imously admitted would be lost by j H ' consolidation taking the College to B the University, which is only con-i H sldered and there docs not seem to H be a necessity for any special rush to' H throw this property awuy. H A great part of the cost of main- H mining the Agiicultural College Is H ' due to the unnecessary duplication of H studies. Would It not be well ttr pre- H j vent this duplication and the attend-, M ant expenses and at the same time ( J. IHHfliKflHIHIHHHIHHHI retain the College for the purpose It was designedto Impart thorough education edu-cation In sclcntllb agriculture? There are charges of mismanagement and a misconception of the functions of tho College by the president. They should be investigated, and If true, the dllllcultles which aro aaceptcd as sudlclcr.t for the absorption of the College by the University might be overcome without this adlcal measure, meas-ure, which wo do not bellevo wllhbe beneficial to advanced agricultural education In this State. And there Is no branch of education that Is more necessary or which will be more profitable pro-fitable to the people. There is a story that a statesman was once tho guest of a friend, who was the owner of somo very line old whiskey. The two sampled It and the owner told Its age and cost, and estimated that with tho Interest on the original Investment It was worth twenty dollars a bottle. Tho visitor held out his glass and said, "I believe 1 will take another glass of that liquor so as to stop this confounded Interest." It Is possible that too great anxiety to stop tho expense of conducting the College, may have tho Jamb results as tho statcman's method of stopping tho interest leaving us neither the College nor tho cost. |