THE STATE SCHOOlS.
Mr. BUSKIRK, by consent, reported from the Committee on Education upon their visits to Purdue and Bloomington Universities and the State Normal School, at Terre Haute. It represents these Institutions in a fair condition; that it is highly pleased with the progress, management and work of each of the Institutions; that each of them had been crippled by want of sufficient appropriatons, building, apparatus, etc., and wonder they have done so well; that the time for economy in the matter of appropriations for these Institutions long has passed, and a more liberal attitude should be maintained by the Legislature toward them. The aggregate appropriation of $137,000 asked for by the Institutions is recommended.
The report in full is as follows;
MR. SPEAKER--
I am directed by the Committee on Education to report to the House that the Committee visited the Purdue University at Lafayette, the State Normal School at Terre Haute and the Indiana University at Bloomington, and made such examination and inspection of the management and work of each of said Institutions as the short time allotted us permitted; and I am further directed to say that the Committee were highly pleased with the proofs of the efficacy of each of said Institutions in the performance its special work, but the Comomittee is of the opinion that the usefulness of these Institutions, and of each of them, has been greatly crippled by the want of sufficient appropriations of money for the erection of suitable and necessary buildings, purchase of books, appliances, apparatus, etc. Each of these Institutions is an honor to the State, and yet wtih their insufficient equipments in almost everything, and the rigid economy which those intrusted with their management have been forced to observe, it is a matter of wonderment to the Committee that each has attained the high degree of proficiency which distinguishes it. The wants and needs of each of these Institutions have been brought to the attention of this body in one way or the other. There is now pending a bill asking an appropriation for the Purdue University. The Indiana University has set forth her claims to additional appropriation in a memorial which has been laid upon the desk of the members. The report of the Board of Visitors, appointed by the local Board of Trustees, copied into said memorial will be found also in the report of Hon. J. H. Smart, Superintendent of Public Instruction for 1880, at page 176. This report was drafted by Rev. Mr. Mabie, and was signed by Superintendent Smart and Superintendent Bless elect after the Committee had remained a week at the University and made a very thorough examination of it. The necessities of the State Normal School have
page: 232[View Page 232]also been brought to the attention of this body. It as not the province of your Committee to fix the amount of the appropriation which ought to be made to these Institutions, but it desires to say that they are each worthy of aid at the hands of the State, and that liberal appropriations ought to be granted. Indiana is a great State, rich and prosperous, with a school fund second to that of but one State in the Union, and blessed with a school system not surpassed by that of any other and hardly equalled; and yet in the past the aggregate appropriations for her State Educational Institutions have amounted to less than $30,000. It is time that economy in this direction should be abandoned. The entire amount asked by these Institutions would be $137,000. More than one-half of this is asked for buildings, Libraries, apparatus, etc. The annual appropriation asked would amount for all to but about $60,000. These amounts are asked by men who know the needs of the Institutions, by men who have proven their faith by their works in the cause of education. If the State has just cause to be proud of these Institutions, as she has, what might not be expected of them if a proper spirit of liberality was extended to them. In view of the wealth of the State, her magnificent school fund, and her liberality in all other directions, it seems to your Committee that the appropriations heretofore made to these Institutions are contemptible in amount. In conclusion, on behalf of the Committee, I ask that this report may be received and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
JOHN W. RYAN, For the Committee.
The report was concurred in and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means,
