Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Chicago Medical Center Reopening [PAGE 13]

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College of Physicians and Surgeons for one year with the opportunity for renewals in case the University desired so to make them. The request was then made of the legislature for an appropriation of a hundred thousand dollars per annum for the support of the medical school. By an overwhelming vote in both houses (unanimous in the House and thirty to two in the Senate), the legislature appropriated sixty, thousand dollars per annum for the maintenance of the department. The Governor signed the bill. But no sooner had this hill been signed than certain private parties who desired to defeat the proposition of state support of medicine, brought suit in the courts to enjoin the payment of this appropriation on the ground that the formalities prescribed by the constitution for the passage of a bill had not been observed in this case. A large number of other bills were obnoxious to the same provision. The Supreme Court of Illinois upheld their contention and the University lost the appropriation. As the University had no funds with which to proceed, the College of Physicians and Surgeons gave notice that it would not renew the lease td the University. No alternative wa5 left to the University except to close the medical school, which it did upon the 30th day of June, 1912. This action created great consternation naturally among the alumni of the University medical school and the alumni of other departments of the University, and above all, among the people at large who were interested in the advance of medical research and medical education, throughout the state. This action served to mark a backward step in the protection and promotion of public health. The State Medical Association immediately took strong ground in favor of adequate appropriation for a state medical school.* RESOLUTIONS. Resolved, That the Illinois State Medical Society in convention assembled, representing 5,600 practicing physicians, do hereby express our deep regret that the legislature at its recent extra session did not re-appropriate the sum already granted to the University for the purposes of medical education, thereby dealing a serious blow to the interests of the greatest educational institution of the state and setting back for an indefinite period the interests of public health in this common-* wealth; and be it further. Resolved, That this Society pledge itself to the support of the policy of adequate appropriation from the state treasury for the development by the University of work in public health, medical research, and medical education; and be it further, Resolved, That a standing committee consisting of one member from each county be appointed whose duty it shall be to urge upon public attention, upon the legislature, and upon the University authorities the necessity of making adequate provision* for this great public need. The alumni of the institution, therefore, with other friends interested .in medical education, asked the trustees whether they would be willing to accept the property of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and reopen the medieal school in this plant, provided the alumni

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