Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1896 [PAGE 45]

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48

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. RESIDENCES OF PROFESSORS ON UNIVERSITY LANDS.

A communication was presented from the members of the Faculty relative to the Board of Trustees granting the use of land belonging to the University for the erection of houses to be used by instructors of the University. The Committee on Buildings and Grounds, to which had been referred a similar paper, previously prepared, submitted the following report :

URBANA, I I I . , December 6, 1894.

To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois* GENTLEMEN: Your Committee on Building's and Grounds reports as follows with regard to an investigation, made by your direction, into the feasibility of permitting' members of the University Faculty to erect residences upon University grounds. The committee has consulted the Attorney General with reference to the matter, and presents herewith a letter received in reply:

SPRINGFIELD, I I I . , December 4,1894.

Hon. S. A. Bnllard, Springfield, III., DEAR SIR : Referring* to the question which you submitted to me the other day, I would say that I find, under section seven of the act for the organization and maintenance of the University, that the Trustees have power to provide building's, apparatus, and conveniences; to fix the rates for tuition; to appoint such professors and instructors, and establish and provide for the management of such model farms, model art and other departments, and professorships as may be required to teach, in the most thorough manner, such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, and military tactics without excluding other scientific and classical studies. Are the Trustees authorized to let, for a nominal rent, to a person who is a professor in the University, a lot of ground for the purpose of enabling- ^ him to erect a dwelling to be occupied by him as such, as long as he remains a professor in the University, and when he ceases to be such, purchase the dwelling at a certain appraised value? If the law quoted above is all there is upon the subject, I am inclined to the opinion that the authority is not clearly enough conferred to warrant such an action on the part of of the Trustees with safety. Questions of public policy I have nothing to do with. It is for me to construe the law, and in all these matters where authority is not clearly given, to proceed with caution. The legislature, however, has power to confer such authority upon the Trustees in express terms. Yours truly.

M. L. NEWELL, M. T. MOLONEY,

Assistant.

Attorney General.

Your committee recommends that no attempt be made at present to pursue the subject further. Your committee believes that some method through private enterprise may be made practicable in handling the matter, but has not given that phase of the subject full consideration. Respectfully submitted,

S. A. BULLARD, N. B. MORRISON,

Committee on Buildings and Grounds. The report of the Committee was received for record. On motion of Mr. Armstrong, the Committee on Buildings and Grounds, together with President Draper, was instructed to investi-