Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1906 [PAGE 325]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1905]

PEOOEEDINGS OE THE BOAED OF TEUSTEES. PRINTING AT THE REFORM SCHOOL AT PONTIAC.

299

37. The attention of the Board is called most earnestly to the fact that the claim made by the State Board of Prison Industries, that the University of Illinois must have all its printing done at the Reform School in Pontiac, is interfering seriously with the efficiency of the University work. It is doubtful whether the law ever contemplated including the University in the list of institutions subject to the provision of this convict labor law. And the question should be raised with the proper authorities whether the law applies to the University at all or not. If it be decided that it does, then an urgent representation should be made to the Board of Prison Industries to give releases from the provisions of the law, as they are authorized to do in all those cases in which insistance upon its provisions would embarrass the work of the University. It is not an extreme statement to say that the University cannot be efficiently administered if its publications are to be hampered by the provisions of this law. After considerable discussion the following resolutions, presented by D r . Davison, were a d o p t e d : 1. WHEREAS, The Board of Prison Industries of the State of Illinois is classing the University of Illinois as one of the State institutions covered by the "prison labor law" and requiring the purchase of supplies from the penal institutions; 2. WHEREAS, the University of Illinois is not "a State institution owned, managed and controlled by the State of Illinois;"

3. WHEREAS—

(a) The University of Illinois is a corporate body that has power to make contracts, to sue and be sued, to acquire, hold and convey real and personal property, to make and establish by-laws and to alter or repeal the same for the management of its various departments (Charter), (b) The title for United States land script was vested in the Trustees of the University of Illinois, and not in the State of Illinois, (c) The real estate of the University of Illinois is vested in the Trustees and not in the State of Illinois, (d) The State of Illinois is not responsible or liable for financial deficits beyond the apporpriations by its Legislature, (e) The Trustees are elected directly by the people; 4. WHEREAS, The University of Illinois is partially under Federal control— (a) Certain departments partially directed by and required to report to the Secretary of Agriculture; (&) The Secretary of the Interior is charged with the administration of the Morrill College Act of the United States Congress, under which the University of Illinois enjoys financial support; (c) The University of Illinois is partly supported by Federal appropriations; (d) Compulsory military instruction is given by a United States officer paid by the War Department; and, 5. WHEREAS, The Trustees of the University of Illinois believe that this institution should not be included by the Board of Prison Industries in the list of State institutions covered by the "prison labor law," and that such purchase of supplies is-a hardship to the University by reason of excessive prices and loss of time; be it Resolved, That an opinion of the Attorney General be asked covering the application of the "prison labor law" to the University of Illinois. President James, M r . Bullard and M r . Lehman were on motion appointed a committee to present the resolution to the Attorney General.' WHEREAS, The College of Physicians and Surgeons, the medical department of the University of Illinois, is conducted as such by certain contractual relations by which it is to be acquired at the end of the period of contract; be it Resolved, That the opinion of the Attorney General be asked covering the application of the "prison labor law" to the College of Physicians and Surgeons.