Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1908 [PAGE 92]

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UNIVEESITY OF ILLINOIS. ACCOUNTANCY MATTERS.

[Jan. 2S

5. A communication from t h e Illinois Society of P u b l i c A c c o u n t a n t s , a s k ing" t h e b o a r d of t r u s t e e s to c o n t i n u e t o a d m i n i s t e r t h e l a w p r o v i d i n g f o r t h e certification of public a c c o u n t a n t s . Dr. Edmund J. James, President University of Illinois, Urbana, III.: . DEAR SIR—We are advised that it is the desire of the trustees of the University of Illinois that the University be relieved of the duty of conducting the examination of candidates for the degree of Certified Public Accountants, and that the board feels disposed tosolicit the present Legislature to amend the law so as to afford the relief above referred to. At a meeting of the directors of the Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants, held on January 8th, it was unanimously voted that the president and secretary be instructed tocommunicate with you and to make plain the desire of the society that the University continue to discharge the duties prescribed in the law providing for the certification of public accountants, and we therefore now address you to express the earnest desire of our society that the University shall continue to act in the capacity of administrator of the law above referred to. We are aware that this law places upon the University duties which heretofore have been unpleasant in nature, and also places upon the University responsibilities out of proportion tothe advantage gained by bearing same, but we feel confident that the law will hereafter work smoothly and that much of the annoyance and many of the disagreeable features of its administration will disappear, and that the connection of the University with the administration of the law will soon begin to redound to the advantage of the University, and that in time the sacrifices heretofore made will afford a substantial return. The Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants, composed of public accountants, who have been granted a decree by the University, consists of about fifty men, all of whom stand ready at any time to be of any service possible to the interests of the University. We are enclosing herewith a resolution passed by our society at its last meeting, which shows the interest taken by the members in the success of the plans of the University, especially so far as the same relate to an extension of the business courses of its School of Finance, Commerce and Accounts. We are preparing to secure the cooperation of numerous organizations in Chicago in inducing the Legislature to grant appropriations to be asked for by the University. It is our purpose to continue these efforts.and to do all that is possible to bring them to a successful conclusion. We have already brought the matter to the attention of the Chicago Commercial Association and have received from its Ways and Means Committee a very favorable expression, and believe that within two weeks we will be able to communicate to you a resolution of the Chicago Commercial Association endorsing the plans that have been made for the extension of the University business courses. The members of our society stand ready to assist the University in the direction of supplying lectures upon accounting subjects, or in any other direction where their services can be of use. In view of this attitude of the Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants toward the University, and in view of the efforts we are making to be of assistance to the University, we respectfully request that the board of trustees be made acquainted with our position in the matter, and be asked to favor the continuance of the University authorities in the administration of the law providing for the certification of public accountants. With best wishes for the University, aud with assurances of our high esteem of its board of trustees, we remain, Yours truly, President. Sectetaiy* (b) A communication from Dean David K i n l e y indorsing" s t r o n g l y t h e req u e s t from t h e Illinois Society of Certified P u b l i c A c c o u n t a n t s t h a t t h e t r u s tees should c o n t i n u e to a d m i n i s t e r t h e l a w p r o v i d i n g for t h e certified public accountants. January, 17, 1907. President E. J. James, University of Illinois: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT—I desire again, as a result of my visit in Chicago yesterday, to urge very strongly that the University do not withdraw from its position as accountancy examiner. Our work here, although irksome, has made some strong influential friends; and I would think it would be a mistake to drop the work at present. Moreover, all the waiver clause cases will be disposed of very soon now, and there is little likelihood that the trustees will have any cases before them in the future. All the appeals and all the troubles have arisen from the waiver clause cases. So far as I can foresee only one new case of this kind is likely to come up and that of Mr. H. Dinninger. This, with the cases of Mr. Oliver Coxon and Mr. Eric Everett will, I think, finish the list of annoying appeals. Very truly yours,

R. S. BUCHANAN, DAVID K I N L E Y . ILLINOIS SOCIETY O F C E R T I F I E D PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, EDWARD C. GORE, ILLINOIS SOCIETY O F C E R T I F I E D PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 1907.

Voted to continue such administration for the present.

(c) A communication p r e s e n t i n g a set of r e s o l u t i o n s passed by t h e Illinois Society of Certified P u b l i c A c c o u n t a n t s in favor of legislative a p p r o p r i a t i o n s