Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1912 [PAGE 536]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

492

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Sept. 12

• After sending the letters, the unexpected action of Judge Creighton of Springfield, in which the medical appropriation and agronomy appropriation made by the last Legislature were held up, pending the decision of the Supreme Court of the State upon the constitutionality of the law granting said appropriations (although he denied the application for the injunction), made it impracticable for the University to assume the financial obligations which the reorganization of the medical school at the present time would involve. ~ • I telegraphed, therefore, to both gentlemen, withdrawing the offer made, the telegrams reaching them, I understand, before the letters tendering the positions. At any rate, both men have acquiesced in the withdrawal of the offer as being the only proper thing under the circumstances. At the meeting of the Executive Committee, July 8, 1911, the president and secretary of the board were authorized (page 434) to sign a modified lease for the premises of the tCollege of Physicians and Surgeons for two years from Aug. 31, 1911. Owing to the result" of the injunction proceedings brought by the State Homeopathic Association to prevent the State Treasurer from paying over the medical funds appropriated by the last Legislature, it was voted at the meeting of the Executive Committee.held July 25, 1911 (page 466), that the officers of the board who were authorized on July 8, 1911, to sign the lease for the period of two years beginning Sept. 1, 1911, should not sign this lease until further directed by the Executive Committee of the board or by the board itself. At the meeting of the Executive Committee held Aug. 1, 1911, it was voted (page 470) to lease the plant of the College of Physicians and Sungeons for the use of the College of Medicine, on the best terms possible, for a period not to exceed two years. The lease has not been signed at present, and the matter is before the board for final action. I do not think that the Board of Trustees should make a lease for a longer term than one year from Sept. 1, 1911. If the Supreme Court does not grant the injunction asked for by the State Homeopathic Association, the board will be free to proceed with the reorganization of the College of Medicine. If the Supreme Court should grant the injunction, it seems likely that nothing but a special session of the Legislature can solve the tangle. In this case the State Homeopathic Medical Association will undoubtedly carry on an active campaign against the endorsement of the appropriation made by the last Legislature. If the appropriation should fail, J think the only course open to the board would be to close the Medical School in Chicago. I recommend that the president and secretary of the board be authorized to execute a lease for the plant of the College of Physicians and Surgeons for one year from Sept. 1, 1911, in accordance with the appended lease. The phraseology is changed slightly from the phraseology of the lease which expired on Aug. 31, 1911, in accordance with the action of the Executive Committee on July 8 (page 434). This change has to do rather with the form than with the essence of the lease. It will be remembered that the lease made September 1 a year ago (pages 3-5), was altered in February, 1911 (pages 79-81), in order to cut out certain expressions which seemed to imply that the University had leased a school as well as a medical plant from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and that it was to turn back the school in certain contingencies. The present change is intended to cut out one other expression which seemed to look in the same direction. As the foregoing statement was submitted but not read, no action was taken upon It. I n order to make clear the point involved, the following additional statement has been submitted by the president: On the 12th of August, 1910, an indenture was signed between the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the city of Chicago and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, by which the former leased to the latter