Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1914 [PAGE 201]

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1913]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOAED OF TRUSTEES.

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All our leading universities have utilized this method of either combining with other institutions in sending out scientific expeditions or equipping scientific expedtions on their own account for the purpose of making scientific collections as the most efficient method of building-up the requisite material for instruction in the various scientific departments. Of course one cannot tell what might happen to an Arctic expedition. Shipwreck might come to all the members of the party, and the terrible example recently furnished in the Antarctic region might well make us hesitate before relying too confidently upon the success of this new polar expedition. But the purpose of this expedition is not to get to the pole or to seek the pole or anything of the kind, but is to carry on scientific work within the Arctic circle, and it looks as if all contingencies had been as carefully provided for as human skill can make possible. Under the circumstances, I think it would be perfectly legitimate action on the part of the trustees to make this requested subscription of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) toward this expedition, provided we can be assured of a fair distribution of the proceeds of the expedition. Personally I should wish to have a littlemore certainty on this point than is given thus far in the communications we havehad from the managing committee. The sum might be charged either to the funds of the Graduate School or tothe fund for cabinets and collections. On motion of Mr. Blair, it wa's voted that the President of the University be authorized to subscribe on behalf of the University the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) toward the expenses of the Crocker Land Expedition,, provided that the Executive Faculty of the Graduate School recommend that, this subscription be made; and, provided, further, that the President of t h e University approve of the guarantees offered by the Crocker Land Expedition concerning the distribution of such scientific material as may be obtained. The vote was as follows: Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Busey> Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moore, Mr. Trevett, Miss Watson; noes, none; absent, Mr. Dunne, Mr. Meeker.

ENDORSEMENT REQUESTED FOR W A T E R SURVEY BILL.

(3) A request from Dr. Edward Bartow, Director of the State Water Survey, that the board endorse a bill to be introduced in the General Assembly, providing for appropriations for the Water Survey, additional to the appropriations included in the University bill. At the last session of the Legislature a bill providing for appropriations to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per annum, which should be> used under the direction of the Water Survey of the University for the purpose* of making a study of the water supplies of the State, received the general approvali of the University trustees, and the bill was passed and the appropriation made. The request here is for a general approval of the same kind of a bill, not a request to insert this amount in the askings of the University for the Water Survey* Professor Bartow was heard on this matter, and gave a full account-of the work of the Water Survey during the past biennium and a statement of. what has been accomplished with its appropriations. No action was taken in regard to this matter. At this point Messrs. Blair and Montgomery withdrew.

D E L E G A T I O N OF S I G N I N G OF WARRANTS.

(4) The following letter from Professor George E. Prazer, Comptroller;, suggesting a change in the present procedure with reference to the signing of warrants for the payment of salaries of permanent employees of the University. URBANA, I I I . , March 11, 1913:. President Edmund J. James, University of Illinois. DEAR S I R : Your attention is respectfully called to the present procedure fa* the signing of warrants for the payment of salaries of permanent employees of the University. Under the present procedure, approximately 680 salary warrants are signed personally each month by the President of the Board and by the Secretary of the Board. I respectfully suggest that the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees be authorized by the board to designate employees of the University to sign their names to regular salary warrants. I am informed by the legal counsel of the University that such a procedure will be valid legally. Very truly yours,

GEO. E. FRAZERJ Comptroller.

On motion of Mrs. Evans, the foregoing recommendation of the comptroller's was approved.

T R A N S F E R OF F U N D S , C O L L E G E OF AGRICULTURE.

(5) A request from Dr. Eugene Davenport, Dean of the College of Agriculture, that the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000), from the amount appropriated'