Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1916 [PAGE 230]

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MEETING OF APRIL 21, 1915.

A special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois was held at the University, in Urbana, on Wednesday, April 21, 1915, pursuant to the following notice which was sent out by the Secretary on April 15, 1915: Upon the call of the President, Mr. W. L. Abbott, there will be a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois in the Trustees' Room, at the University, in Urbana, on Wednesday, April 21, 1915, at 10.00 a. m., to consider such matters as the committees of the board and the President of the University may submit, and such other matters as may be duly presented. There being no quorum present, the board adjourned to meet at the University, in Urbana, at 10.00 a. m., on Tuesday, April 27, 1915. W. L. ABBOTT, President. H. E. CUNNINGHAM, Secretary.

Adjourned Session, April 27, 1915.

When the board convened at 10.30 a. m., on Tuesday, April 27, 1915, pursuant to adjournment, the following members were present: Mrs. Busey, Mr. Carr, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Trevett, Miss Watson. President James was present. In the absence of Mr. Abbott, and on motion of. Mr. Hoit, Mr. Carr was elected chairman of the meeting. M I N U T E S APPROVED. The Secretary presented the minutes of the meetings of March 2 and 9, 1915, which, on motion of Mrs. Henrotin, were approved as printed above on pages 204 to 229, inclusive. T H E M I L L T A X FUND. President James presented the following statement concerning the mill tax fund: Four years ago after a discussion extending over ten years or more the Legislature of Illinois passed a law. called the Mill Tax Law providing that a tax of one mill per dollar of assessed valuation of the property of the State should he levied and collected each year for the support and maintenance of the University of Illinois. Four considerations led to the adoption of this plan: 1. The unsatisfactory experience of this State up to that time growing out of the more or less haphazard character of the appropriations made for the University. 2. The experience of other states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, California, etc., all of which by long and costly trial had found out that if they wished to develop a strong state university it would be necessary to take the institution out of politics hy giving to it a permanent revenue beyond the reach of temporary and occasional accidents of legislative action. 3. The conviction that the People of the State would get much more for their money if the Trustees' of the University were able to estimate with some degree of accuracy the amount of money likely to be at their disposal for the maintenance and development of the University. 4. The belief that by some regular and automatic action a steady increase should accrue to the funds of the University corresponding to the growth of the commonwealth in population and resources and to t h e .ever increasing demands made upon the University for service to the public. The Mill Tax Law passed by the Legislature in 1911 will secure these ends if it be maintained. The tax produced $2,250,000 per annum for the biennium closing June 30, 1915. It will produce $2,54)0,000 per annum for the biennium beginning July 1, 1915. The University needs every dollar of this sum in order to do the increasing work which the State has imposed upon it. Four forms of attack upon this system of providing for the University have been made or are making in this Legislature: 230