Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1916 [PAGE 886]

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886

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Feb. 8,

will cause to be transmitted such sum or sums as may be called for by estimates of the cost of the investigation for the month next succeeding. Funds thus supplied are to constitute a credit on which the Director of the Engineering Experiment Station may from time to time draw to cover the costs of the proposed work. I t will be the purpose to maintain during the lifetime of this agreement a balance in this account of approximately $500. Reports of expenditures and of the condition of the account will be made to Mr. Hert from time to time. 5.. That this agreement is to continue in effect until cancelled through the definite action of one or both of the parties in interest. This statement as formulated has the approval of Prof. P a r r and has been accepted by Mr. E. B. Fulks, acting for Mr. A. T. Hert, as will appear from the accompanying letter. I hope that you also will approve the arrangement. I have the honor to be, Very truly yours, W. F . M. Goss. January 21, 1916. Professor W. F. M. Goss, Dean of the College of Engineering. MY DEAR PROFEESSOR Goss: I am in receipt of your letter of January 18 enclosing a copy of a draft of a letter which you propose sending to President James, outlining the plan of our proposed experimental work. This outline meets entirely with my approval, since it describes exactly what we agreed on during our recent visit with you. I am advised that already a check for $500 as first payment has been sent to the University through Prof. Parr. Very truly yours, E. B. \ETULKS, Vice President.

On motion of Mr. Carr, this plan of cooperation was approved and the President of the University was authorized to make such arrangements as may be necessary to carry out the plan.

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS.

(9) A letter from the Dean of the College of Agriculture protesting against the extent to which the State Civil Service Commission is calling on members of the Agricultural College staff to prepare papers for civil service examinations and to correct the papers of candidates written in answer to those questions.

No action was taken in this matter.

F I E L D E X P E N S E S I N AGRONOMY.

(10) A letter from the Dean of the College of Agriculture transmitting one from Dr. Cyril G. Hopkins describing the method of determining the personal expenses of field parties engaged in the soil survey. January 13, 1916, President E. J. James, University of Illinois. MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT : I am sending for information and record in the President's office the enclosed communication from Dr. Hopkins, head of the Agronomy Department. He states briefly the outcome of a general conference held in my office on the subject of personal expenses of field parties, and while it was the general opinion of the conference that no change in practise should be recommended, yet it seemed to me extremely important that a record should be made of t h e fact that the whole matter has been seriously canvassed and of the reasons for continuing the present practise. From what I know of the matter I am convinced that this present practise is, all things considered, the cheapest and the best, though I feel it is important that there should be on record in our administrative offices sufficient statements to show that the matter has been seriously considered and that we have not drifted into loose methods of doing business. "We maintain the general principle that every man employed by the University must have a headquarters somewhere, and kept up a t his own expense. In the case of men who a r e continuously in the field, they maintain such headquarters at outside points such as Carbondale, Dixon, etc. Men on the soil survey represent a peculiar class, being a part of the time a t the University and a part of the time away. You will see by Dr. Hopkins' statement that in practise they find it necessary to maintain some kind of headquarters here continuously, and while they doubtless profit financially by having their expenses paid while in the field, it is also true that these expenses a r e very moderate, can easily be checked up between parties, and if we should require them to pay these expenses themselves as if they were here we should then create an injustice unless we correspondingly raised their salary. All things considered, therefore, it seems best to continue the present practise, which is both economical, comfortable, and safe, being careful to place upon our records from time to time the reasons for so doing. I t is with this thought in mind that this letter is forwarded to your office. Very truly yours,

E. DAVENPORT.

Doctor Eugene Davenport, Director Agricultural

Experiment

January Station.

10, 1916.

a conference attended by most of the men holding the more1 responsible positions in the Agronomy Department, a t which you were able to be present only part of the time, I am writing you in order to furnish you more complete information in regard to the expenses of our field men, especially in connection with the soil survey.

DEAR DEAN DAVENPORT: In accordance with our recent conversation, following