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Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1936
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1935] UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 26l scholarships without any increase in its budget or any additions to its staff; others quoted the President of the Board of Trustees as saying that if the University received the appropriation which it requested it could absorb these additional scholarships. Such is not the case, and it was made clear to the two committees before which the University appeared that its budget as submitted to the Legislature included no provision for these scholarships. Nor did the President of the Board ever make any such statement as I understand was attributed to h i m ; on the contrary, he emphatically told the House Committee on Appropriations that if these additional scholarships were created the University would be obliged to seek an additional 'appropriation to cover the cost. As stated in my telegram, your wire, together with my letter of July 2 and telegram of today, will be made a part of the official record of the Board of Trustees at its next meeting. In view of the fact that a legal meeting of the Board cannot be had in time to suit your purpose, I trust that the steps we have taken will meet the situation. In conclusion may I say that while all that I have done in this matter has been by direction and with the knowledge of the Board of Trustees, nevertheless the statements which have been made in this and previous correspondence with you about Senate Bill 136 are also my views and those of other University officials. The University is not opposed to the principle of free scholarships for worthy and needy students provided they are awarded on some competitive or merit basis, and provided further that the State can furnish the funds to cover the cost of such scholarships. Respectfully yours, A. C. WILLARD President P. S. Since writing the above letter I have talked with Mrs. Plumb. She joins with the other members in authorizing the message I sent you. I am enclosing a copy of the telegram as sent. A. C. W. COPY OF TELEGRAM FROM GOVERNOR H E N R Y HORNER, J U L Y 4, 1935 President A. C. Willard, University of Illinois: Your letter of July second referring to Senate Bill 136 providing additional scholarships for members of the General Assembly received. Before I take action on the bill I would be pleased to have also the view of the Board of Trustees of the University on the subject. Will you kindly arrange to have called an immediate meeting of the Board at which it may formally take action. The immediate action of the Board is important as I have only a few days to act upon the Bill. HENRY HORNER Governor COPY OF TELEGRAM SENT TO GOVERNOR H E N R Y HORNER, JULY 5, 1935 Governor Henry Horner, Springfield, Illinois: Replying your telegram July fourth, by-laws of Board of Trustees require five-day notice of special meetings, and legal meeting cannot be held before July eleventh. Copy my letter July second sent every member of Board of Trustees on date when written. Senate Bill 136 discussed in Board meetings before it passed, and members clearly recognized its disastrous effect on budget. Assuming July eleventh too late have telephoned your telegram to all Board members who could be reached and also read this telegram. T w o members out of reach but other eight all agreed and authorized sending this message. Since no compensating appropriation for direct and indirect loss to the University due to increase in scholarships was included in University appropriation bill or other provision therefor made by the Legislature, Trustees must ask that Senate Bill 136 be vetoed. This position has always been taken by the University officials on this bill, and they advised both supporters and opponents that enactment of bill was equivalent to a reduction of at least one hundred thousand
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