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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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246 History University of Illinois the same date C. E. Griggs introduced in the house the bill for an industrial university that ultimately passed. I t was referred to Mr. Griggs' committee on manufactures and agriculture. The ignorance of the house of representatives of federal laws in regard to the establishment of agricultural colleges was displayed in a resolution offered by Mr. Eddy on January 12, suggesting the need of haste as the college must be in operation by July 2, 1867, and providing that corporations desiring the location should notify the legislature by the twenty-third day of the session. Not till four days later did a member of the senate, Mr. McConnell, inform the legislature that congress had passed an act the year before extending the time five years. 7 Even after this, on January 23 the house considered the resolution and amended it before it concluded to drop the matter altogether. On the question of locating the university by a commission a lively debate occurred in the senate on January 16. Mr. Fuller's bill was reported back favorably and Mr. Tincher moved to amend it by striking out the 11th section providing for a commission. Mr. Tincher argued against location by commission on the following grounds: the people had chosen representatives to do their legislative work, that in this instance he believed a combination had been formed to secure the location in certain places and other claims would be ignored; he feared, too, that the governor would be influenced by Jacksonville and Bloomington in the appointment of the commissioners, that both these towns had been over patronized so far, and as partial proof gave figures to show that Jacksonville was then receiving more than one-half the state tax; that while two years before a commission was feasible, now that they had had two years to think the matter over it was not necessary; and finally no other county had yet submitted a direct offer. Mr. Cheney of McLean and Mr. McConnell of Morgan each defended his county against the assault of Mr. Tincher. Mr. Cheney said he knew of no conspiracy afoot in Bloomington to locate the university. He had always advocated a commission and had done it from the purest motives. He believed Governor Oglesby capable of choosing men to do the work honestly and T Act of July 23, 1866, noted previously.
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