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THE HESPERIAN.
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The intcr-statc oratorical contest is drawing near'
Let us give our oratoi the most hearty and loyai
support. No less than a dozen representatives should
go from the state university. 'Ihe Weslejans, of
course, will be there with a strong cohort. Can't we
charter a car and go over to DesMoincs in a style
that will make our orator feel, on that memorable
night, that we appreciate his efforts? We could go
much cheaper in this way, and certainly much more
agreeably. It is no longer Gates, or Doane, Cotncr
or the U of N, but Nebraska that we represent. We
all feel that, when the final account is taken,
Nebraska will be in the immediate vicinity. Let us
bear in mind that in delivery our orator is a tower of
strength and that hearty support means everything to
him. Gates and Doane and Cotncr lets see that this
is done in the latest and most approved style. Cant
we get up a party of twenty-five oV thirty?
By an act of the last legislature the regents arc
empowered to charge tuition in the departments of
law, of medicine, and of the fine arts' With a
view to the establishment of a law college, corres
pondence has been carried on with the various bar
associations, inviting them to send representatives
to meet with the regents at the session of June 9.
The matter will be fully canvassed at this meeting
and if favored by the bar association the regents will
establish the scl ool. The Central Law college of
Lincoln will probably be incorporated and thus be
made the law department of the university. It is
greatly to be hoped that the plan will be favorably
considered. The state is certainly in need of such
a department and if it is established it will be well
attended. The Central Law college is now thor
oughly established, and its incorporation would be
of great advantage to the university.
The legislature has passed the university appro
priations item by item as recommended by the board
of regents. The total sum granted for the next bicn-
nium is about one third of a million. The whole of
this snug sum belongs to the university, being real
ized from the income of its various endowments.
This money could be used for no other purpose and
the legislature simply did its duly. Yet it is to be com
mended for not attempting, as former legislatures
have done, to make political capital by reducing this
appropriation. The funds of the university are sim
ply placed in the hands of the state treasurer as a
trust fund to be. paid out as needed. The United
States government and the state have richly endowed
the school. The revenues from this endowment
should be by act of legislature placed at the disposal
of the regents.. The state and national appropria
tions for the common schools are not paid over by
act of legislature but by the state superintendent of
public instruction. Why should not the university
endowment be placed on a similar basis?
It is unfortunate that the university can give no
pecuniary aid to the proposed summer school.
Money expended in bringing the state into closer
contact and sympathy with us is surely well expended.
The regents have however acted wisely in throwing
open the library and laboratories to the teachers of
the state for study during the summer vacation.
This will attract the best and most enthusiastic teach
ers from every part of the state, and will certainly
result in making the university better and more
favorably known throughout the state. Much good
work has been done in extending the reputation of
the university, but much more remains to be done.
The students may aid very materially in this matter
by encouraging the teachers of their community to
take advantage of the opportunity offered in the
summer school. This is a debt we owe our alma
malcr. Let us with a hearty good will extend the
influence and reputation of our alma mater when
ever and wherever an opportunity is afforded.
As improvements seem to be the order of the day
since the appropriation passed, The Hesperian
makes the suggestion that the chapel be supplied
with n-.'W hymn books. Those with which we are
now furnished, have been in daily use for five years
and it is no wonder that the books, as well as the
songs, are becoming a little worn- This defect is
one that may be easily remedied and an improve
ment would be thankfully received by the entire
body of students.
That the reputation of our faculty is not con
fined within the limits of the university circle, is
shown by the appointments of Lieutenant Griffith as
senior aidde camp on the govenors staff, and that of
Professor Micks, as chairman of Lincoln's board of
public works. Lieutenant Griffith has the addi
tional honor conferred upon him, of being sent to
Denver to meet President Harrison, and welcome
him to our state.
SPECIAL WORK.
Tho rurllitinontAiy l'rnnohlsn in Englitth TJoroiiBlis Bo-
foro 1080.
Nothing to my mind shows better the practical excellence
of England's form of government and the sound sense of her
people, than the way in which the parliamentary franchise in
English Loroughs has been reformed during the last seventy-
five years. A century agq the great body of the freemen in
English boroughs were wholly disenf ranciushed. Self -elective
oligarchies ruled many of the chief boroughs. Towns like Old
Sarum which had been deserted, sent representatives to parlia
ment by virtue of ancient custom. Thriving cities, such as
Manclicstcr ard Leeds, were unrepresented in parliament,
because, forsooth, they were not in existence ir. ancient times.