Kansas State Historical Society
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Malott Criticizes Huge Budget Slash
Many Important Projects May Have To Be Abandoned
By MARVIN ARTH
Chancellor Deane W. Malott severely criticized the proposed cut in the recommended two-year budget Saturday. His statement followed the budget committee's decision to slash by $3\frac{1}{2}$ million dollars the budget request submitted by the University.
Out-going Gov. Frank L. Hagaman and in-coming Gov. Edward F. Arn were in agreement with the two-year budget recommendations for Kansas. The budget committee recommended a $24\frac{1}{2}$ million dollar cut of the $85\frac{1}{2}$ million dollar budget request total.
Gov. Hagaman said it is the intent to keep Kansas as near as possible on a "pay as you go" basis. Most of the reduction came in contemplated new construction at state schools and institutions. In reducing some institutional and state college requests, Gov. Hagaman pointed out that he is recommending the Board of Regents hike student fees at the schools.
Chancellor Malott's statement follows;
"The announcement of the decision of the state budget committee to cut recommended appropriations for the University of Kansas, both in Lawrence and Kansas City, and the implication that these cuts are largely from the proposed building program, require immediate explanation.
"The proposed cuts, if allowed by the legislature to stand, will affect every operation in this institution, and are far broader in effect than merely on the building program. The state budget committee is asking K.U. to bear over $3,500,000 of the total state slash of $24,500,000 reported by Governor Hagaman.
"This is not only a discriminatory and disproportionate cut against this institution but means the elimination of all special library and laboratory apparatus funds, no research funds supported by the state, a reduction of maintenance, amounting on the Lawrence campus to a quarter of a million dollars a year, significant decreases in salary appropriations over the current year, and practical elimination of state services.
"It is an impossible task to absorb these cuts in the inflationary times, without reducing the University of Kansas to a position of mediocrity in a day when sister institutions are seeking needed additions to their budgets of from 15 to 30 per cent.
"Under the state budget committee's proposal, funds already earmarked by the Board of Regents for the preparation of quarters for an isotopes laboratory, supported by the Atomic Energy commission, are cancelled, as well as commitments for University aid in the Memorial driveway to supplement the gift of $350,000 from alumni for our war memorial.
"Further cancelled is the heating tunnel to scholarship halls now under construction from private funds. Both of the above items had been specifically sought from and granted by the 1949 legislature in the maintenance funds given to the University at that time.
"A total of more than one million dollars in improvements and maintenance items already approved by the Board of Regents has been declared null and void by the action of the state budget committee, including roofing replacements which have gone unimproved for more than 50 years and which the state architect declares are critically needed.
"The state budget committee indicates that relief may be sought from the state's emergency committee, which seems an unusual frustration; this latter committee in its membership is almost identical with the state budget committee itself.
"They also suggest that increased fees may recoup some of the proposed slashes, but the present incidental fee income is bringing in only some $750,000 a year. It is simple therefore to see what increases would be necessary to bring in additional funds needed to make up for the proposed cuts.
"It is a matter of great concern to the people of Kansas, whether or not their university is to be seriously weakened by the threat of budget hacking on the part of our state officials."
Others participating and agreeing to the sharply reduced applications for money by state departments in addition to Hagaman and Arn were Budget Director W. G. Hamilton and the heads of the Senate and House Ways and Means committees, Sen. Wilfred Cavaness of Chanute and Rep. Chris Green of Courtland.
The two-year budget includes a total of $10,964,000 for the University and its Medical School in Kansas City, and $7,098,380 for Kansas State college. Operating requests for K.U. were sliced approximately $2,500,000 for K.U. and $1,367,000 for Kansas State.
Gov. Hagaman will hand the new budget figures to the 37th Kansas legislature Tuesday. He said there were no "cuts across the board—we did our reducing at places where we thought the requests could best be reduced."
Two years ago the recommendation for K.U. was $11,750,000 and for K-State $9,500,000. The budget recommendation of $61,085,746 is made up of recommendations for general operating and maintenance of $55,535,746 and $5,550,000 for the Kansas educational building fund for construction at state schools.
He also said that the Board of Regents is virtually certain to spend $1,500,000 of the educational building fund on completing the K.U fieldhouse.
UNIVERSITY DAILY 48th Year No.70 Monday, Jan. 8, 1951 Kansas
25 KU Students Have Enlisted This Month,35 Intend To Join Soon
Since Jan. 1, 60 University students have enlisted or intend to enlist by Jan. 15, said Sgt. Leonard Green of the Lawrence enlistment and recruiting office. He pointed out that some of these students are still in school, however.
James K. Hitt, registrar, said that only 25 students had actually withdrawn from school to enlist between Jan. 3 and 5. This is contrary to the rumors that large numbers of students had enlisted since vacation.
"The student body, especially men students, are pretty nervous, jittery and worked up over the draft situation and there has been a lot of talk about it. Actually there has not been much action by Congress, and there is plenty of reason to believe that when Congress does consider the selective service set up, many considerations will be given college students." Mr. Hitt said.
"At present, there is no change in the selective service picture. Anyone who is now enrolled should be untouched until June. Congress may change that, but if they do it will probably not be until later in the spring semester."
"The quirk in the present draft law pertaining to the enlistment of persons subject to the draft may be changed. Now a person may enlist in the branch of his choice up until the time that he receives his pre-induction physical notice."
"The reports indicate that the present restriction on enlistments might be taken off. There has been definite talk along this line. This would mean that a student deferred until the end of a semester or year, could enlist at the end of his term and take his physical or not. He would be able to enlist up until the day of his induction," he said.
Numerous reports have been received at the registrar's office which indicate that when the law is changed, it will probably include changes favorable to students. Mr. Hitt said.
Mr. Hitt pointed out that it would be foolish to enlist at this time when it is so probable that students will be allowed to finish the year and still enlist or receive favorable deals.
"We may now process applications from the draft elibilie men 60 days prior to their graduation provided they have not received their pre-induction physical notice. Previously we could not process these applications until the candidate actually had received his degree. This early processing applies only to those men who are or will be 1-A and who must request 21 months active duty if commissioned."
The bureau of naval personnel has changed certain requirements for commissions in the naval reserve, said LCDR. W. G. Behrens, officer in charge of the office of naval officer procurement, Kansas City, Mo., on the matter of naval enlistment.
"At the present time, educational requirements for appointment in the Supply Corps are as follows: Must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with at least 45 college semester (60 quarter) hours of credit in economics, commerce, business administration or textile engineering subjects, or a master's or doctorate degree in such fields," he said.
"We're attempting to keep up to date on all developments as they occur and the students are encouraged to stop at the registrar's office and confer on any new developments." he said.
Photo by Harold Benjamin.
LEE FOSTER, engineering junior, makes final arrangements to enter the U.S. Army Airborne service at the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force recruiting station in the O.R.C. building, 609 Massachusetts Street, M/Sgt. Jack D. Urbanek, seated, answered his questions while Sergeant Leonard S. Greene and Eugene Glahn, engineering freshman, looked on. Glahn will take a physical this week.
Truman Gives Congress 10-Point Defense Program
Washington—U.P.)—President Truman submitted to congress today a 10-point program for building U.S. defenses against the possibility of a "full-scale war."
In his annual state of the Union message, the president told a joint session of the house and senate "We are preparing for full wartime mobilization, if that should become necessary, and we are continuing to build a strong and growing economy, able to maintain whatever effort may be required for as long as necessary."
Mr. Truman charged Russia, by name, with being the free world's enemy.
He said "The aggression in Korea is part of the attempt to the Russian Communist dictatorship to take over the world step by step."
The president then outlined legislation he considered necessary to put across "a big program and a costly one" to meet the threat of Soviet-inspired aggression.
1. Appropriations for military expansion.
2. Extension and revision of the Selective Service law.
3. "Military and economic aid to help build up the strength of the free world."
4. Revision and extension of authority to expand production and to stabilize prices, wages and rents.
5. Improvement of the agricultural laws "to help obtain the kinds of farm products we need for the defense effort."
10. "A major increase in taxes to meet the cost of the defense effort."
6. "Improvement of our labor laws to help provide stable labor-management relations and to make sure that we have steady production in this emergency."
7. Legislation to provide for housing and training of defense workers and encouraging full use of all manpower resources.
8. increasing the supply of doctors, nurses and other trained medical personnel.
Rejecting Republican suggestions that this country go slow in arming Europe, the President said that "strategically, economically, and morally, the defense of Europe is part of our own defense."
Mr. Truman again expressed U.S willingness to negotiate "honorabl settlements with the Soviet Union. But he reiterated that this country "will not engage' in appeasement."
9. Aid to the states to meet "the most urgent needs" of elementary and secondary schools.
He admitted that "none of the North Atlantic treaty countries, including our own country, has done enough yet." But he added that "rea progress" is being made.
"The Soviet rulers have made it clear that we must have strength a well as right on our side," he saiI "If we build our strength—and we are building it—the Soviet ruler may face the facts and lay ask their plans to take over the world.
The president made a new appeal to Congress "for unity in these crucial days."
He emphasized that he is not asling for unanimity or an end to debate, but "a sense of responsibili on the part of every member of th congress"