UW Chooses Its Future: Law, Medicine, and a Reprieve for the Old Building

The board of regents of the University of Washington held an important meeting Saturday afternoon. Among those present were William D. Wood, George H. Preston, David Kellogg, and Chancellor James E. Hayden of Seattle.

In the bids on the heating and water plant it was found that the bids and specifications were somewhat confusing, and the board concluded to reject all bids and readvertise, so that specifications more ample and fitting might be received and the result be more clear and satisfactory.

The bids for the construction of the observatory, the boiler-house and tank, and the reserve tank and tower were more explicit, and after considering the details involved the board by unanimous vote decided to let the contract for all this work to H. C. Ashenfelter of Spokane. His bid of $17,570 was the lowest for the complete work. Mr. Ashenfelter is also building the main university building.

Miss Julia P. Chamberlin, director of the conservatory of music, tendered her resignation, to take effect at the end of her present engagement, August 1, 1895. The resignation was accepted, and the thanks of the board were extended to Miss Chamberlin for her faithful services.

The committee on instruction offered a number of reports and recommendations that will prove of importance in the development of the university. The first concerned the establishment and organization of a department of law. The majority recommended that the board take under consideration the question of opening the department of law at the beginning of the next school year by securing a dean, whose salary, together with all expenses of the department, should be made up as fully as possible from tuition fees charged therein; they suggested using a part of the university building for the department. The majority report was adopted, Regent Preston voting alone in the negative. A minority report, signed by Regent Preston, concurred except as to tuition fees, believing that no tuition fees should be charged in the department of law.

A report on a medical department, signed by the full committee, recommended that the board declare its purpose of establishing and opening a medical department in the university as soon as conditions justified the step, and authorized the committee to investigate and report later. It was adopted unanimously.

The legislature had made tuition free to all residents of Washington, but left the tuition of nonresidents to the board. In response to applications from neighboring states, the committee recommended that, until further order of the board, tuition for all students not residents of Washington be fixed at $35 for each semester or for the year. The recommendation was adopted unanimously.

The same committee also reported on the disposition of the old buildings, urging the desirability of taking proper steps to reserve the old university building as a permanent location for the departments of law and medicine, the conservatory of music, and such other special departments as might be best conducted near the business center of the city. The report was indorsed by Regent David Kellogg, chairman of the committee on buildings and grounds, and adopted by unanimous vote. After routine business the board adjourned until Wednesday, May 29, at 3 p.m.