The Legislature And The University

The communioation from Aun Arbor whioh we publish elsewhere discloses a state of affairs whioh our correspondent very properly desoribes as " disgraceul." It is disgraoeful for the Legislaiure as a body, or for menibërs of that jody in their official capacity, to ask 'or any interference on the part of the 3oard of Regenta with the oourse of ustice, as conipliance with the petition referred to would be, and it is still more disgraoeful to attempt to secure oomjliance by a threat, either expressed or mplied, that appropriations shall be withheld. The Legislature has no right whatever to dictate to the Board of Keents; and while it has the right to withïold appropriations from the Universi;y if it sees fit, it would do well to thiuk twice before withholding any necesaary appropriation as a means of coeroing or junishing the Board of Eegents. Such a oourse would brand it in the eyes of ;he future as infamous. There would be more semblanoe of Dropriety in the attitude of the Legisiure if it had anything to do with the so-called " chemical steal " at the University. It has already confessod, however, by its actions, that it has nothing to do therewith. It has appointed a committee, and the coinmittee has rejorted ; but beyond aooepting the rejort and discharging the committee the Liegislature finds itself powerless to go. "t caimot compel the Begents to accept ;hat report as truo or couclusive, or to ant upon it without trenohing upon ;he constitutional independenoe of the 3oard. Least of all can it compel the courtg to accept or be bound by the report ; and in so far as it attempts to use its power for that purpose it is en;aged in exceedingly disreputable busness. It is bad enough for the private citizen to use his influence to forestal! :he action or judgment of the courts or jervert the ooursa of justioe ; and it is nfinitely worse for a Legislature to attempt such a proceeding. The merits of the still unsettled conroveray as to the " chemical steal " - oomplicated as that oontroversy is by outside interesta and partisan hatred, ealousy and rivalry - we do not oare o discuss. The whole subject is, as our correspondent says, " where it properlv )elongs," in the courts ; and the Legisature as well as the parties should be contented to have it disposed of in the courts. In no other place can it be satsfactorily and finally settled. - Free Press.