xt7j3t9d5k8k https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7j3t9d5k8k/data/mets.xml Lexington, Kentucky University of Kentucky 19170231 minutes English University of Kentucky Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Minutes of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees Minutes of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, 1917-02-jan31. text Minutes of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, 1917-02-jan31. 1917 2011 true xt7j3t9d5k8k section xt7j3t9d5k8k 





     Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Trustees of
     the Uni-versity of Kentucky, January 31, 1917


     In response to a call of Governor Stanley, the-Board met
in the office of the Governor in Frankfort with the following
gentlemen present: Governor Stanley, President Barker, Messrs.
Nichols, McKee, Gilbert, Cohen, Harris, Hornsby, Letterle, Pro-
man, Blackburn, Smith, Stoll, Wathen, Breathitt, Patterson,
Turner, Brock, Brown, Marks and Gatliff.

     Governor Stanley made a statement to the Board that on
account of the resignation of Trustee Robert Brown of Louisville,
who is leaving the state permanently, he considered it his duty
to appoint a successor to Mr. Brown; that under that impression,
he had, after careful investigation, decided to appoint R. G.
Gordon of Louisville, a graduate of Central University and of
the University of Vi-rginia, who had distinguished himself as a
lawyer and a scholar; that he had notified Mr. Gordon of this
appointment but that after examining the statutes, later, on the
question of his right to appoint a trustee, he found to his sur-
prise that the law did not give him such right but rather vested
it in this Board. For that reason, the Governor said he had
called the Board together to make this frank statement and advise
that it take whatever steps in the matter it decided would be best.

     He said, "If you gentlemen desire to consider someone else
for this office, it will be satisfactory to me but I wanted you
to know that I had taken the steps I have under misapprehension
of my p'brrogative."

     Doctor Patterson raised the point that the Board ought
not to act at this time on the election of a successor to Mr.
Brown.  His view of the law was that the Board should first be
notified of the vacancy, have time to consider the new member
and elect at its next meeting. Reference to the statues, however,
showed, and the Chair ruled, that in cases of death, resignation,.
or refusal to serve, the Board was authorized to elect successors
at its next meeting.

     Mr. Turner moved that Mr. Gordon be elected to membership
on the Board. Seconded by Mr. Froman, the motion was adopted
unanimously.

     The Governor then appointed a committee to conduct Mr. Gordon
into the meeting, who after expressing his appreciation of the
honor conferred upon him, sat through the remaining deliberations
of the Board.

     At this point, Governor Stanley announced that the Committee,
provided by resolution of Doctor Gatliff in the previous meeting
of the Board, to investigate certain reports growing out of the
proposed merger of the College of Mechanical and Electrical and
Civil Engineering, would be appointed either that day (January 31)
or the 1st day of February.

     President Barker moved that on account of illness of James
Lane Allen and his consequent inability to be present on commence-




 






ment day that closed the session of 1915-16, and receive the hon-
orary degree to be conferred upon him on that occasion, that the
President be empowered to confer this degree in absentia. This
motion was adopted unanimously.

     Governor Stanley called attention to the fact that it
was desired hereafter to have full attendance of this Board and
urged that all members put aside whatever matters they could pos-
sibly leave on such occasions, and attend these meetings when
called upon. He said that the University was passing through a
period of interesting development and needed the wise counsel of
this Board.

     The house was then thrown open for general discussion of
matters that might be termed "for the good of the order".

     Mr. Stoll made a statement to the effect that Doctor Louis
Mulligan, son and executor of the late: James R. Mulligan, had
informed him recently that the Mulligan Property, which lies ad-
jacent to the University grounds on the east, and extends from the
intersection of Winslow and Rose Streets southward      _   feet,
had reached a legal status which.would enable it to be transferred.
Mr. Stoll explained that this legal status referred to by Doctor
Mulligan, grew out of the fact that there were two sets of chil-
dren in the Mulligan family which complicated the matter of pass-
ing title; that the University had desired this property but that
on account of this legal condition, had not been in position to
take up the matter of purchase of it.

     Mr. Stoll expressed that by reason of the fact that this
ground (about fourteen acres in all) might be sold to outsiders
and cut up into building lots on which dwellings with undesirable
outhouses might be placed, the University property would be dam-
aged and subjected to untoward conditions. He believed there-
fore, that this Board should consider seriously the matter of
purchasing the Mulligan property and adding it to the University
grounds.

     President Patterson agreed with Mr. Stoll that this proper-
ty would be a desirable addition to University grounds and that
the University, if possible, ought to acquire it. He suggested
therefore, that a committee be appointed to ascertain what the
property should be purchased for and report to this Board at a
later meeting.

     Mr. Stoll believed this step would be unwise because the
property-was so desirable as to excite the cupidity of real
estate men or speculators who might cut it up into building lots
and do the very thing the University did not w.ant done. He
believed that if the matter were deferred the chance of getting
the property at a price within the means of the University would
be diminished.

     Mr. Gilbert moved that the Executive Committee of the Board
of Trustees be authorized to negotiate for the purchase of the
Mulligan property in question, with full Dower to buy said pro-
perty, if it deemed proper to do so and to execute whatever notes
and papers that might be necessary to that end.'




 








Mr. Froman rose to a point of information to ask if there had
not been a law tassed forbidding any expenditure of money by
this Board that had not been appropriated or budgeted for.

     Mr. Stoll replied that it was the intention of the Executive
Committee which had already discussed the matter, first to get
the opinion of the Attorney General on that point. Mr. Stoll
outlined briefly a tentative plan by which the property could
be purchased and paid for out of University funds through an
annual pro rata.

     With the understanding that the Attorney General's sanction
should first be gotten to the proposed purchase, Doctor Patterson
offered an amendment to the original motion by Mr. Gilbert that
the Executive Committee first ascertain what the property could
be boiut for and report back to this Board in subsequent meeting.
Put to a vote the amendment lost by 11 to 4.

     The original motion by Mr. Gilbert was then adopted unanimous-
ly.

     The meeting adjourned.

                           Respectfully,



                 (Signed) Enoch Grehan
                           Secretary