UNIVERSITY PLAYS PROMINENT ROLE IN STATE CONVENTION

The part played by the University in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention now in sesion, is even more prominent than in former conventions. Of the 320 delegates chosen by the people of the State, 55, or 17 per cent of the entire body, are graduates of the University.

Among the alumni who have taken the most active part in the body, are the Hon. Robert Luce '82, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, and the Hon. Joseph Walker '90, both of whom have done much toward carrying on the work of the Convention, besides taking a large part in the debates.

Hold Chairmanships.

Graduates of the University hold the chairmanships of 13 out of the 22 committees which compose the body, as follows: W. L. Bouve '79, Committee on Military Affairs; Hon. J. Q. A. Brackett '65, Committee on Social Welfare; J. M. Codman '84, Committee on State Finance; Professor Hart, Committee on Amendment and Codification; A. P. Loring '78, Committee on Form and Phraseology; J. A. Lowell '91, Labor Committee; Mr. Luce, Committee on Rules and Procedure; J. M. Morton '61, Judiciary' Committee; Hon. A. E. Pillsbury '91, (hon), Committee on Judicial Procedure; Hon. Josiah Quincy '80, Executive Committee; Hon. Joseph Walker '90, Floor Leader of the Committee on Initiative and Referendum.

Several professors of the University have been frequently quoted on the floor of the 'Convention, especially Professor A. N. Holcombe '06, whose book "State Government," has been freely used during the session. A committee of three non-delegates, which was appointed to prepare material for the use of the Convention, contained Professor W. B. Munro '99, who held the chairmanship, and R. S. Hoar '09.

There have been three matters before the Convention affecting the University and the other institutions of higher education in the State. It was proposed to broaden that chapter, incorporated 137 years ago in the original organic law of Massachusetts, which singles out the University for special mention and commends it to the favor of future generations, to include all the colleges of the Commonwealth. This amendment which was drafted with the aid of officials of the University, was rejected for reasons not connected with the University, thus leaving the status of the latter unchanged.

Report Favorably on Amendment.

The amendment whereby the State would reimburse municipalities containing college property exempt from taxation, has been favorably reported upon by the committee, but its enactment by the Convention as a whole is doubtful.

Such a step would have considerable importance for Cambridge where so much land is occupied by the University and the Institute of Technology.

The recent passage of the so-called "anti-aid amendment," does not directly affect the University, which has not received appropriations from the public funds for several years. Should this amendment be ratified, when it comes before the people in the November elections. It would mean a serious loss of income for a few educational institutions including Technology, and the abolition of the free scholarships at present offered by those institutions.