Arizona State Miner

The Tempe State Teachers' College will secure through legislative appropriation a new training school building to be erected at a cost of $125,000, a $12,000 increase in salaries for instructors and an additional appropriation of $30,000 for a small addition to one of the buildings to be used as a boys' dormitory on the campus.

This is the program outlined by Representative R. L. Finch in an exclusive interview with the Southside Weekly. To the carrying out of this program he has pledged his best efforts, and the chances are they will be crowned with success, for Representative Finch is a member of the educational committee and of the all-powerful appropriations committee of the lower house.

In addition to the appropriations which he is asking for the Tempe college, Finch is going to bat for a new state highway bridge across the Salt river to take the place of the light structure that is now carrying the heaviest traffic of any road in the state. The new bridge is estimated to cost $400,000, of which amount only $100,000 would be required from the state.

"I have assurances from Governor Hunt, himself," said Finch today, "that federal aid in the amount of $300,000 will be made available for this important project the very moment that the state puts up the $100,000 appropriation which we will ask for."

A bill calling for this appropriation will be introduced simultaneously in the senate and house by Senator Jones and Finch within the next few days, it was learned today.

"The appropriations for the Tempe college are of most vital importance to the growth of that institution," said Finch. "As a matter of fact, they are the only outstanding appropriations, as far as the development of higher education is concerned, and for this reason we have good hopes of securing them.

"For some time past the Tempe institution has been hampered by inadequate training quarters and by the lack of instructors. At present the oldest building on the campus, the original normal school, is being used as a training department. With the $125,000 appropriation the college will be able to build a modernly equipped department, one in keeping with the advancement in educational methods which this school stands for."

The increased budget for teachers' salaries, amounting to $12,000, will provide five additional instructors to take care of advanced courses called for by the transformation of the old normal school into a teachers' college of the highest standing, it was explained.

In this connection it will be remembered that Representative Finch was the author of the legislative bill effecting this transformation. He has served in the legislature on two former occasions, this making his third term. In addition to his membership on the appropriations and education committees, he is a member of the committee on militia and public defense and the committee on capitol grounds and buildings.

In explaining the need of additional dormitory facilities, Finch stated that some 85 to 90 male students are now attending the Tempe college, and that not one of them is housed on the campus. Tempe is the only state educational institution that does not provide living facilities for its male students, as well as for the women students, he said.

At the same time, he announced that he is definitely committed to the policy of no more dormitories for any state institution for the next ten years. He has definitely drawn the line between state responsibility and parents' responsibility, taking the position that the state should not be called upon to fill the housing needs of any of the students excepting the members of the freshman classes. By following this policy, he believes that more money can be applied to the administration end of the training.

This policy will not interfere with securing small appropriations asked for the boys' dormitory, for in justice to all Finch is convinced that Tempe is entitled to at least this much to place it on a par with the state college at Flagstaff and the state university at Tucson.

Mr. Finch is a member of the graduating class of 1917 at Tempe and is an ardent booster for Tempe and the South Side, as evidenced in his three-term service for his constituency in the state legislature.