246 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXV. No. 633 



sued a circular letter to many presidents 

 and faculty members asking their opinions 

 upon the question involved. At the time 

 of writing some hundred answers have been 

 received. The limits. of time prevent the 

 writer from obtaining permission to quote 

 over their signatures the many interesting 

 answers. I append, however, quotations 

 from some of them that are typical of cer- 

 tain classes of answers and which will sup- 

 plement the above brief discussion. Of 

 sixteen college or university presidents, 

 fourteen are opposed to equal pay for equal 

 rank, one in favor, and one answer not de- 

 cisive. Of eighty-one faculty members, 

 sixty are opposed, seventeen in favor, four 

 gave no decisive answer. Some thirty- 

 three emphasize the value of an established 

 minimum for each grade, increases above 

 which may be made for good reasons, as 

 length of efHeient service, unusual ability 

 or general usefulness. 



John Maxson Stillman 

 Stanford Univeksitt 



The following quotations are from presi- 

 dents of universities: 



1. 



I am firmly of the belief that there should be 

 no rigid salaries payable to all men in the uni- 

 versity bearing the same title. In other words, 

 I believe that the imiversity should pay what it 

 thinks a man is worth. If a certain department 

 is .in need of a very eminent man, it would be 

 wise for it to pay him double the salary ordi- 

 narily given. I believe that the principle should 

 be variation, according to ability and experience, 

 and quality of usefulness to the institution at 

 any given time. 



2. 



In my judgment, while the salaries- of profess- 

 ors in any institution will naturally gravitate 

 toward some given figure, I see no reason why 

 there should not be deviations therefrom, due to 

 the greater value to the university of some men 

 over others or the need of larger compensation 

 to retain such men in the service of the uni- 

 versity. In the case of assistant professors and 

 instructors, who are appointed for a fixed period 



of time, I see little, if any, objection to uni- 

 formity of salary. 



3. 



Sitting in an easy chair, one can argue one's 

 way with perfect satisfaction to one's self up to 

 the conclusion that all men having the same title 

 should have the same salary; but I have never 

 been able to manage a university on that prin- 

 ciple, and I have never been able to acquire such 

 ability. Extraordinary things are always com- 

 ing in to interrupt in the application of the 

 theory. We have here assistants, instructors, 

 assistant professors, professors, head professors, 

 deans, president. Some of the instructors get as 

 large salaries as some of the assistant professors; 

 some of the assistant professors get as large 

 salaries as some full professors. Where action 

 is in our hands, we prefer, within reasonable 

 limits, to increase salaries rather than titles. 

 Sometimes, however, a man insists upon an in- 

 crease of his title, and to refuse him means to 

 lose him whenever a good offer comes from 

 another institution. Sometimes it is possible to 

 increase a title and to promise the increase of 

 salary on and after a certain date when addi- 

 tional money is expected. Some men insist upon 

 increase of salary more than upon increase of 

 title, and vice versa. Sometimes you must in- 

 crease the salary and title both. 



I need not point out that the case does not 

 occur in which an assistant gets as much salary 

 as an assistant professor; nor a case in which an 

 instructor gets as much salary as a full pro- 

 fessor; but instructors and assistant professors 

 do run together sometimes in respect to salaries; 

 and so also assistant professors and> professors in 

 some instances. 



4. 



I beg leave to say, ' No.' The reason of the 

 answer seems to me to be summed up compre- 

 hensively in the remark that men, even college 

 professors, differ in character and efficiency. 

 Therefore, the pecuniary recognition may fittingly 

 vary according to their work and worth. 



The individual and not the institutional method 

 should prevail. It is much easier to administer 

 a college on the basis of the same compensation 

 for men of the same professorial grade; but I 

 believe that such administration is not wise 

 either for the individual or for the institution 

 itself in large relations, or fitted to promote the 

 higher interests of the whole community. 

 5. 



I know of no solution of this problem which 

 seems to me entirely satisfactory. 



