We invite all men in the University to submit communications on subjects of timely interest. The CRIMSON is not, however, responsible for the sentiments expressed in such communications as may be printed.

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

The decision of the Athletic Committee to withdraw support from all "minor" teams has been adversely criticised in several communications and two editorials in the Crimson, and no one has offered to justify it. But while opposition to the new plan seems unanimous, no good substitute has been suggested. I too believe that the Committee's decision was unwise and should be reversed; but I think we can do still better than to return to the old policy of supporting minor teams by subscriptions, sometimes with and sometimes without the help of allowances from the Athletic Committee. May not this uncertain and fluctuating financial support be the vital reason we have been seeking for the persistent inferiority of some of our minor teams, and the uphill fight the others have had to wage in order to make a showing creditable to the University? The suggestions I wish to make look toward a fairer and more businesslike way of financing all our sports which do not pay for themselves, including the five or six minor teams, the track team and the crew; but excepting the Freshman teams, which are, and I believe should be, supported by class subscriptions.

I suggest, first, that after this year no more subscriptions be taken for any team, except Freshman teams. This step must, I believe, be the starting point of any scheme which can hope to solve in any permanent and satisfactory way this complex question of financing our teams. That the subscription system is a downright nuisance I think every man in College will agree. It is, moreover, a thoroughly ineffective system; for as a result of all the soliciting by the many candidates for managerships, the average amount raised for track, crew and all minor sports together, as shown by the Graduate Manager's reports for the last three years, is less than $5,600 a year. The only redeeming feature commonly claimed for the subscription system is that it affords a way of trying out managers on the competitive plan; but in reality this has been not a merit, but a defect of the system, for it is well known that the appointment of the candidate who got the most money has not been the inviolable rule. In 1900-01 the Graduate Manager himself proposed the abandonment of the subscription plan. He said: "At present, the University Crew and track teams are supported partly by a general canvass through the University by the respective managers and candidates for assistant managerships. Some give and some do not; in all cases students, especially upperclassmen, disapprove of these methods of supporting the athletic teams, and say they would much prefer to pay an increased price for their membership ticket. If the fee for membership in the Association should be raised slightly--perhaps $2, making the price of a ticket $7--I think it would meet with general approval."

My second suggestion therefore is that a small sum be added to the price of H. A. A. tickets, and football season and baseball season tickets, to make-up the amount heretofore raised by subscription; and that H. A. A. tickets then be made to include admission to the games of the minor sports, which have hitherto been run independently with a separate charge for admission. The addition of $2 to the price of H. A. A. tickets and of $1 to that of football and baseball season tickets would some what more than make up the amount hitherto raised by subscription, if the sales did not decrease. Moreover, it is extremely unlikely that the number sold would diminish, for there has been a steady increase in the last few years, and it is improbable that fewer men would buy tickets because of the increased price, when it was known that the slight addition meant not only greater privileges, but' also immunity from the excessive nuisance of subscription solicitations.

The Athletic Committee could then pay the necessary and reasonable expenses of each team from the funds in its hands. Those of the crew and track team perhaps could not be closely estimated in advance; but if in the case of minor teams the Committee felt it to be necessary to limit beforehand the season's expenditure, the expenses of each team for the year could be closely approximated on the basis of past experience and the approved schedule for the current year. Leaving a slight margin for unforeseen expenses, the Committee could then with justice limit a team to a certain sum for the season, and as a penalty for overstepping it, make the team responsible for any deficit.

It may be objected that discontinuance of subscriptions would leave no way of choosing managers. This objection is a superficial one, however, for the present system is not in practice either efficient or fairly competitive. Under the proposed plan, managers could be elected by the classes, or appointed by the Committee from the nomination by a captain of one or more men.  L. S. S