Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-19
Report of tho Committee on the
State College.

State College.
Mr. Ackerly, from the committee to
investigate the Pennsylvania State Col.
lege, presented the following report:
In submitting the evidence the commit
tee beg leave to report as the result of
their investigation into the affairs of the
Pennsylvania State College, that while the
evidence does not show actual fraud or dis
close corrupt management of the funds re-
ceived by said institution, yet your com
mittee are of the opinion that the testimony
does conclusively indicate that the in
stitution has been very badly managed
that its location is very undesirable one;
that the building IL entirely uusuited for
which it was erected that the agricultur.
nj department which was intended to be
the leading object of the institution, has
never been n success, and that the State
has never received and Is not now recciv-
ing benefits at all commensurate with the
amount of money which has been Appro-
priated to said institution By the United
States and this State. We also find the
congress of the United States granted 10
the State 10000 acres of land, which by
bad management, netted the State only
Si39, 600 the act of Congress granting
proceeds thereof should be- used by the
State mainly in the interest of agriculture
and the mechanical arts that tho interest
accruing from this fund, in addition 10
some SiOO,0O0 appropriated BY the State
legislature, is used and controlled by the
trustees of said agricultural college that
in addition the trustees aforesaid hold the
bond of the State bearing q per cent. in.
terest, dated February 2, 1872, calling for
$500, 900, and falling due 80 years from
date, from which the said trustees derive "a
revenue Of $50, 900 annually. Your COM
mittec find the evidence discloses tho fur
ther fact that the deeds for all the freehold
belonging to said Pennsylvania State Col
lcge, including the experimental farms, are
held by the aforesaid trustees, not in trust
for the common wealth but for the afore-
said trustees and their successors. Your
committee also find that the experimental
farms owned By said trustees which were
10 be conducted solely in the interest Of
the agricultural class Of the common
wealth have utterly failed to accomplish
the object intended. This Il notably 80 in
the case of the western farm located IN
Indiana county which is not now third
class farm nor in a. good condition as
when purchased. Your committee also
lege but forty-six students are In at
tendance, many of whom are non residents
of the State, and that there il now in the
employ of the college eleven professors,
which we deem out Of all proportion with
the number of students in attendance
Finally, your committee Is Of the opinion
that the trustees have signally failed TO
carry out the object for which tho magnia-
cent land grant was given by the United
States and which was further sough. to be-
accomplished BY most liberal appropria-
tiOns on the part of the State.
a. j. ACKERLY,
Chairman.
J. T. SuoExER,
IACOH PRovTNs,
THOMAS ST. CLAGR,
ALLEN CRAIG.
In connection with the above report
Mr.. Ackerly offered the following reso-
luton:
Resolved (if the senate concur), That
the State treasurer be and is hereby in
structed TO pay no more money TO the said
Pennsylvania State College or To any Of its
officers, agents, or representatives until 1t
shall be satisfactorily shown to this or sue
ceeding legislatures that said Pennsylvania
State College has fully complied with the
requirements Of the act Of Congress Of
July 2, 1862, and with the several acts Of
the legislature in relation thereof, nor un-
ill such time as this or succeeding legis-
latures shall be fully satisfied that the ag-
ricultural and mechanical Interests Of the
State are receiving from such college act
ual benefits which are commensurate with
the amount of money expended for its sup
port and maintenance.
The report and the resolution were
then adopted by the house.
The above is q most remarkable re-
port in more particulars than one-it
is as remarkable for what it omits as
for the many palpably false state
ments it contains. 1t says "that while
the evidence does not show actual
fraud or disclose corrupt management
Of the funds received by said institu-
ton, yet your committee are Of the
opinion that the testimony does con-
clusively indicate that the institution
has been very badly managed" Just
what kind of evidence would be suffi.