Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-19
State College.
REMARKS OF DR. CALDER BEFORE THE STATE
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

kEAARkS OF DR. CALDER BEFORE THE STATE
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
when IA Few months ago we heard at
the college that an investigating com.
mittee was spoken Of we were not only
not angry, but glad. have been At the
college now, this IL my ninth year It
has been my experience, without a sin.
gle exception, that every gentleman
who came there filled with indignation
against the college, or who said II was
miserable humbug and ought 10 be sup.
pressed, after he examine ed the buildings
and inquired into the particular plans
and methods, and visited the sgricultu.
raj farm, went away stating that he had
been mlsintormed." Among those who
had visited the place he mentioned Pas
call Morris. deceased, late of this city,
Alter the appointment Of the commit
tee II was lntiInatcd that they were not
after Us in Centre county, but the ex.
perimental farm in Indiana. Then we
heard they were coming TO see us, and
we sent to town conveyances for them
Every facility was extended them for a
thorough examination. They spent four
hours at the college aud one hour OF
that time they were engaged in eating
and smoking. We furnished them with
the eatables. but not with the cigars,
az the members Of the faculty do not
smoke. They didn't go into one of the
recitation rooms or visit a single one of
the casses. Neither did they go out
on the premises or set foot on the ex.
perimental farm. The books of the in.
sutution were thrown open, all the
treasurer's accounts were there for in
spcciion, and we begged them 10 ask
any questions they pleased. DR.. St.
Clair, tho chairman OF the committee,
sad, we are not after you here, but
west OF this lie represents Indiana
county in the State Senate and for some
reason u bitter opponent OF General
Harry White, now in Congress. It has
been intimAted that General Harry
White was interested in the sale of the
farm IN Indiana county, and that lie put
several thousand dollars IN his own
pocke+ by the Transaction. A letter
was shown stating that General White
Il din want the investigation 10 20 on /.
but we bad nothing 10 do with that.
General White, although once a mem.
her Of our board, j. not now. Therefore.
we didn't want 10 have anything TO do
with il, 1t was between two local 10.
hiIcal opPonents. While at the college
they went through the mere appearance
o' an investigation. After asking me a
few questions they called Vice President
Mckee, asked few questions and dis.
missed him. They didn't call upon
another officer OF the institution.
The Doctor then explained the mon.
ctary condition of the college. stating
that instead of nearly 100000 that
the committee had reported. $3qi. 900
was the sum total Of the proceeds Of the
bonds belonging thereto. Most OF those
bonds, bringing seven per cent. interest,
had been sold by action Of the Lerisla.
ture and the money put into the State
Treasury. The State having thus taken
the money TO be used for her own pur.
poses, gave the trustees in lieu thereof
State bond OF 500 900, running fifty
years at six per cent. II the institution
was not properly conducted, the county
agricultural and mechanical societies in
the Commonwealth had it completely
IN their power TO control entirely the
affairs oI the college within twenty FIVE
months, and to employ or discharge
such persons there as they pleased. At
the conclusion OF his remarks the Doc
Tor was loudly Spplauded. most Of the
audience present seemingly sympathiz.
ing much more with the president and
his college than with the report of the
committee. The board, however. cut
of the discussion before bringing itself
into any entangling alliances.