The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-18

b1ub t1t ICSlNtub vi LlC
had given him such leave of absence
Whereupon this Special Committee,
finding no law authorizing the Presi-
dent to give such leave, or to justify
them in paying said White for the
time he was so absent, of over three
fourths Of month service at said
University, at the rate of $140O per
year, reported these facts; and that
in their opinion said Whites month
ly salary or allowance ought to be de-
pleted to that extent, and referred the
question to the Board of Regents for
final decision as to said deduction
for said absence.
This report was approved by the
Executive Committee at its December
meeting, and an order made to said
White for the residue of the month,
all of which is shown by the record.
No provision for such absence is
made in the contract of employment
of said Professors by the Regents,
and none by the law. Then why
shall different rule be adopted in
favor of Professors who are paid large
salaries for the work they do (when
they do all they are required to do)
from that applied to other employ
eeS.
The old rule or law was, where a
person engaged to labor or serve for Il
year, or any other certain time, and
failed voluntarily to fill his contract,
he could not receive anything even
for the labor he did perform. But
modern rule is to pay them as much
as the actual services performed were
worth, at the rate fixed by the con-
tract.
This Just rule the Executive Com
nittee tried to carry out, and for so
doing that miserable and libelous
scribbler charges that the Executive
Committee are attempting "to break
up the University, and logically tells
us that the absence of the Professors
from their field of duty, tends to in
crease the number of students at the
University, while we had supposed
the very reverse was true.
Nor is there one word Of truth in
the charge that the Executive Com
mittee have adopted rule to charge
Professors with days absence, nor
with any number of days absence.
Nor have they adopted any rule on
the subject,and gave no notice to that
effect, but will, we doubt mot, inquire
into any and every known voluntary
absence from duty at the University
for any considerable time. unless made
necessary or done in the interest and
business of the University.
There seems to be some persons IN
the service of the University who
seem to fear that they are to be turn
ed out of its employment, like other
wrong doors, who fear that an officer
is behind every bush to arrest them.
That duty belongs to the Board of
Regents, and not to the Executive
Committee, nor can these persons
long escape their deserts by making
false and scurrilous attacks on the
Committee, who are honestly trying
to discharge their every duty in the
premises faithfully, truly and impair
TALLY.
These Professors, including the
President, are in the employ of and
under the control of the Board of
Regents, who have enacted and pub
lished a printed code Of ordinances
or laws, for the government of the
Faculty and students. The latest
Code was published in 1878, and as
pertinent to the questions involved
here, we quote the 11th rule on page
5, verbatim:
mo member of the Faculty, or
regular teacher in the University,
shall engage in any occupation or
pursuit which will interfere with the
stated and punctual discharge of the
duties of his office, unless permitted
so to do by the Board of Regents"
BY the 4th rule on same page,
among other things it is made the
duty of the President ''to see that
the ordinances are observed by Pro
fessors and teachers, as we'll as by
students" SO that instead of the
President having the right to excuse
these violations, it is made his ex-
press duty to see that the ordinances
or bylaws are observed by all. If
any excuse is to be given the Board
of Regents is to give it. 1t is so ex-
pressly provided in the ordinance.
Then by rule 3, chap. 4, page s, it
is provided as follows: cat the be-
ginning of each session, and as much
oftener as to the President may seem
expedient, there shall be meeting
of the officers of instruction.in which
shall be assigned to each his part. "
So it was the duty Of Professor
White to be at his post at the begin
ming of the session, and yet he was
absent for three weeks and one day
at the beginning. SO it was the duty
of the President to see that this and
all other ordinances were observed by
the Professors, and yet we find him
consenting to it's violation.
And yet some of these gentlemen
seem to believe that because they are
learned book men, they are above all
law that governs other mortals, and
only law unto themselves. This
the Executive Committee do not be-