Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-02-16

Hill, Centre Hall and Spring Mills chsrg-
es. Mrs. Whitmer, Of Centre HALLS presi.
dent of tho society, and Mrs. Carrie Z.
Wolf, is the secretary.
At the January meeting Of Old Fort
Lodge, No. $50 F. & A. NJ. Past Masters
F. p. Green and L. T. Munson, installed
the following officers w b. Mingle, w.
NJ ]. T, Lee, s. w, and w. 7. ShouP,
]. w. -.
THE STATE CoLLEGE.-There has been
a disposition in many parts of the State 10
criticise the action of the joint committee
of the Legislature appointed last winter
10 investigate tho condition Of the State
College. Many Of these criticisms have
been ill.,imed and cAp,ious, and unjust
not only TO the committee but 10 the man
agement of the College Many Of them
have been inspired more by disposition
TO throw mud at the institution than by
any desire to be inlelligently informed in
regard TO its affairs. In regard 10 the
work of the committee We copy the follow.
ing explanatory letter Of our able and ef.
hcient Senator, Hon C. T Alexander,
member Of the committee, to the PhiIa-
delphia 7Imes and published in that jour
nal of Monday last, which should silence
the clAmors OF all fault finders until the
committee has, at least, completed its
labors
Ny attention has been called 20 an ar.
iicle In the 7ines Of February 5, headed
"Some Information Wanted 10 which
justice 10 the members OF the committee Of
thirteen appointed, in pursuance of reso.
luton, 10 investigate the affairs OF the
State College, demands q reply. AZ this
resolution was passed late In the session
and as the investigation Asked for covered
large field, requiring much time and
labor on the part Of the committee, It pro.
vided that the committee should report TO
the next session Of the Legislature
fail 10 notice anything In the resolution
requiring the committee tn report the pro-
gress of its work 70 the newspapers, or, In
advance Of its hnAl report TO the LegislA-
ture, TO give any information 20 the public
respecting the facts proven before a. The
committee will not know what IL can re-
port until II has heard all the evidence
that can be brought before IL, both by the
friends Of the college aud BY Iis enemies.
The committee would indeed be Censurable
were 1t TO form and give 10 the public iA
opinions before 1t has heard all the evi.
dence, deliberated upon it and arrived al
n conclusion. Then the report must be to
tho Legislature and not ~ the public You
certainly know that this IL the plain duty
Of the committee.
This much, however, I think ! can
safely say, with the appreciation Of my
fellow members Of the committee thatthe
committee intend. t. make thorough and
exhaustive examination into the affairs Of
the college, giving an opportunity 10 all
who have specific charges 81 make against
IL o. present them in writing tu the com.
mittee. and, II Necessary, they will bc called
upon to justify them under oath The
resolution providing for the appointment
Of the committee By an oversight did not
give the committee power to send for per-
sons and papers neither did IL provide
Tor the employment Of a clerk or stem.
Ographer, nor for the payment Of witness
fees, mileage, nor expenses but, 80 far as
the committee has gone in it, examination
of the affairs Of the college, 1t has had no
difficulty in getting before 1t every person
who has been asked to come. Mr. John
Hamilton, treasurer and bookkeeper of
the college, has appeared twice before the
committee, with ell the books and vouchers,
70 wit, on the 4th and 9th Of October last,
at the college before the general committee,
and again on the 18th and 18th Of January
last before the subcommittee, Of which
Senator Mylin, Of Lancaster, Is chairman.
ST. far no impediment has been thrown In
the way Of the committees work and we
do not anticipate any. The next meeting
Of the subcommittee will be 1T Harrisburg
on the 2lst Of March next, at which time
the subcommittee expects to sit until IL
has concluded the work assigned 10. What
the then future action Of the committee
may be ! am unable 10 say, but IL will be
convened 10 take action upon the report Of
the subcommittee, and will likely visit
the eastern and western experimental
farms, concerning the management Of
which there is much complaint and whose
usefulness is much questioned.
Beyond this IL IL not for me 10 SAY wheu
or where the committee will meet or what
II will do but knowing the members Of
the committee to be honorable, upright
gentlemen, can safely say they will leave
nothing undone that ought 10 be done, and
when they shall have deliberated well up.
on the facts before them they will make
. report that will Be exhaustive and com.
plete. &. 7. ALEXANDER,
Chairman COMMITTEES.
BelIe(onte, Feb. o,