New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-07
EDUCATION AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY.
REPLY OF JOHN D. WARNER To THE LETTER OF
FIVE SENIOR PROFESSORS.

REPLY OF John d. WARNER To THE LETTER OF
FIVE SENIOR PROFESSORS.
John ID. Warner, the alumni trustee OF Cor
neil University. who read a report before the Alumni
Association in this city April % condemning certain
features the management Of the University MADE tue
following statement yesterday in answer to the letter
OF FIVE senior professors Of the University when was
publ he'd In THB TRIBUNE saturday:
In my report the only reference TO any professor
except the president-was follows referring to the
first year of the University Wheeler F1ske ana james
Morgan Hart were then the representatives OF the
classics the north and south European languages re-
speetIvely We then had Evans IN mathematics Wider
in anatomy and zoology, Law In veterinary science
HART in geology Cleveland In civil engineering PrentsS
in botany Crafts and Caldwell in chemistry. Blake In
physics President White Goodwin Smith and Russell In
history. and for lecturers Agassiz, Lowell curtis anu
Dwight These university IN themselves
Wilder Law Prentiss and Caldwell were iOlr Oh 'no
gaers of the memorandum which appeared on saturday
81 also stated in my report that where depart
rnents had remained in charge OF sucn men
that the character OF the students had not deteorate
that in the case of ae faculty appointments we had In
some instances secured good professors and the near
est approach to unknd reference TO the Iacuy was
The statement: 1t Is derogatiOn TO the great amount
of honest work done by the professors now to state
what fact-that there Is not that average OF 'hen
In the faculty which 1t he Unverstys first year
succsss' The four Professors, Wilder, Law Prentiss
and Cald WELL being specialists less engaged IN general
University work with their advanced students In
spring all who their classes, can doubtless say
that they know Of deterioration. AS 10 the hith
signer OF the memorandum, he Is scholarly gentleman,
10 student feels bound TO return the goodwill
with fayors all But his statment as TO sanding
~ referrine TO his own department philosophy must DO
taken with salt for reasons well known to the alumni;
WHILE being Registrar If he refers to the general RECORDS
of the University statement is hard TO comprehend
view published statistics wnich suoH lnc cOnIsf!
thougI as the personal factor Is largely concerned II
must b. somewhat OF a matter OF opinon. -,
AS 10 the relations Of faculty hne s'uuns, 30 ieel
ngy alluded Is notorious that the present year mas
Dee not By tue absence Dat oy tue occur
renee OF difficulties bet students ana faculty Az
10 professors wnO eft the University on account OF
low Salaries. mentioned no names IN my report But
me guarded statement 81 the memorandum rs 10 inc
nun Der II Is misleading As TO salaries the uvo
professors thus situate1 EachTeoeiycs tne sAay
o. a u prolessor-s275 $50: one OF them receives extra
CONDENSATION . University Onieiali orc ueVOtcs uuch
TO profitable outside proiessiynAi On,lneSS;
while tue OF those peculiarly favored ny
late trustee action by the addition OF faclIies 10 tner
dspar.meuts IL can scarcely he assumed that their
posopay is shared by their less fortunate associates
majority of whom, though IN some cases cAaogutu ~
iIi ~ sssociats urpIessors are working salaries
ranging from $1,000 GOwn TO ngures 100 paify ~ %
As 10 the admitted decline in the number Of
Students the theory advanced In the MEMORANDUM - not
borne out by the iacts. Inc standard mas nos oeeh
materially raised wIthm the last I'VE years, snd tue de-
cline within tnst tiIne-abOut 20 per eebt-is only
one the alumni advert Am NOT more hhAsous
ABOUT that tuau are professors believe that we
snail soon surpass former DuInOers-4or have no
d not we shall continue certain improvements already
peguu business methods, aud that tue aoases "hieh
lave been so q ANA ging viii soon be corrected
mr. Warner characterized a. Ofhcious' President
Whne's deence trustees IN us address 10 Ine
stuaents OF the University Friday. the
trustees were generally mentioned IN MY re
TOR" he .aid. I'm complimentary manner
lie proceeds Ks when cnlcised being those In
gulcD tue trustees had been influenced Dy President
" te, including tue matters u CnNeFslty e1tenslOn
auu Inadequate salaries, as tue result or heir toeraon
OF his csc rtIOn glect 81 duty and assumption oi
authority. AZ President White's suggestion mat
work IN the Board tis contemplate IA view OF the aet
that President WHITE 81 al MN knows OF tue sHoIts
nave made 10 cdalcc 10 work an the boato anu
ROW th, nave tnwared, as SHOWN Oy MS Own let
tiers to me- Mr Warner said that ne hAd uoeuhthS 10
suDs,anate his assertions, and that he "9uIa Ioduoo
IneuI m urc-s-ar- lie stated, incidentally, tnat ne
nad received letters IRON the alumni OF other hsi'u
tons learning commenting ais course