Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-07
The University.
To the Editor Of tie Dispatch

To the Editor Of tie Dispatch:
In your paper of the Goth ultimo |
find an article from " 4 Member Of the
Board Of Visitors Of the University of
Virginia" which, on account Of the
official position of the writer. demands
notice. He is careful not to "damn
the faculty with faint praise" TO this
| have naught to say except that hope
the legislative committee will have deli
cacy enough to let the State foot their
hotel bills while they are engaged in
the investigation Of the affairs of the
State University. The investigation
should be, and | behave will be,
thorough and ought TO cover the whole
ground-mOrdl, intellectual, and pecH-
MARY.
The special paragraph which attracts
my attention, however, is that in which
your correspondent tickles the vanity
of the Board, Of which he is a member,
by the fitful fancies Of his own imagi-
nation, as follows-viz.;
IL beg also to call the committees
attention to the number of officers the
present Board has abolished as super
numeIares. The Librarian has been
made to do the duties of secretary to
the chairman Of the faculty, clerk Of the
Board of Visitors, as well as librarian {;
the assistant superintendent Of grounds
and buildings, or assistant to the proc
tor, has been abolished; the Office Of
bursar has been abolished, and many
other reforms effected of which the com
mittee will be informed
lie claims to have assisted in making
this record. Let us see what the record
really is:
]. The chairman Of the faculty never
had a secretary. The offices of secre-
tary TO the faculty and librarian have
been held almost continuously by one
person from the beginning Of the insti-
tuition. For many years the duties Of
secretary to the Board were in the same
hands. Some years ago in consequence
Of some friction between the Board and
the faculty the Offices were separated.
When the L" Malone Board came in
they consolidated the three places, CIV
ing their partisan one thousand dollars
instead Of the eight hundred and fifty
dollars paid to the two gentlemen who
were then performing the duties of
these positions.
.. The assistant superintendent, who
was perfectly sober and emiDently CON-
petent for the position, was removed
and the place filed by 4 man whose
only and sole qualification was his
" MahoneiSm." When he became so
offensive as to force his discharge, an
other Mahoneite was elected to his
place, who, by reason Of i'll health, was
incompetent TO do the duties, if he had
possessed the other requisites. Since
that time the duties have been per-
formed to The Satisfaction Of this Board
by most worthy official who was en-
ployed for quite as necessary duties in
another department. Ii goes without
saying that the change has cost the
University more than double the
amount Of the saving in salary.
3. The Office of bursar was abolished
at the reorganization in 1865. 1t was
revived by this Malone Board imme-
diately after their organization to make
8 place for recent convert to their
party, and was only abandoned when
it became apparent that they would be
held responsible for the palpable wrong
Of maintaining sinecure.
4. The proctor is bonded officer
and charged with the safe and proper
use of the public funds. The other re-
forms must consist in transferring the
absolute control Of the proctor, money
and all, to q member ofthe faculty who
gives no bond. ALUMNUs.
February 3, 1886.