The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-06
The Y. VI. L. InXesficatiOn.

The joint com mlttee appointed 10 lnyesll-
| gate the management of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute mir. Stubs, chairman TO
day made their report. In the report, the
| committee say as to the charges made that
the credit Of the Institute was AT a low ebb
| and that three prices had to be paid for sup.
plies, &c.
1t was proven that supplies can he bought
! on better terms with the endorsement Of the
| State. AZ asserted, but We regard the expires.
sion three pics as eXtravagani and un-
warranted.
As 10 the stains of the various trust
funds connected with the Virginia Military
Institute. &c. The committee say that the
| manner IN which the trust funds of the in
stitution, amounting TO s39, 700, have been
recklcssly absorbed III the general expense
fund of the institute. have been dissipated
and their very existence compromised, can
not be too severely CensuTed. The commit
tee recommends that an expert be placed at
the service of the present Board of Visitors
for the purpOs' of tracing accurately the
amounts of said funds, the disposition
made of them. and that they en-
body the result in their next re-
port. with a view of TcInstating said
funds and IecOnsecrate them 10 the puT-
poses for which they were originally estab-
lishod, and that they shall likewise examine
into the bonds of the bonded and floating
debt Of the Institute
AS to the charge that the appropriation
ordered by the Board of Visitors had been
transcribed, ' the committee said that il bad
been done i'll a slight degree, but the disDo.
sitt0n to disregard the order Of the Board
on the part OF the Superintendent in this
particular, and that he would have done so
but for the checks established by the Board,
was clearly established.
In regard 10 the charge that the Superin-
tendent had sent tents belonging 10 the In
stitute to Charleston, ;. &. without authori-
", the committee not only sustained but
most earnestly commented the Superinten-
dent on his action, which was approved
both by the Governor and the president Of
the Board that the expression without
authority" was all unju tifable reflection
upon the generous action of the Superinten-
dent in sending the old tents TO the Charles
ton sufferers.
About the military band at the Institute,
the Board said, admitting, as the Superin-
tendent claimed. that he alone had the legal
right to enlist II appoint musicians under
the Code, the recommendation of the Board
that men be employed who could play in
the band and do other work when not thus
occupied, with a view 10 reducing expenses,
seems "a very correct one, and should, we
think, have called forth more ~alacrity and
earnc>tness on the part of the Superinten-
dent in making experiments in that direc
ton. &c.
The committee find that a manifest want
of harmony existed between the last BOsrd
OttNisitOrs andthe superintendent, audth-y
cannot, in all cdndOr, see why it may not
continue under the Board now directing the
as go - IL. Nr-f. - at.rL "a. a. .-
most expensive institutiOns-One that has
cost the State since 1873 nearly s50D0n
Without rejecting IN any degree upon the
integrity and The noble and heroic
character of Gen. Francis III. Smith.
We would recommend that IN consideration
Of his faithful and eminent service I'm the
past, and his nntlring energy IN culhng this
splendid Institution ont of the ashes, in
which a heaTtless and ruthless destroyer
leitit, intOan new and vigorous existence. and.
too. on account { his age, that at the end
of the present year he be retired from Seryic.
on the half pay he Is now receiving, with The
honorable title of Emeritus Superinten-
dent of the Virginia Military Institute,
and that the burdens Of the responsible po
sition which he has filed so well be placed
upon younger shoulders than his. In this
investigation no suspicion Of improper con
hhNA "a NbbiNNtioH WIN Al EIiiitiaA ilihD
agement of the school has been imputed To
the venerable Superintendent. and in no
other particular. except in those cases in
which the lifelong established habits of ali
old man, long accustomed To have his own
way land that a military way. come in con
ilict with the innovations which the Board
of Visitors have seen lit 10 introduce in
what they sincerely regarded, and We be-
lieye TO be, the best interests OF the state and
the school.
The committee are of opinion hat the
late Board, while co~nscientiOusiy and brave.
ly discharging what was manifestly their
duty. has acted al least with some degree OF
impatienoc under the peculiar circumstances
in insisting upon and urging the very
prompt and immediate adoption of views
altogether reasonable but which require
some time in such cases for proper adjust
ment.
The committee, in concluding their re-
port, said that the school is in a tiourishing
condition and giving premise OF reachidg
the maximum OF its past numbers and wide
usefulness. That an additional building,
completing the square. is needed.
THE State NAV well be proud of such a
school, and as its means may justify should
Foster ana enlarge it," &c, &c.
The report was signed by every member
II the committee.
No action had bean takep AZ Q o'clock |