New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-13
GENERAL WEBB INDIGNANT
PROFESSOR SCOTS COMPLAINT HEARD.
TRYING TO PATCH UP TIE TROUBLES IN THE
CITY COLLEGES.

TRYING TO PATCH UP TIE TROUBLES IN THE
CITY COLLEGES.
,, An, ,oors ~ the council room Of the Board OF
Education were thrown open yesterday aitefi'oon i'
tho executive session OF the Executive Comm't'ec Va
the College OF the City OF Ncw-iork' anu no i'p
and visitors saw General Alexander s. WeDo
~ tho college, pating J. L. n. Hunt president VI ''o
Board of Education, in loving ana pehceiu ". -
mon the shoulder 1t difficult to believe hat '"es
na met bcen engaged IN q fierce, wordJ deDaV'
W., sucb was the case and the peaceful atutude Oh
tho men deceptive. 49,.
The meeting, which was probably tns iops's' quo
most exciting In the history OF the coiese,
most five hours 1t called to consider uie toup,o'
between General Webb and Professor David D. eco'.'
Instructor In history and English literature ape VI.
Icced charges by the General against the prc'ue"'
Tho poord of Education and Commissioner HON.
For almost fifteen years the relations between "en-
oral Webb and Professor Scott nave oooa
UNPLEASANT and In tile opi'oh VI .,
nup,ls and trustees detrimental to tho Des' ih@'
the college, The troubles came to CLIMAX aoous On"
weeks ago. when General Webb made cmarAs III '-'
ou.go chanel which Professor Scott interpreted as ~
Elections upon his dignity and POSITION e,n0o ss
time the Professor has remained absent from the chp
and has avoided his superior as much As poseio GO
weeks ago he preferred formal charges against wv
eral Ia the committee, which assembled again
The Professor alleged that the General had not trea.u
his classes In giving studies which shouiu nS'e
assigned 10 him to other professors and had oppose
b,s Influence in various ways. The Professor aac ~
tho conduct Of the president would result In damage
10 tho Institution to which he was Proud 10 peoe Oil"
that he reluctantly brought 1t to public attention.
Az the meeting yesterday, which was caled "
consder the subject again, Professor scott dia ho'
preferring to rest his suit upon the charso
made General Webb, however, was allowed 10 s'aoc
his side OF the case and did with all tho
Of which he Is master. Standing pelore INC menu
OF the committee, with paper In hand' ITO ou'iou @
trouble between himself and his subordinate no
acknowledged that he had taken certain studies irn
PROFESSOR scott because was, in his judgment, nee
.rv 20 do 40 He declared that he had trouble with
the professor in the examination OF the Engish essay
and in examinations In other stuue'' '
questions had been too severe; the examination
records had been lowered. He had attempted 10 I'M
dermine his authority.
General, in substance, with voice full OF sorrow
and regret you do not know what nave
suffered from this man. lie has INSURED mc
in nv own Office. have treated that
man as a Christian father as Christian oro'ner Us
a Christian SON. have done all that could for mu'
have gone 10 him and entreaed him not TO lhsuiS
me. 1 have explained to him our reiauohs.
But according 70 the General, he had httie eHec.
mon him. He denied, however, that he was NJ
fault He declared that he rs president, must
have authority and dignity, and must upholo
the dignity OF the institution. That should not ana
could not be nerfered with by faculty or committee
General Webb spoke for almost an hour. After no
had ended his speech Commissioner Strauss endeavoeo
TO bring about peace by introducing resolution tend
ing TO restore the good feeling between the teachers
But the resolution when read did not please "ehefa'
Webb. He insstd upon the addition OF certain phrases
and sentences which made the resolution more emphac
and explicit Several of tho Commissioners OBJ
jected however, to certain phrases IN tho
resolution, The General reorted that their
nresence was necessary and their elimination "wouid
cmasculate the resolution" wording however was
ensy found to suit the General and he consented to
accent IT, The resolution passed by the committee
reads as follows:
Resolved That n the matter Of the complaint Of Pro-
lessor Scott against the president the conclusions OF s
committee follows;
The words used by the president the chapel platform
in his remarks to the assembled college on October Il weo
construed by Professor Scott as offensive 70 hin Inc
president having dsclamed intentional oscour'esy W
the professor and having stated In the presence Oh fro
Scott we lind should end the matter and
we require Scott resume his attendance at
the chapel exercises he has not already done So
The president has right and 1t is his duty, TO COM
muneate officially to any professor his opinion as to any
supposed defect or shorcomng proposed change In MS
work; but see no good to be accomplished roln
sending copies such communication TO other proessors
when they contain matter OF personal criticism
The president also the right and 1t Is his duty 70
give such orders within limits Of the bylaws or TIE
directions this committee or OF the trustees) Is may
seem to just and proper for securing the SUCCESSFUL
performance OF college Instruction but we think the cor
ecnp Of senior and Junior compositions should be done
by the professor Of English himself or this Work be
found by professor to be too great or onerous the
president may In such case distribute the work among
cOgnae departments.
Finally we lament the spirit OF disagreement long
sng between the president and Professor Scott, and
heartily condemn any act OF either that eaGs to agsra'ae
rather than to allay spirit The welfare Of the col
ege which cannot but DC impaired by it. should be the
paramount consideration controlling both president and
nroesso- in the performance their several duties and In
their relations TO one another
The resolution will be submitted to Professor Scott
and it is hoped that the friendly feeling between the
men Will be restored.
But the misunderstanding between the General
and Commissioners Hunt and Holt was
as difficult of adjustment AS that between
him and Professor Scott 1t arose from the pHoc o.
which he Is alleged to have accused Messrs Hunt and
Holt with attempting to interfere with NJ, admnistia
ton Of affairs and declaring that they were frequenters
aGoniemen," said General Webb, in part. after the
charges had been read, :" / deny emphatically and
specifically that ever made those remarks 1 de,
b them ia tns hs and sou
you will know that stand before you now as Pure
But, interrupted Mr.. Hunt, 81 have an affidavit
declaring that the report published was true In every
Yet gentlemen hurriedly added the Gen
era Il tell you as an honorable gentleman
that | was mlsepresented and never made
those statements. never heard Of your drinMng
you were elected president Of the Board OF Education
wrote you that would aid and support you a. much
rs was iu my power. That record you have In
writing
Further consideration of the dispute postponed
until another meeting. The shook hands be-
fore leaving the ROOM Dinner followed. II was q
temperance dinner. as Commissioners Hunt and Holt
declined to visit any restaurant where anything elss
than CrotOn water could be obtained a beverage.
FY.pRE'SIUEyT HAYES IN MISSISSIPPI