Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-09

ly call attention.
DUTIES OF THE BOARD.
1.-The said board shall meet at Blacks
burg. Ina the county Of Montgomery, at
least once a wear. and at such other times
or places AS they shall determine. the days
of meeting TO be fixed by them. Special
meetings Of the board may be called by
the Governor, the rector, or any three
members 80.
The said board shall be charged with
the caro- and preservation OF the property
belonging TO the college. Ihey shali APP
point as many professors as they deem
proper. and, with the assent OF two thiros
of the members Of the board, may remove
any professor or other officer or the col,
lege. They shall prescribe the duties OF
each professor and the course and mode
Of instruction"
In performing these duties the beard,
after reaching the nearest depot 10 tine
college. has TO travel eight miles IN con-
veyances which make no clam 70 coniott
and but little 70 safety, over roads when
are fairly psssabie IN goOd weather OUT H.
tolerable in bad.
They must spend the day examining the
farm, the experiment station work, the
stock, the shops. and the buildings.
After thus spending the day they devote
nearly the whole of the night to the nnan-
cia and educational interests of the col
lcge-examine and pass upon all accounts
which have been paid, see that they are
| all sustained by proper vouchers, hear anu
decide upon all applications Tor apprOpria-
tiOns the report and recommendations OF
the president, arrange the course OF study,
and assign to each professor his respective
part, fill vacancies, aud makesuch changes
as they believe the best interests or the col
/ iege and State require.
After these labors Of day and night the
members OF the board grope their way on
foot in the dark. and on several occasions
which | shall not soon forget, through
pelting storms, fully one fourth OF inlie,
TO obtain lodging tor the Few hours OF tue
night that remained.
STILL MORE UNPLEASANT DUTIES.
Performance of the duties enumerated
taxes both mind and body; but the
most unpleasant duty have had to per-
! form was that of declaring places vacant
which were held by gentlemen for whom |
had the kindest feelings and the highest
respect.
Next 10 this in point Of unpleasantness
was my inability to advocate the appoint
ment of some others VINO were applicants
| for appointments.
The bitter assaults which have been
| nude upon the board. and especially upon
me. shall not prevent me from expressing
my high personal regard for the gentle
men who lost their positions IN the re-
! organization Of the college, which the
| board deemed necessary, and for the father
Of my assailant, who was en- applicant Tor
| appoiutment. and whom | would gladly
| have supported If | could have allowed
personal regard to override official duty.
COMPENSATION or THE BOARD.
"Such reasonable expenses as the yisl-
| tors NAV incur IN the discharge OF their
| duties shall be paid out of the funds Of
| the college"
The college is about twenty years
| old. Since its organization II has had
quite a number OF boards. These were,
| i'm the main, composed Of men OF unques-
| tionable intelligence and integrity. DIT
| forent boards construed reasonable ex'
| penses" differently, some of them cOnsld
| erlng 1t reasonable and right TO charge tol
| the time devoted 10 their work.
The present board CONSTITUTES "reasona.
| bic expenses 10 be just what the railroad
| fare is from the starting point Of rs re-
| spectiye members TO the place of meeting
| and back again, their hack hire, and hote
| bills.
Let no one conclude from these state
ments that the members OF the board re
| ceiye nothing III return for their services
| They get no money. they get no HANKS. bu
| if ctHsure, criticism, and abuse are things oil
| value they are most amply paid.
Not only men Of age aud experience, but
immature youths, assess themselves heayl
ly to make up their full quota Of such pay
ment.
1t - due TO the board 10 say that the TO
! port OF the Committee OF Investigation
| which was adopted by the Senate. en-
| dorsed its (the boards) action on ever
point, aud ordered the evidence upoI
which this report was based to be printed
while those who had been most active IL
their efforts to find grounds of censure o
the board vigorously opposed printing
| the evidence they had taken.
This would have left the publicin entire
| ignorance OF the facts of a case which haC
| been gwen prominence in the Senate anC
| through the press. This was shown b,
the refusal to vote, for either report, o
one of the most able and falr-minde'
senators. who was unwilling To vote 10
any report without knowing what 1t wa
! based upon. JOHN l.. MASSEY.
March Z, 1892.