The morning call., 1893-05-13
ACCOMMODATING.
A BATTLE of Cogsweils'
Imminent.
LOOKING OVER THE FIELD.
Mayor and Doctor Exchange Camps.
The Latter's Plans as Given
by Friend.

There were signs of activity among the
Cogswell College interests yesterday.
Mayor Ebert had been informed by the
pupils of the college that DR.. Cogswell and
his trustees intended closing the gates
after the end of this term. They requested
him, under the deed of trust, to Investigate
the matter.
The Mayor promptly shouldered his re-
sponsbility, and yesterday visited the col
lege with Supervisor Denman.
During his absence Dr. Cogswell visited
the City Hall to hunt up evidence in sup
port Of his side of the case.
Mayor Ellert's first care will be to find
out whether the doctor means to close the
college permanently or temporarily. The
doctor has never announced his intentions
formally, although the pupils have been
recommended to seek new schools in view
of the closing.
Most probably the doctor will deny hav-
ing any intention OF permanently closing
the school, but that will by no means con-
stitute the finale of a possible investlga-
ton. 1t may merely prove the beginning
The pupils appeal may clear away the
mists surrounding the trust deed. People
may find out whether they can send their
boys and girls to the only polytechnlcal
college in California.
Loose charges of extravaganza, mis-
management, diversion of funds and ma
terial may be sfted to the bottom. Merit
when found may be clearly established. A
useful school may be given back 10 the
people.
The Mayor expressed amazement at the
complete equipment of all the departments
of the pOllppa The mechanical drawing.
blacksmithiDg. carpentering, freehand
drawing and designing. clay modelling
and dressmaking seciions-all drew from
him words of commentator. supervisor
Denman as an educator was even more in
terested in the manual training depart
ments.
Before leaving the Mayor said he could
see clearly the great amount OF damage
closing the college would entail
Yesterday tile Mayor wpte to DIR. Cogs-
well. asking him under section OF the
trust deed to submit 4 report OF the trust
finances.
In the afternoon the doctor appeared at
the new City Hall in search of an inyen-
tory of the college appointments. He
said that he had paid $3.50 to have the in
ventory made, and desired to compare it
with the appointments now in the college.
lie believed that thirteen dictionaries with
frames had been distracted and that of
eighty wo0d-carvng sets and sixty draw
Ing sets only six of each remained. Other
things might prove missing.
But the doctor could not find the inven-
tory. Ex-Secretary Spear had told him he
did not know where it was and Secretary
Beanston of the Board OF Education, for
which the inventory was made at the time
OF the transfer of the college. declared 1t
had never been in his possession.
The doctor repeated his contention
that the old board had received S104. coo in
three years, divided as follows: SIS goo
bonus on lease; $4,000. proceeds of
sale of land, and $50, coo. being three
years revenue from the lease at $1,000 per
month. OF this only $4,000 had been left
for the new board, of which sum $500
went for legal expenses, 5000 for insur-
ance and $685. Tor salaries. Other con-
tinCent expenses soou 10 be necessary, viz.
for two buildings and an artesian well,
would require $4,000.
The doctor did not say whether this lat
ter sum was absolutely necessary for car
rying on the school as it had been carried
on in the past, but declared that he meant
TO pay off the debts and would not allow
the college TO 90 Into debt again.
This latter statsment seemed to predicate
an intentiO 10 keep the college running;
but. when asked directly, the doctor de-
ellned giving any explicit reply.
He said he had nothing to do with the
Mayor and his plans would appear later
on.
A close friend of the doctors, however,
said that lie understood there was no
intention on the part of the trustees to
close the college permanently.
DR.. Cogswell, he said, thought that the
course was too high; that it did not work
for the benefit OF poor boys. who merely
wan ted to be trained in the manual arts,
which was his original intention.
The doctor intended to reOrganiZe the
college. Expenses would be reduced and
the higher features of the course abolished.
The dismissal of the present staff OF teach
ers was the first step in this new plan.
The teachers, continued this mouth
piece of the doctor, we're all right in stand
ing, but lacked practical experience They
had not taught in school previously.
The college, he said, was now being run
for the benefit of rich peoples sons. He
was In favor OF henetiting poor peoples
sons. and If need be paying something
toward their board
"At present." said the doctors friend
1.-THE pupils turned out by the school can
not do any practical work; no carpenter
or any other employer would take them
on. They are taught mechanical fancy
work at the college, and the doctor intends
putting stop TO all that while shutting
down on the tendency to run into debt
He gave the school and purposes running
1t his own way"
IL is only fair to the teachers to give their
size OF TIE questions raised Oy tle DOCTORS
alleged philanthropcal designs, as outlined
by this friend of his.
One OF the teachers said yesterday that,
as to the course being too high, il was not
so high now as originally planned by DR..
Cogswell. The latter included in 1t
French, German and Latin, but the present
principal had cut out the French and Ger
man and reduced the Latin course 10 learn
ing the elements. The technical part was
just the same as laid out by the doctor,
who had insisted on an academic course.
The graduates from the college, while
not of course master of any trade, were so
trained that they were IN great demand.
They were at once able 10 make living,
and even some of the girls went directly to
work draughting or designing for wall
papers, calicos, oileloths aud the like.
The teachers had all experience in teach
Ing, and they thought that results spoke
for themselves.
AS TO the charge that the benefits of the
college were enjoyed by the rich, it was
contended that it was absolutely false.
II visit most of the pupils" said one
teacher. "They live, great many of
them, in the Mission, and | can positively
state that there is not one in the two
classes whose parents are rich; most of
them are not even moderately well off.
The school Is free, and naturally the poor
take advantage of that fact"
In the evening the alumni met at the
college and passed resolutions indorsing
the action of the pupils in their fight for
4, aAl 81 IA ,l.t a, n