The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01

piting instead OF a CONTRIBUTING partner
The General Assembly enacted Febru-
airy ., 1874. That the president and d.
rectors Of the Literary rund be, and
they are hereby authorized ana directed,
upon application of the faculty of the
medical department Of Hampden Sidney
College. OF Richmond, to invest the sum
OF $1,000. as the faculty may desire and
suggest, In land and buildings, for the
use and benefit OF the MEDICAL College
at Richmond: Provided, that the said
president and directors shall retain
satisfactory lien on the land. buildings
and other property for the payment of
the principal Of the sum so invested, and
paymen, OF the Sem interest
thereon, at the rate OF . per cent. per
annum. The act also requires that sat
isfactOry personal security shall be re-
uulred. etc. nv an act passed February
%. 1875. the faculty secured from the
treasury 10000 subject TO the same con-
dtions. The faculty having completed
and equipped their college ind the pay
ment Of the interest on their loan irk-
some. An act was made March e.'is5O
which RENTED the payment OF this In
terest Their nresent charter was granted
February q 1854. This secures the facul-
ty absolute control Of the property, SUBJ
feet TO no change except by a special
act OF the Legislature
The governor can oihy I'LL vacancies
on the board. The Visitors are APP
pointed for life: nineteen IN number. IL
is provided that they snaii De appointed
from all over the state. len members
constitute a quorum AS II Is almost
impossible to get ten men iroiii uisuint
parts OF the State on s"vrt houce' the
facultv &c naver ,nterfered with by any
attempt at control on 'he part Oh lhe
hoard vbosa mower f. very limited. The
visitors can only remove member OF
the facuItv for cause. Twelve visitors. at
least co6curring IN the removal, provided
that the cause or reason OF such removal
and the aves and noes on such vote shall
be entered on the record OF the BOARD
and that the professor sought 20 be re-
moved shall have had reasonable hotice
In writing. of the SPECIFIC charges against
him. and an opportunity OF being heard
in his defence by PROOF ana argument
IN omen session OF the board. Thus the
faculty is supreme. 40
Previous 10 the year 1850 they occupied
the property with at least the shadow
Of a right. as they still held the title TO
the property. The interest alone amount
cd IN S22 400 in 1860. II we call per cent.
per annum and exemption from all taxes
fair rental. this faculty has received
an equivalent from It's sole occupancy
Of public property, amounting TO $llo'oV'
Add TO this sum the aggregate OF the
annual appropriation from the pubic
treasury, the faculty IS a deDtor 10 1he
State I'm the sum OF SlsOvo'
In spite Of the apparent efforts OF sue
cessive Legislatures 10 secure the state
against loss by abundant and ample per
sonal security. the faculty mad the khach
Of giving sureties that dld not secure
while they in the last fifty years have
secured everything in sight. Borrowers
from the state in 1874 paying or promis-
ing TO pay. interest and taxes, they Sc
cure a release from the obligation 70
nav interest i'm 1880. In 1884 they secure
a charter that invests them with all OF
the property Of the Medical College at
Richmond, and by implication, releases
everything except real estate from the
lien held by the Literary Fund. Ten
years later when they S0ld the STATE
her own property, March l, 1850, for So,OoO
more than its original cost, they secured
this charter without amendment. The
charter I'm turn secures the practical
ownership o the entire property 10 the
faculty and enables them to pose as a.
State institution, Whlie the dppIopl idllO4i
bill is being made up.
In brief the faculty have a charter, the
State has college buildings. grounds, and
all the appurtenances necessary for teach
Ing medicine. The acquiesence Of the state
in the use Of this property by the faculty
Of the Medical College Of Virginia and the
appropriation by the faculty Of all Of
the benefits that may have accrued from
its use, is declared by the faculty to con-
stitute an obligation on the part OF the
State TO make an annual appropriation
10 pay for not only insurance and re-
pairs on the buildings. but for clerks,
servants. washing, new apparatus, sta
tionery and advertising. including L sup
pose. the amount necessary for the pay
ment Of the publication Of such communl-
cations in abuse Of any venturesome tax
payer who may dare question the pro-
priety Of such an appropriation OF such
public funds and property.
1t is hardly necessary 20 disclaim any
intentional reflection upon the individual
Of this or any previous faculty.
LEWIS WHEAT.