The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-20
THIRDED|T|ON
3:I5 O'CLOCK.
NONE TO TESTIFY
Agricultural College In
veStigatiOn Today.
No Witnesses or Hand But
There was Plenty of Talk.
Amasa M. Eaton Appeals as Counsel
for Board of Managers.
Amasa M. Eaton Appeals as Counsel
for Board of Managers.

Although III O'CLOCK was tue nOur nAeu
by the Joint special committee appointed
by the General Assembly 10 investigate
the management OF the Rhode Island
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
IL was fully half an hour later when the
mem bers took their seats this morning
In the main room OF the new courthouse
at Kingston. BY that time the court
room was about half filed, much the
larger part OF the gathering being made
up of the teachers and pupils of the col
lege. There was. however, a fair atten-
dance OF residents OF Kingston and VI
entity, who seemed TO take a very lively
interest in the proceedings, and some OF
these were evidently greatly d~isappoint-
ed atthe brevity OF the hearing.
Chandler III. Coggeshall, Gardiner c.
Sims, Henry l. Gresne and Charles j.
Greene were present, Hon. Melville Bull
being the only emb absent.
Til. committee, which is composed OF
Senators Jesse V. b. Watson and Byron
Andrews, and Representatives William p.
Sheffield, .r., Charles ID. Kimball and
Frank T.. Holden, took seats on the bench
at 10 IS o'clock and Chairman Watson
announced that they were ready to hear
all persons who wished TO offer any criti-
cism OF the management OF the college or
to make suggestions for its improvement.
Amssa M. Eaton, Esq, was the first
TO address the committee. He stated
thai he was present at the request OF the
board OF managers and would represent
them during the hearing. He thought
Ii would be proper to have the resolution
under which the committee was appoint
ed read, so that its scope might be clear
ly understood at the outset.
Chairman Watson replied that the reso-
luton was not in the hands OF the COM
mittee. He had not himself seen IL since
1t was passed by the General Assembly.
His recollection of the provisions was
that the directed the committee TO in
quirc into the present management OF
the institution to hear such criticisms as
may be passed upon il, as we'll as to
learn something OF the needs and wants
Of the college.
Mr.. Eaton stated that IT should be I'M
derstood that this Investigation was asked
for by the board OF management. They
had heard that complaints against the in
stitution had been made and found their
way into the press. Knowing such
charges to be wholly unwarranted, and
being fully aware they had nothing to
conceal, they demanded that a thorough
investigation be made. The opportunity
was now furnished for those she had
given currency to the charges 10 come
forward and substantjate them.
A long wait followed Mr.. Eaton's re-
marks. No one offered TO accept the in
v~itation 10 become a complainant against
the college management. After the lapse
OF ten minutes or more Chairamn Watson
said the reason for holding this hearing
was that some people seemed to think
the management was not entirely salts
factory, and believed there ought TO be a
change. The committee, learning that
this feeling existed. decided to give a
public hearing so that IL any person had
criticisms to pass or suggestions to offer
they could be heard. No specific charges
nave been made, but il any of those pres
ent wished TO prefer such charges they
would be heard. suggestions for i'm
provement In the management would al
SO be gladly received.
Another period OF un broken silence fol-
lowed, which was eventually broken by
Mr. Eaton, who declared hat complaints
and charges had been made and circu-
lated and that those complaints and
charges hsd been taken up by the press
and given wide currency. There are pres
ent some OF those who made those
charges. Others who were even more d.
rectly responsible for spreading OF
them are not in attendance. Every indi-
vidual who m ade or circulated stories
should come forward and tell this COM
mittee backgrounds they nave for max
ing attacks.upon the college and its man
agement. 1t is unjust and unfair that,
after.havlng put these detrimental stories
in ejaculation, they refuse to come for
ward'at this time.f In the most explicit
manner Mr.. Eaton called upon those who
circulated the charges, or no have COM
plants to make, to come forward at once
or forever after hold their peace.
This exhortation had no effect, how
ever, and after another season of silence
the hartman announced that the COM
mittee would be glad 10 hear friends,o
the college who have suggestions to
naska for grnnrnyapnanta nj that fnCtitn-
ton.
The friends OF the school were as silent
as were its critics. Mr.. Sims held a
whispered consultation with the com
mittee and when be resumed his seat Mr..
Carmichael asked IL Mr.. Eaton repre-
sented the board of management. He
was answered in the affirmative. He
Their suggested that, as Mr.. Eaton had
gone through the solemn form of sum-
moning the critics OF the board to come
forward and testify or forever hold their
peace, 1t might be we'll for N to finish
the ceremony INC declare the hearing
closed. This sally caused a burst OF az
plause and wher IT subsidized MI. Eaton
again took the floor, repeating his previ-
Gus remarks and closing by declaring
that II would be n scandalous proceeding
for anyone in future to make charges
against tine college after having failed to
&C m FORWARD ut this time.
Mar. Carmichael said he knew OF no one
who had made complaints against the in
s~titution OF It's management. He had
never heard any charge o. ineficiency.
mismansgement or dishonesty. lie did
believe, however, that at the belgn-
ming there was an honest difference OF
opinion as to the location OF the college,
but that question became a thing of the
past when the buildings were erected.
The burning OF College hall renewed
IL, but once more II has been made q by