The Washington bee., 1896-02-01

| Serious charges against the manage
| ment of Howard University were pre-
sented Tuesday at meeting of the
trustees of that institution, by number
ofpastors of colored churches in the
city and others, with request that the
board investigate them at once. The
, charges include discrimination and
harsh treatment of colored students,
misapplication of the funds of the in
stitution, and the ousting from the
faculty of efficient members thereof
lie allegations were set forth in the
form OF lengthy communication the
preface OF which is a statement that
Howard University was designed en-
phatlcally to be and rightfully is an in
st1tution for the eduation of all youth,
and there should be no distinction or
discrimination on account of color,
race. or previous condition.
The burden of the communication
was as follows:
NATURE OF THE CHARGES.
Whereas, it has been charged in re-
cent years that the administration of
affairs has been marked by unjust dis
crlmlnatlon, irregularities, quest on
able methods of using the funds of the
institution in the manner, to-wit:
By harsh and unjust treatment of
colored students, male and female.
By the use of the funds of the institu-
ton to advance the personal interests
Of certain of its officers;
By the use of unscrupulous methods
in antoogonizing, crushing and driving
from the institution earnest, honest
and efficient members of the faculties
for personal reasons
By the use of the 'student aid fund"
to debase so-called benefciaries
By unchristian race discrimination
toward students.
By extravagant and unwarrantable
application of the funds OF the institu-
ton for the purpose of increasing the
salary of the President and the con-
struction of an additional and costly
residence for his private use at time
when the available funds were made
quate to the support of the several de-
partment, when buildings already cen-
s-ructed were in need of repair, and
when Congress was being importuned
on behalf of the colored people for an
increased appropriation, and this at a
time when Congress found great diff
Guilty in meeting the urgent expense of
the government;
By the expenditure of money for the
building of an unnecessary chapel at
time when the finances of the Uniyer-
sity, required strict economy.
URGED TO INVESTIGATE.
We, therefore, citizens of the District
of Columbia and of the United States
and Well-wishers of Howard Univer-
sity, in whose name private or public
funds are solicited, do most respect
fully and earnestly urge your honor
able body to appoint committee at
this meeting, to investigate the irregu-
iarltleS here stated, with the assurance
that we have at our command sufficient
reasons to justify us in making this re-
quest and your honorable body in in
stltuting thorough investigation.
Members of the committee have
been extremely grieved for the last
few yeare to learn of these disgraceful
charges against the management of
Howard University, and we are COM
PEELED now to present them for your
serious consideration. In doing this
we are moved with feeling of deep in
terest and solicitude for the welfare of
the University in order that the Board
ofTrustees may be able to clearly vim
dicate the institution over which they
have contr IL, and to restore its moral
and educational influences for the bene-
fit Of those for whom the University was
established.
1t has come to the knowledge of the
committee that there are persons anx-
ious to make similar charges to Con-
gress and ask for committee to inves-
tigate the conduct of the institution,
for many of these matters which we re-
cite have appeared from time to time
IN certain newspapers. We hope,
therefore, that the serious nature of
these charges will influence the COM
mittee which you may appoint to an
immediate investigation, remedied &C
ton and report in order to forstall the
damaging results to the institution that
the investigation by Congress would
create.
Rev. George w. Lee, w. Bishop
Johnson, Rev. S. Aiken Lewis, Rev.
R. A. Fisher. Rev. William Credit, F.
G. Barbadoes, Rev J. A. Taylor, Rev,
Eugene A. Johnson, Rev Walter H.
Brooks. Rev. H. S. Doyle, and Rev. D.
F. Seaton.