Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-19
WILL OF DORMAN B, EATON,
Harvard and Columbia Universities
Receive 100000 Each.


in New York Dec %, was filed for probate
in that city Saturday by George h. Gar
land. attorney for the estate. Inc value
of the estate is not known. An estimate
that Il amounted to 100000 is said to be
excessive. The expounder and advocate
of civil service reform leaves in his viii
last message on the cause with which bis
name was soprominently identified and with
the message substantial requests for the
support of chairs of science of government
at columbia and Harvard universities.
These requests are of SlOO,OOO each, TO be
paid on the death of the widow, with pro-
vision. however for earlier partial pay
ment under certain contingencies. Inc
Society for the Suppression of Vice in New
York is to receive S25,OOO and me New
York Skin and Cancer hospital SlO,OOO.
Aside from the clauses devoted to civil
service reform, the will was regarded as re-
markable for the great number OF be-
Quests. considered with reference to the APP
proximate value of the whole. Not only
are many institutions remembered, but
there is a large number of private legacies,
the beneficiaries including nearly all of
those closely related to the testator, and
servants and others in whom he took a per
sonal interest, To the widow is bequeath
ed the use of the house at 2 East Twenty
ninth street. with all the books, paintings,
engravngs, furniture, etc; also real es-
tate, buildings, and personal property in
Brattleboro and in Dummerston. lie also
leaves to her six registered bonds which
stand in her name, and she is during her
life to receive the net income from the res
idue of the estate, not in excess OF SlO,-
900. Everett P. Wheeler, John B. Pine
and the testator's wife, Annie s. Eaton,
are the executors nnder the will.
{ with the written consent of Mrs Eaton
the trustees may pay all or any part of the
Harvard and Columbia requests before
they become due. In the clause making
the bequest to Harvard the testator says:
"The principal of said sum is to be held
as a permanent investment, aud only the
income is to be used for the support of said
professorshp.
81 do not attempt to prescribe the spe-
cific instruction through this professorship;
but may say that l have endowed it not
only in the faith that it will always be fill
ed by an able and patriotic citizen, zeal
ously devoted to its purpose, but in the
hope that through its teaching the great
principles upon which our national con-
sttution is based, and in conformity to
which administration should be carried on,
will be indicated and strengthened that
the fit relations between parties and gov
eminent will be made plain; that the obli-
cations of the moral law and of patriotic
endeavor in party politics, and all official
life will be peTsuasvely expounded that
the just relations between public opinion,
party opinion, and individual independence
will be set forth; that an effective inhu-
ence will be exerted for making public ad-
ministration and legislation in the United
States worthy of the character and intelli-
gence of their people; and that not only
the salutary lessons of history will be pre-
sented, but that the most appropriate and
effective means of practical wisdom in our
day will be considered for preventing cor
ruption and partisan despotism in politics
and government and for inducing and en-
abling the most worthy citizen to fairly
exercise controlling power in the repub-
lie.
'It seems to me that these lessons-and
especially such as may be drawn from the
history of the ancient Italian and Dutch
republics and from that of England-have
been byno means adequately expounded in
the teachings of our political sciences"
The Columbia bequest is made with sim
liar provision as to the use only of the in
come, and after stating that the explana-
tions made as to the other professorship
are applicable here also, the testator de-
votes especial attention to municipal gov
eminent. He says:
1.-The problem of municipal government
is one of great difficulty and peril. and
there is little in our early constitution to
aid in its solution. A true and safe munic-
ipal system is yet to be created in the
United States Nowhere is patriotic and
wise leadership on such a subject more
needed, or can it be more useful than in
the city of New York.
ITO determine definite sphere within
which cities and villages shall substantial
ly control their own affairs; to fairly
mark the limits of cooperation between
them and the states beyond the sphere: to
provide the best methods of municipal ad-
ministration; to create councils in cities
and villages which shall, in substance, ex-
ercse their local authority and represent
their public opinion rather than their party
opinion; to greatly reduce the number and
frequency of elections in municipalities
to prevent the control of their affairs by
parties and factions, and to make good
municipal government the ambition and
endeaVor of the worthiest citzens-these
seem to me to be great problems of states.
manship, toward the solution of which
trust this professorship will largely con.
tribute.
Through it 1 hope municipal wisdom
gathered from the most enlightened cite.
of other countries, and from all the best
governed municipalities of the Union will
find effective expression"
The other requests to institutions are a.
follows: Free library of Brattleboro, 500
the Unitarian Congregational society O
Brattleboro, $500; the society for the EN-
ployment and relief of poor women con
nected with All Souls Unitarian church
New York, $500; the American Unitarian
association, $4,000; the Civil Service Re
form association of the city of New York
$1,000; the Burnham Industrial Farm il
the state of New York, $1,000, and tn
Association of the Bar of the City of Ney
YORK, series of volumes on debates an
proceedings of Congress.
The largest private monetary beaues
next TO that of Mrs. Eaton, is to hi
nephew, Dorman b. f. Kent, who is t
receive the income of $4,000 until he
20. lie also may select 100 volumes
other than law books, from the testator'
library.
To his niece, Ruth Eaton Kent. he give
his several lots of land and buildings in In
city of Montpelier, VT, and the sum {
$4,000
To William F. Mixer, who has for yea,
taken care of the testators property
Brattleboro, Mr.. Eaton leaves $1,000. 7
Mrs. Mixer he gives 500, and to each
their children, $50.
Other DriVata heouasts nnainlv 40 ral,