The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-01

Editor OF. The TImcs-Dispatct
Sir,-In the report OF the hearing before
lhc House Committee last Tuesday of the
Advocates respectively OF tho BoaZ blll
and tho West bill, I am mentioned as "a
yorinp tho former, provided two amend.
mcnts should be rnade thereto. This mat
ter Is OF such great interest and import
ance that I ask the right to state my po-
sltion fully.
Tho Boaz bill so amends the Law as 70
allow the Board OF Visitors to create an
executive head Of tho University. to III
1t as tiey please and prescribe such pow
era and duties as they see TT. There
fore 1t confers very large powers with
no restrictions nor Safeguards. While
VIC might trust, and for ono certainly
am willing to trust, the present Board.
yet when so fundamental a change IN
the law liz made we should e provide
against It's abuse by any board, " hoever
may at any time compose u.
Ne hud found by sad experience tnat
the General Assembly would always eject
to an office withinits gift one Of its own
number, or q member OF some recent
Legislature over any other candidate, lor
req sons not far to seek, and therefore
our present Cons tltution absolutely N
hlbits such action. Pari rationel. IT seem
cd wise to me to inhioit the poafu itom.
ever filling any office in Its gift BY any
Of Its own members, or any one Whovnao
heen such for the four years previous,
that being tho legal life OF member.
Therefore I offered this amendment 20
meet this objection, viz: After Word
"proper" in fourth line, insert Wotas
"But no such appointment shall be Haue
by snid board from It's own oooy' OF any
ono who has been q member O. saiu
board forffour years. is s5 5a ~
Moreover, the Board OF Visitors has been
| known to create a chair and fill It at
one and the same session. ana 80 " might
create this executive head and fill IT ike
wise. while 1t is manifest that the pup
llic. tho alumni, and the Faculty shouia
! have timely notice OF such actloh, anu
duo opportunity to make nominations at
| least--and this would meet. in n meas
urc. tho object OF the West bill, whereby
| II is sought to give to the alumni some
| voice In such q matter-nanifestly no no
| possible eveil, but only good can result
from this provision and, besides, pc
| love, tho board itself would prefer thus
TO enlist public interest and ensure pun p,,.,
lie approval, Therefore, my secona sus
0ested amendment was, Wis ana no
such appointment shall be made until ave
notice Of tho time when and OF the pihGe
| Et,hern8 such appointment Is TO- De 1nluo -
nlven by5pubiicatlon for four weeks pre-
yious thereto In nGewspaper ~ :. n!ts"eo ~
| Cha rlottesville and IN ftlcl'!i'.o'u, (,
.h So az egunrds upon the boards great
powers cannot DO REQUIRED d, preferred Saen
| - IL The present crisis. but with some
su ue amendments, greatly prefer the Boas
| bill. o,,or ,,o,,,,,
+honght to be influenced In Its action BY
selfish consideration and 1t secures to the
public, to tho alumni and to the faculty.
ample and fair opportunity to be heard,
In conclusion, ! may say that while for
many years flercely fought a president
Tor the University, am now fully per-
suaded one should be appointed, and tho
Boaz bill should be further amended to
adopt the provision Of the West bill, maxi
Ing this action obligatory upon the hoard,
| and not leaving It III their discretion,
i think It rather premature as yet to
prescribe by law tho powers and duties
OF the president, rs after few years
experiment we can do this far better.
Respectfully
JAMES p. HARRISON, A
Danvllle, Va, Feb. %. 1908.