East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-07-21

w. NJ. Pierce, regent of the Ore
gon Agricultural college, returned to
Pendleton this morning after having
attended a meeting of the board of re-
gents at Corvallis on Wednesday. IL !
was the regular annual meeting of
the board, and some very important
matters were disposed of, one of these
being the decision to continue the
branch experiment station at Union,
which is under the supervision of the
board
According to Mr.. Pierce a decision
was given the board by Attorney Gen.
eral Crawford, by which the use of
money which is now on hand will be
allowed during the next two years.
This sum is said to be sufficient to
keep employees at the station to main
tain the grass and grain plats until
another appropriation can be secured.
These are the most valuable part of
the station, and for a time it was said
that they would have to be aban-
doned. However, the cattle at the sta
ton will be sold, an order having been
made to that effect at the recent
meeting.
Regarding the faculty of the agri-
! cultural college, several additions
/ were made, but no removals. While
| there was some opposition TO Presi-
! dent Catch on account of his age, 1t
was not strong enough to cause his
removal, and the matter was not
brought before the meeting. Presi-
dent Catch is now over 70 years OF
age, and is one of the most noted edu-
Gators in the state. He came to the
college in '97, at which time H. B.
Miller was removed, and has served
as president ever since. Within that
time the school has prospered greatly
under his management. Yet 1t is fell
by many that the president is now toe
old to fill such an active position, and
should resign.
Somewhat of a contest occurred ir
the regents meeting over move tc
force Director Withycombe to either
resign from the faculty, or else aban'
don his campaign for governor. Sew
eral of the regents believed that tht
present course of the director was no
proper. However, when the matter
was put to a vote the proposition wa
downed by vote of to 4. Conse
quently Dr. Withycombe may con
tinue his campaign for the republican
nomination without any danger from
the board of regents.
A chair of horticulture was estab
lished and Professor Irvine of Iowa
was chosen to fill that position. Also
two assistant professors employed
one for the mining department, an
one for that of agriculture. Permis
, sion was granted to the Y. M. c. A
! to erect a building on the colleg
grounds under certain restrictions
and it was also decided to secure wa
ter from the new system which is De
ing constructed by the city.
Hon. ]. K. Weatherford was re
elected as president of the board @
u regents, and John D. Daley was re
tained as secretary.
As to the effect of the hold-up G
the appropriation bill on the schoo
Mr.. Pierce says that the only bad feat
ure will be that the proposed me-
girls dormitory cannot be erected
S However, the money for the regula
n maintenance of the school, about $50
S 900, was not affected, as it is mostl
$ from the national government
r During the past year" said Nj
n Pierce. there were $50 students er
rolled in the college, and it is now re
garded by many educators as the hes
educational institution in the state a
well as the largest"