The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-08
NORTHROP DENIES
STORIES OF GRAFT
President of University and
Board of Control Member
Debate

University of Minnesota last night de-
clared his belief that the board OF con-
troll jurisdiction of the state university
injured his institution. He supple
mented his statement by defending
the reputation of the board of regents
from whispered stories of graft in the
Old days DIR. Northrop said that from
MS personal knowledge the regents had
given their best thought to the institu-
tion without substantial return.
Ut. Northrop's somewhat sensational
statements were made at a hearing on
the board of control bills before the
mouse committee on general legislation.
The meeting was held in the chamber
OF representatives and the chamber
was nearly filled by members and
friends OF the university. S. w. Leavett
OF the board of control was practically
the only friend of the board present.
Mr.. Leavett made a spirited reply to
the attacks made on the board of con-
troll. He defended the board and
charged some of the professors with
having conspired to embarrass the
board of control in it's administration
or the affairs of the university. The
board OF control member condemned
lne puolcation in the university papers
OF attacks on his board, and declared
That the trouble with the university
was that II had too much dead timber
in its faculty
President Northrop Talks
l desire TO give voice 10 my honest con-
conviction is that the university is suffer-
ing from the present plan of two boards
etointronlng its affairs. l have no unkind
things to say of the board OF control mem
bers individually, but the thing is wrong
in principle
Whispered stories of graft in connection
Win the regents under the regent plan
OF administering the affairs of the uni
versities In the past reached Dr. North
Top yesterday. and he denounced the
stories as untrue and calculated to win
votes against the PerIey bill separating
the university from the board of control.
nave heard these stories today the
veneiable president said with a show of
feeling / have heard 1t said that one
member has determined TO vote against
The Perley bill because he has been told
for the regents. i have been a member
on the board of regents for twenty years
nave been a member of the executive
committee for most of these years and
also clerk OF the committee. have taken
down the proceedings at almost every
meeting the committee has held. and am
mere TO say that not a cent has been i'm
properly diverted by the regents And
now to circulate these stories to win votes
against the university is infamous.
j. T. Wyman. president of the board
OF regents, condemned the dual board
system from a business standpoint. Dr.
III. n. Nachtrieb, professor of animal
biology, told of eXaSperating delays in
securing chemicals and other supplies
needed for his department, and DIR. r.
I. Beard said that the Minnesota uni
Versity Is unique in that il is the only
university under the control of body
chosen without regard for their spe-
cial fitness for university supervision.
Prof Harry Snyder of the state ag-
FOL
that the $4,000 appropriation annually
received from the national department
of agriculture for the aid of the state
experiment station was in danger be-
cause of the system of accounts con-
Quoted by the board of control. Prof.
Snyder said that the Minnesota station
Is one or the best in the country, ana
unhampered by board of control man.
agement il would be the very best.
DR.. f. s. Wesbrook, state bacteri-
ologist, explained the importance of the
Investigations which such departments
as his were making in the cause OF
science and disease preventatives.
leavett Defends Board
s. w. Leavett said that the board
had intended TO be neutral, but had
been forced to defend its position. Con-
tinuing, he said:
There are some heads of departments
that have sat up nights studying how to
throw hindrances in our way and TO pre-
vent our success. Some of them have
spoken here tonight. III there had been
the same cooperation between the heads
of the departments and the board of con-
troll, as with the board of regents, there
would have been less friction
l believe in free speech. but Ii should
be limited. IL is time to call halt when
students in their papers and meetings are
attacking publicly a department OF the
state. Some of this talk about the board
has come from the very shadow OF the
10 get out from under the supervision of
the board of control that are simply dis
honorable.
The board of control has tried to pro-
tect the state against grating. II I'VE
have found some employees drawing two
salaries, we have cut of one of them. We
have arbitrarily cut out few things. but
only in cases where We thought 1t was
wise 10 do so. Where we have made a cut
of any kind. it was because we did not
have the money. 1t is honor enough for
the board OF control to bring the institu-
tion through without deficit. IL the
board of regents would cut out some of
would be accomplished and make the uni
versty a better institution. They have
teachers there that have passed their use
fulnesS.
The meeting did not adjourn until IL
o'clock, and just before the adjourn
ment President Wyman of the board of
regents told the committee that the
regents had reduced the salaries of
several superannuated professors rather
than turn them into the streets.
The committee took no action last
night.