The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-02-07
seth Low
Praises Tuskegee's
Work
Ex-Mayor Of New York is
Pleased With His Visit and,
Tells What He Saw at
Washington's School

den. president of the board OF trustees
Of the Tuskegee Normal and Indus
trial Institute, made public yesterday
letter from ex,Mayor Seth Low to
him concerning his recent visit to Tus-
kegee. Mr.. Low said that he was
even more favorably. impressed than
he expected to be. The letter fol-
lows:
l avail myself of my first opportuni-
ty to submit to you in writing a brief
report Of my recent visit to the Insti-
tute at Tuskegee. l arrived there
late on Sunday evening, December 2,
ard remained there until o'clock in
the afternoon of Wednesday. Deem
Der s. You will perceive, therefore,
that my visit was long enough to en-
able me to see the wo:k of the Insti-
tute somewhat thoroughly. l wish
to thank Mr.. Washington and all his
colleagues for the pains they took to
make my visit both instructive and
interesting.
Speaking In general terms, am
glad to say that l was even more ia
vorably impressed than l expected to
be. The entire institution is perva-
ded by an air OF industry and of self
respect that Is very sinking. Here
the young Negro can see on COM"
manding scale what his race Is capa-
bic of doing, and here he is evidently
inspired by, the subtle influence of his
surroundings to work hard and to do
his best. found all the buildings,
even those which are sometimes ne
elected. clean, fresh and in good or
der. The good air, the brightness
and the neatness of the schoolroom In
particular pleased me very much.
l did not give much attention to
the teaching, rs my object was rather
to obtain a general view of the Insti-
tuition. and In particular to acquaint
myself with its manner of keeping it's
accounts. | did, however. observe the
method used to correlate the work
of the Industrial Departments with
the academic in the matter of literary
composition. Every other week a stu
dent in the shop writes composition
On the work which he is about to do.
This composition is criticised from
the technical point of view by the En-
lish department The work seemed
10 be conscientiotsly done at all points
and the method seemed exceedingly
good.
did not, Of course, go into any ex
animation of the. treasurer's books,
as that is a matter for the auditor;
out | did examine very carefully the
whole system of accounting. The late
Mr.. Baldwin organized this side Of
the work at Tuskegee' on a railroad
basis. That is to- say, the In:titute,
instead of having treasurer who
keeps the books and whose work IS
audited once year from the outside,
has besides a treasurer a permanent
auditors bureau, the Office of which
is to keep all the accounts.
This bureau was placed by Mr.. Bald
win under the charge of Daniel &.
Smith, who is entitled, I think to very
great credit for the work which has
been done under his direction, Mr..
Smith has trained capable young Ne
gro men to do aff1'the clerical work,
and he himself, being an expert ac-
,ountant, visits Tuskegee only two or
three times a year. l found that the
Institute has a ledger account with
every student, even though he should
be there only two weeks; that 1t has
ledger account with every Industrial
Department and with every important
department Of the farm. These &C
counts are kept with such minuteneS&
.s to show for the last few years the
cost of every department and the con-
dition Of every student S account.
| There was no question of financial
detail which | could ask relating to
last year, the last month, the last week
Or the last day, which couid not be
answered in a moment from the re-
cords of the auditors Office. In WORD,
The system seemed to me ideal and 1t
| Is carried out with a thoroughness
that reflects the greatest credit on all
| concerned.
The principal receives daily reports
no 60 Oh
of the herd and the quantity or milk
produced, and the like. In addition,
there is a committee, consisting OF a
| number of the principal officers and
| teachers of the school, called finance
| committee, which meets once week
| or as often as neceac airy. When mater
ial is wanted for any Of the shops, or
in fact any part Of the Institute, re-
ouisition is made by the person lmme-
diately responsible. This Is first
| checked by the head of the DIVISION
an in that form comes before the
| finance committee. The requisit1on
As received by the committee on fin
ance, states In detail what is wanted
and the cost, or the estimated COST
as the case may be. Nothing What
ever Is bought in any department OF
the institute until 1t has been former
~ passed and approved by the com
mittee on finance. A certain i'scre-
ton to deal with emergencies IS ex-
ercised by the principal; but this Is
the rule.
In addition. there Is committee
on the reduction Of expenses, which
hereafter " to prepare the annual
budget to be submitted to the trustees
The immediate object Of my visit
was to confer with Mr.. Washington
and Mr.. Hare on the revision OF the
by laws. / am happy to report the
unanimous decision Of the committee
which is made up Of these gentlemen
and myself, to submit to the mex,
meeting Of the trustees a revision OF
the by laws based upon comeWhat
radical reconstruction Of the relation
of the trustees to the work Of the In
stitute. The new by laws will provide
for a finance committee to have the