The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-11
GRAFT CHARGES
 AGAINST SMOKE Inquiry Into Accounts of Yale Dining Hall Su-
 perintendent.
IS ENTIRELY INNOCENT
Accusations Made by Dis appointed Bidders-Mat-
 ter of Food.

That a thorough investigation has just been made into the accounts of Captain Samuel A. Smoke, superintend- ent of the Yale Dining hall, became known last night The investigation was made by the university treasurer, Lee McClung, but not through any doubt as to the reliability of the cap- tain, but to simply and absolutely vim dicate him of certain charges persist ently made by disappointed contractors for foodstuffs.
 By them he was accused of graft and, it is understood, requested the most minute examination of all his dealings connected with the purchase of foods or any other supplies. Recently the bid of a local firm to supply butter to the Commons was rejected by Captain Smoke, and the charges of graft were then made so strongly that the inves- tigation followed.
 That the inquiry could have had but one result was a foregone conclusion. The captain was found thoroughly in nocent and the charges without the slightest foundation in fact.
 c. T. Guernsey, jr., chairman of the food and fare committee, said last night that it could not be put too strong how innocent of the charges Captain Smoke was. His whole conduct has been and is above reproach in this matter of graft. he said.
 The trouble and talk that crops out about the Yale Dining hall once in a while is not strange, when 1t is consid- cred that 1000 students are fed there every day.
 | Following the announcement of an increase in the fixed charge of board at the dining hall from S3 to s3,25 a week have come reports that the students are dissatisfied with the food given, that numerous complaints have been made and that large numbers are leav- ing the dining hall
 | MT. Guernsey, who is in the senior class at the law school, was asked about these reports last night and sm- phatically denied them. There is a complaint box at the dining hail. Mir. Guernsey said, in which the students put all complaints. This box is opened every Thursday night when the meet l ing of the advisory committee is held There were only four or five complaints when the box was opened last Thurs day night. This, MT. Guernsey said was the average number received. l The box is not only used for com plaints but all requests for certain mu- sical numbers by the orchestra, which Is hired by the students and sugges- tions as to changes of food are placed in it. As a proof that Captain Smoke is ready to heed every suggestion it is | cited that a request made recently that a certain course be served at tive meals and omitted at one and some thing else substituted was immediately granted.
 J. H. Clark, president of the commit tee, was seen and stated that the com plaints had been fewer this year than formerly. The students, he said, seem to be well satisfied as whole. A can vass by reporter of a large number of students who board at the hall brought out this fact more strongly.
 In speaking of the rise of the fixed charge from $3 to $3.25, MT. Gurnsey said that 1t was absolutely necessary if the standard of the free list was to be kept up. He stated that the man. agement had discovered small deficits for several months passed, due to the fact that the cost per person had been averaging from $3.15 to $3,3O a week, Retrenchment had been tried, but fail ed to make expenses and income equal The increase was therefore imperativ. The $3 rate was fixed several years ago, when the cost of food was much less than now.
 It was learned that thirty-five stu dents signed out of the Commons yes terday. This is a somewhat larger number than usual and is due, presum- ably, to the increase in the fixed charge The fixed charge covers the cost of ser vice and of food, except meats, eggs, fish and extras.