St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-01-23
Experts Make ThaIr Report to ihe Governor,
ShaWIng Startling M~Ismanagemelt.
MILLION WITHOUT VOUCHERS
items u Expenditures Charged 70 A IabOreF,
who Says ne GOf Nothing But Ills Salary.
Numerous Irregularities.

Of Prof. B. G. Caldwell. President Of
the Louisiana State Normal School,
by Governor Sanders during the first
days of the latter's administration.
II was cited BY the enemies Of the
Governor that he 1.-THE GOVERNOR had
permitted politics to enter the school
system Of the State; that he had
asked for Nj. CaldwelTs resignation
because Caldwell had opposed bis
aination for Governor.
All that time Governor Sanders had
III his possession facts concerning the
gross Encouragement Of the affairs
Of the Normal School on the part Of
Mr.. Caldwell, which amply justified
the Governors action.
Tie report Of the experts, appoint
cd to examine into the affairs Of the
school, was made public last Friday,
and furnishes interesting reading.
a synopsis Of the report, as pub
lished in . Baton Rouge dispatch,
follows:
Baton Rouge, La, Jan. 16.-GoY.
Sanders to-day made public the
report Of Travelling Auditor A. NJ.
Smith and State Bank Examiner
William 4. Young on their in7estiga-
lions Of the books Of the Louisiana
State Normal School at Natchitoches
and the Boarding Club, operated in
connection with It, during the admin
istration Of Prof. B. G. Caldwell as.
president from Aug. |, 1896, to Aug.
), 1908. The report shows numer-
Gus irregularities, and an impossible
ity to find receipts Or vouchers for
more than 100000 discussed
during that period.
The report, which covers thirty-one
typewriter pages, shows that ac-
counts Of Che school and the Board
Ing Club we're poorly kept; and there
vas no ledger, and that after Sep
tember, 1903, che system Of account
ing became even worse.
It Is shown that President Caldwell
borrowed ia, 575.54 from the club
1T various times, for which no inter-
est was paid; that he credited him
self with $2418.70 for wood, haul
ing and chopping, and also $1701.50I
for wood. Many items of expendi-
lures are charged to the accounts of
John Vines & Co. John Vines is a
laborer employed BY the Boarding
Club, and states that he received
nothing but bis salary as such from
Che club.
The fact that Prof. Caldwell paid
himself $1039.50 for a milk bill
twice, and when confronted with this
fact last November, maids no expla-
nation, but paid back the ~overcharge
with interest, is shown.
u IS brought out that the club
paid Prof. Caldwell d total Of Sl1,-
41o.5o for provisions, milk and
butter.
That the former president borrow
ca $500 from the club to pay a note
owed ~ the Crystal Ice and Laundry
Company, Of which be was president,
and that be purchased five shares Of
stock IN the company at 500 for the
club Is shown.
From the records it is shown that
Prof. Caldwell, during his administra-
zion, received and disbursed $1,000
64670, Of which 1926, 1854 was
funds Of the money 81 the Normal
School; $275.466.3o was paid By
students for board in the club. and
S22S,o84.66 was given him as presi
dent Of the club to safekeep for them.
There are no records to show for
what aay Of these sum we're dis
bursed.
The report also shows that, after
buying Prof. CaldweIrs live stock,
the Boarding Club has made III the
last Eve months $3.50 from milk and