The Washington herald., 1909-06-21
NEEDHAM DEFENDS
SYSTEM AT G. w. u.
Continued from Page One.

the retirement OF DR.. J. Mcbride Sterrett
and DR.. J. H. Gore is reiterated in the
statement. and the philosophy OF profes-
sorial retirements. in which an entirely
different point OF view is assumed by
the Carnegie Foundation. is dealt with
broadly
President Needham maintains that
when a professor has become entitled 70
a pension. either by length OF service
or by age limit he has the right TO re-
tire voluntarily at any time. and the
university has an equal right 10 retire
him when for any cause 1t seems eX-
pe6ient to do 50
The right Of the university 10 retire its
teachers became an especially vital and
pressing question when retrenchment was
determined upon. It became necessary
10 reduce expenses TO the extent OF $Zo.-
o0o. and 70 distribute that retrenchment
among all the departments OF the univer-
sity
"Of necessity the services Of some OF
the teachers had 10 be dispensed with.
says Presidnt Needhan. and in select
ing the ones TO be retained. all things
Leing equal. it was natural 70 retain
those who were thoroughly in harmony
with the general plans and development
Of the university.
Action Seems Contrary.
The action Of the Carnegie Founda-
lion in assuming that the university had
no option. but could retire only those
eligible who voluntarily sought retire
nent, seems 10 be contrary TO the usual
construction Of pension systems. Waiv-
ing this point however. their action in
our case was hasty and arbitrary"
President Needham then inserts his
open letter addressed to DR.. Pritchett.
on June L. in which he fully explains
the circumstances attending the rctire-
ment Of Drs. Sterrett and Gore.
From the year 1902. when the present
administration assumed charge, the de-
velopment of the university is traced
There were then a day college, with less
than a hundred students. and a faculty
OF eleven professors and teachers There
was also the Corcoran Scientific School
doing undergraduate work In the evening.
which was conducted by the professors OF
the day college.
These professors received salaries In the
day college ranging from $1,000 10 800 a
year, and . per cent OF the students fees
for the evening work. This arrangement
was made between the faculty and the
university TO prevent any liability for the
expenses Of the evening college.
The law school was conducted by
lawyers in practice and judges in service.
The medical school was conducted by
practicing physicians. There were no pro-
fessional teachers employed giving their
whole time 20 the educational work
The successive steps IN the university s
development-the discontinuance OF the
Corcoran Scientific School, the employ
ment Of professional teachers in the pro-
fessional schools, the establishment OF
true university courses In the law school,
OF the college OF engineering. the division
OF architecture and OF education - are
dealt with in detail
But One Object.
1T VIII be observed" says DR.. Need
ham. that in all these changes there
was but one object in view-namely. to
improve the educational standards and
methods. bringing them as near as our
resources would permit 10 the standards
and methods prevailing In the best in
stitutions.
The advances IN the standards OF ad-
mission and work. together with the
change TO a nonsectarian basis. admit
ted the university 70 the benefit OF the
Carnegie Foundation. It would have been
impossible for the old university 70 have
procured this recognition. Out Of the
many hundred Institutions in the coun-
try. only sixty-two have been placed on
its accredited list by the Foundation. Re
ports have been made 10 the Foundation
by the university. and its agents have
examined the law and medical schools
within the present year.
mo serious criticisms had been made
by the Foundation until its hurried and
unexpected action on June 4"