The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-10-14
GIFT To
PEABODY
COLLEGE
REFERRED TO
GEN. GATES
ISSUANCE OF THE WARRANT
Comptroller Frank Dibrell Writes
to Attorney-General Asking
Opinion on the Question.

Since the recent action of the David
son county court relative to the 500, 600
bond issue made by the county as one
of the conditions incident TO securing
the $1,000, 600 from the Peabody educa-
ton fund for the George Peabody col
lege for teachers, the question as to the
present status of the states $3.50, 900
appropriation for the same institution
has been raised by Comptroller Frank
Dibrell. Mr.. Dibrell addressed letter
to Attorney General G, T. Gates, jr.,
today calling attention to the action of
the Davidson county court and express
ing the opinion that steps should be
taken to protect the state in regard to
the $25O,OO0 already paid by the state.
Comptroller Dibrell's letter, which is
self-eXplanatory, follows:
Hon. Charles T. Gates, Jr., Attorney
General, Knoxville, Tenn.-Dear Sir /:
wish to call your attention to the fact
that the appropriation of $3.50, ,OO0made
by the last legislature to the Peabody
college was paid some time ago.
4 You have doubtless observed from
the papers the attempted amalgama-
ton of this college with Vanderbilt
University.
! The county court of Davidson county
on the first Monday of this month
unanimously adopted resolution
Withholding the bonds of 100000 vot-
ed by Davidson county until the Janu-
ary term of said court, 1910.
| believe that some steps should be
taken to protect the state in regard to
the S25OOO0 already paid by the state,
and l would be glad if you would look
into this question and take it up or ad-
wise me what course should be pursued
in the premises.
do not believe it was the intent of
the legislature in appropriating this
fund that it should be consolidated
with or merged into any other inStitu-
ton of learning in the state.
Yours very truly,
FRANK DIBRELL,
Oct. 5, 1909. Comptroller.
Payment of Appropriation.
Acting under authority of the legis.
lature, Comptroller Frank Dibrell is.
sued his warrant, No. 673l1, under date
Of May s. 1909, for S250,0O0. This war
rant was made payable to the trustees
of the Peabody education fund and was
handed to eX-GoV James ID. Porter, q
member of that board. This warrant
was issued by the state comptrollel
with thefull understanding on his par
that the city of Nashville and David
son county had complied with theil
part of the agreement, and that the ap
preparation of each, 100000 from thu
city and 500, ,000from Davidson county
had been paid.
The compsroller's warrant was pre-
sented in. the office of State Treasures
Reau i. Folk, but was not paid il
that office until June !, 1909. 1t wa,
paid by the treasurer to the trustees O
the Peabody education fund, and wa,
endorsed for that board by ex-Gov
Porter Before the warrant was hon
ored by the state treasurer that officia
looked into all the conditions unde
which the appropriation was made BY
the legislature and fully satisfied him
self that all these conditions had beer
met as contemplated by the act
Legislative Act.
The act of the legislature under tn,
immediate authority of which the stat
paid this $3.50, 200 was chapter 20, act
Of 1909 This act, after quoting tn
resolutions adopted by the Peabod,
board setting forth fully the conditions
incident 10 the appropriation, says il
section 2;
"Be it further enacted, That the stat
o. Tennessee hereby appropriates tn
sum of S250,0)O to the establishment
, support, maintenance and use of sal,
college provided, however
always that the various sums AM
amounts required by said resolution
to be raised by the city of Nashvill
; and by Davidson county are raised AM
!: paid over as contemplated, and tina
the trustees of the University of Nash
! vile convey TO the trustees of the Pea