The Washington times., 1910-04-22
e. v. j. FINANCES
UNDER FIRE BEFORE
HOUSE COMMITTEE
DR.. Phillips Charges That
100000 Corcoran Fund
Has Been Dissipated.
CHARGES PRESIDENT
BORROWED FROM IT
Thorough Investigation OF Con
ditiOn of the University
Demanded

As q result Of sensational testimony
given before the House District Com
uittee this morning regarding the f.
nances OF George Washington Univer-
sity BY Dr. Philips, formerly dean Of
the medical school, II is probable that
the committee VIII insist upon a most
thorough investigation Of the Frances
OF the Institution extending over q long
period OF years.
Dr. Philips charged that the Corcoran
endowment fund Of $4,000 had been
dissipated by the officials Of the uni
versity until today It is represented b.
promisOTy note OF $500 given BY
President Needham in return for money
borrowed from the university, the~se-
curity for which is President Needhan's
residence ar I7I0 y street northwest
which Dr. Philips said is no. worth
more than ss,05G. Dr. Phillips CHARGED
that alumni OF the university have been
denied the privilege Of examining the
books Of the Institution. and in response
TO question he declared without hest
tation that II would not be advantazeous
10 the university IL the funds allowed
under the provisions OF the Morrill, act
were 70 be administered by the present
management
Philips Called Upon
Dr- Phillips was requested % appear
before by the committee bv. Rep-esea-
tative Wiley Of New jersey, who re-
Gently introduced q resolution calling
upon the Attorney General to conduct
a careful Investigation OF the financial
ard educational affairs of George
IL shingtOn University, and tG fur-
nisH the House with detailed report
covering period u al least the zast
ten yeaTs as 10 the receipts. invest
-lenIs- and expenditures Of the uni
varsity 10 each az its dauarlnents
said report to be s>Speciafl7- esxoffr-fr -
20 tle departments OF engineering.
arc1ltectUrs- veterinary medicinf- and
pharmacy, on the following points
q 4rSf- amount the university has in
vested IN buildings in each Of these
department tS- second detailed state
IDeDt Of items Of equipment OF each o.
enrolment for the past three years ia
each subject taught IN each OF these
dc epartr1e ents- fourth salaries paid the
individual professors OF each OF these
departments, and the charges made
s Stuceuts Tor laboratory fees in these
d. Lpartments-
Fraud Name Charged
n referring 10 the Corcorsn end97r-
ment fund Dr. Phillips called attention
90 the fact that IN President [eedham-s
report for the year 1913 the fund is 10
longer referred to rs The Corcorau
Endowment Fund but as The Corcor-
an FunE-' He said that 50 FAR a s. the
friends Of the Institution u ere able -
learn The fund rad disappeared Nth tire
exception Of S1s.6sI- v.nien was represent
ed by President NeCdhaul-S Uyte with
ms residence as se-uTi-v- tn house
said Lir- Philips WaS purchase. in IS15.
and Its original cost Uzs about SlI.691-
This information seemed TO taTCIe sew
eral mem bers Of the couuitte
If officials of the university had the
right 10 .ca0 themselves money out o.
She university funds IN the past would
theV not have the same riCtlt 10 borrow
Such IUns'S as might come 10 it N the
iutureE asked Representative Johnson
Of EeutUcky-
1t would seem So replied Dr- Phil
Interest Of members in the C0rco-77
fund was prompted by the remarks oF
Representative Wiley at the beginning
OF the hearing He declared that the
hearings before the House COMMITTEE
on Agriculture in connection with fhe
BOutei bill granting George Washington
{ University the benefits Of the AICTrou
act seemed TO disclose a discrepancy ia
the bookkeeping OF the institution
Object Of Hearing.
The object Of this hearing said 8Ir.
Wiley lis 10 determine whether we. as
individual members OF Congress. can
vote tor the bin TO extend 10 this uni
VerSity the benefits OF the MOrriI act
or whether the conditions are such that
this resolution, calling upon the attOr-
ney general 70 make an investigation OF
the institutions finances should be
IaForably reported and passed by the
House We want TO know particularly
what has become of the CCrcoran fund
W hat has become Of the difference
between the original COrCOran fund Of
S215.G10 and the $500 which seems TO
be all that is left Of the original grant
asked AIr- Johnson
Want to Know.
THAT IS something the alumni would
like to know" answered Dr. Phillips.
I'VE tried to find out but we were
begged of and told that TO press an
investigation would hurt the univer-
sity's charces OF getting the benefits OF
the Morrill, act.
Does il not appear continued Mr.
Johnson. that the university IS not
only spending the fund but also dis
posing of its real estate2'
1T would seem So" replied Dr. Phil
DR.. Phillips read a number Of fnan-
cial statements, some Of which were
handed TO hina- he said by Dr. W Q.
owen who succeeded him in the chair
OF anatomy in the medical school
You have been in controversy with
the university haev you not2F asked
Representative Pearre % Maryland.
no Personal Motive.
Il was let out and have not vet bee.
told the reason answered III. Ph{Uios-
Il have no personal motives l., aupear-
ing here, and I want the uri -ersftv to
succeed, and believe that the best
way Tor it TO succeed IS 90 be open and
above board in everything
In response TO a question or Nr. John
SON. Dr. Philips said he believed thar
II the university paid OF all its 6abrS
IL would have about Sa3,oe as q residue.
1Ir- pearre asked DR. Phillips III E.
thought his Cesire 10 see the university
succeed would bs furtheIed by his op-