Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-22
AS TO THE G. w. FINANCES
Dr.. Phillips, Ex-Dean of Medical
School, Testifies.
crust FUNDS IN QUESTION
Inquiry Proposed in Connection
With Application for Appropria-
tion Under the Morrill, Acts
If Extended to District.

A hearing was given before the House
District committee this morning on the
Wiley resolution requesting the Attorne,
General to make inquiry. under the or
ganic law Of George Washington Univer-
sity. into the financial condition of the
university.
Testimony was given before the com
mittee by DR.. Phillips, formerly dean OF
the medical school of the university, who
charged that the Corcoran endowment
fund of 100000. which he called sacred
trust, only the interest on which was to
be used, had been dissipated in the pay
ment of annual deficits, until only $4,000
remained. that $4,000 being represented
by promissory note on premises 1710
n street, owned by President Needham
of the university. The assessed value Of
this house. DR.. Phillips said, was only
5000.
II. T. DOmer. an alumnus Of the uni
versity and a member of the investigat-
ing committee of seven graduates Sc
year or so ago following the dropping OF
number of members of the faculty to
examine the finances of the institution,
testified that the committee had not been
permitted to inspect the. books of the
university. He told the committee that
such permission had been formally re-
quested by letter, but that President
Needham had replied that such permis-
sion could not be given without action
by the board of trustees.
So far as Mr.. Domer knew, President
Needham, although expressing a desire to
aid the committee In its inquiry, had made
ro attempt to secure the formal permis-
sion of the board Of trustees for the de-
sired inspection Of the books.
Would Hear President Needham.
These two were the only witnesses
heard. At noon the committee adjourned
10 meet again tomorrow morning at half
past 10 o'clock. The clerk OF the District
tommittee was Instructed to request the
attendance at tomorrow's hearing of
President Needham and other officers OF
the university And the alumni association.
When the hearing began this morning
representative Wiley Of New Jersey, au-
thor of the resolution In question: ex-
plained that George Washington Univer-
sity had made application for the privilege
iund. which would amount to $4,000 or
$4,000 a year. and the House committee
on agriculture had approved a bill to
this effect and that bill Is now on the
calendar.
1T appears from the hearings before
the agriculture committee said Mr..
Wiley. that there is a discrepancy in the
bookkeeping of the institution.
mine whether we, as individual members
of Congress. can vote for the bill to ex-
tend to this university the benefits Of the
Morrill, act, or whether the conditions are
such that this resolution, calling upon
the Attorney General to make an investi-
cation Of the institutions finances. should
be favoraby reported and passed by sAe
House"
DIR. Philips was then called before the
committee and explained that he had
been connected with the university from
nis graduation In 1890 up to last year,
ana that during tnat period. he had been
can of the medical school Of the univer-
<ity for five years and superintendent of
the university hospital for three years.
As to Endowment Fund.
when I first entered the institution
as student" said Dr. Philips, 81 heard
of the Corcoran endowment fund and
always considered 1. as such UP to two
or three years ago. when ] was told II
was not an endowment fund. but simply
fund to make the college into a univer-
sity.''
1t was then pointed out to the commit
tee by DIR. Philips that In the earlier re-
ports Of the institution the fund was
spoken of as the ''Corcoran endowmen,
fund" while in the report for last year
1900. the word endowment" had beer
omitted. and the fund was simply spoken
OF as the 'CorcOran fund
In the previous treasurer's reports, "
said DIR. Philips. 1.-The Corcoran endow-
ment fund represented fund Of 500. .OOC
from the proceeds of the estate left by
Corcoran and q subscription OF 500 or
raised by the friends Of the university. "
DO tho early reports show that THU
IN endowment fundT' asked Representa.
tive Oicott of New York.
PES"
What does the report for 1909 show p.
1T shows" replied DR.. Philips, .tha,
the Corcoran endowment fund consists
Of $4,000. represented by a promissorJ
note for loan OF that amount upon
premises 171O street. owned by Presi
dent Needham, and which has an assessed
valuation of less than $SO00."
Cost Of the Property.
what did the porperty cost to pur.
chass?" aaksd Mr.. Wiley.
About $11.0o0."
when was 1t purchasedr' asked Chair.
man Smith Of the committee.
I'm fec7," replied DR.. Philips.
III the president of this university
suggested Representative Johnson o,
Kentucky. has the right to lend to him
self funds which came to the institution
prior to now, why can't he lend to him
sells any funds which may come in here
afterr'
There are some questions I would
rather not answer" said DR.. Philips.
who controls the fund.-" continued
Mr.. johnson.
THE president and board OF trustees O
the university
How many trustees are thereT'
WELL" said DR.. Philips. there ar'
supposed to be forty-dve, but the las
time / counted there were only hfteen.'
HAS the president of the university 9
right to dispose Of its real estate?' In
quired Mr.. johnson.
II understand so. the witness an
swered.
Has there been any of 1t 50 disposet
off, Mr.. johnson asked.
Dr. Philips told the committee that al
the information he had on this phase o
the subject he had obtained from reading
one Of the trsasurer,s reports, showing
that real estate to the value of 5000 hat
been disposed Of by sale.
Along about this time a member o
the committee inquired of DR.. Philips
X,0nttns1Ad on 9econd PaRaA