The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-01-21
CLEMSON COLLEGE
IN THE LIMELIGHT
COMMITTEE BIAMES BOTE
NELL AND TRUSTEES.
Probable Truth, Says the Report, in
Charges that Board Interfered
too Much and Nell Showed
Little Administrative
Ability.

Columbia, January 16.-The report
Of the legislative committee charged
with the investigation Of the State
educational committees has some un-
usual matter in it, especially with
regard to Clemson College. This
committee consists Of Senator T. L.
Rogers and Representatives Duvall
and Lawson.
On the subject of nepotism, the
committee says:
We would again call your atten-
ton to the recommendation made by
your committee at the last session Of
the General Assembly. In that re-
port we recommended that the Act
forbidding the employment Of rela-
tives by public school trustees as
tehchers should be amended so as
to include the boards Of trustees of
our State institutions. II the Gen.
eral Assembly had good and sufi-
cient reasons for the enactment of
| this law In making it apply to the
| trustees Of our public schools, the
very same reasons exist why the
same should apply to our colleges
! In our inspection We have inquired
as to the extent Of nepotism in our
institutions, and the effect that
nepotism is having upon their opera
tion. We are led to believe that this
is very dangerous practice, and
while it may work seeming hard
ship to certain individuals, yet we
should legislate for the whole peo-
pie and for the protection Iof our
colleges, and We think it should be
prohibited by the statute law Of the
State. We think it fair to the 9th
er institutions to state that this prac-
tice does not prevail to any extent
except at Clemson College. We feel
constrained to add that peculiar cir
cumstances have partially created
this condition there.
Conditions at Clemson.
Concerning conditions at Clemson
the special legislative committee has
this to say:
In view Of the fact that a great
deal has been said in the press Of the
State as to conditions at Clemson
college, and also in view Of the fact
that such a large sum Of money is
yearly expended there by its board
of trustees, your committee felt it
incumbent upon them, as far as time
would allow, to make a somewhat
thorough investigation.
We find that there has been a de-
plorable lack Of cooperation be-
tween the trustees and the president
and between the president and the
commandant to the serious detri-
ment of the Institution. The re-
tiring president feels that the trus-
tees have usurped his powers and
by interference with the details OF
the institution, which are directly
the duties of the president-such as
discipline of cadets, orders to his
subordinates, taking charge Of buy
ing the books of the library, and die
.tating the curriculum-madeya sue
cessful administration impossible
for him.
The trustees feel that the presi-
dent has failed to exert the authority
given him, and by his failure has
made it imperative for them to ex-
ert activities along lines they would
have been glad to leave to him. Re
gardless Of who is right in these
claims, your committee feels that for
the future good Of Clemson, It Is
necessary that a strong man be elect
ed president that he be made the
real head of the institution; that he
be given all the powers to enable him
to thoroughly control and operate
the entire institution. AS an evl-
dence that intention Of the trustees
to remedy the above evil, we quote
the following resolution, which was
passed by a meeting in July. 1909.
"That committee Of three be ap-
pointed by the chairman to take into
consideration the revision of the
bylaws, and. in consultation with