The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-19


years. resulting in serious opposition
to good government and the proper
management Of the affairs OF the in
stitution.
1. The board of trustees have In
the past interfered too much Will
the duties Of administration, which
belong in all well-regulated institu-
tions to the president of the college
and his colleagues. The committees
of trustees have been accustomed to
meet frequently at the college for the
purpose Of enforcing the orders of
the board, instead of leaving to the
president. Of the college this respon-
sibility, which by right belongs to his
office. For Illustration I cite the fol-
lowing instances:
The farmer directed by a commit
tee Of trustees without consultari IN
with the president of the college.
A committee of trustees taking
minute charge Of all details Of work,
and construction and cultivation Of
crops on the Coast Experiment Sta
tion, near Summerville, when ali
such matters should be under the
president of the college and in direct
charge Of the director Of the Expert
ment Station.
Prior to April. 1908, interfering
with the discipline of the corps Of ca
diets by setting the action of the fac
ulty aside in more than one instance.
A resolution passed in March, 1903,
however, corrected this evil for the
present and enabled the discipline
committee to control the situation
when the cadets left the college AprIl,
1908.
The budget taken out of the hands
Of the president of the college and
placed in charge of committees of
trustees who h;vc, prior to December,
1909. consulted directly with the Off
cials who are under the president. At
the last meeting Of the board an { f.
fort was made to correct this prac-
tice.
The finance committee of the board
assuming by board order and, by the
authority Of the bylaws. full charge
OF the college library. in all of its in
terests. ordering the books and maxi
ing rules and regulations for the
proper conduct OF the parties who
frequent the library. 'This duty of
purchasing books and making rules
for order should belong to a commit
tee OF the faculty. assisted by the lib
rarian. Under the faculty manage
ment the library has grown into one
or the most valuable collection of
books to be fC md in South Carolina.
This new action Of the board has
been made part of the bylaws where
it will require nine votes of the trus-
tees to correct.
The repair Of buildings placed in
the charge of a committee of trus-
tees when more effective work can be
accomplished and the buildings kept
In much better condition II the presi-
dent was charged with this duty. This
Is customary in most colleges.
The orders Of the board are at
times promulgated by committees di-
rectly to sub officials and the presi-
dent often Is embarrassed by not be-
ing Informed concerning these orders
until he hears Of them through the
subordinate. This practice destroys
the presidents authority with the Of
f1cials.
The walks, roads and management
or the campus are now in charge of a
committee Of trustees, who direct all
matters regarding the Improvement
of the grounds, even to the details.
The president of the college has been
added to this committee, but his in
fuence is made small by the REQUIRE
ments imposed.
On January %, 1909, a committee
from the State Farmers Union visit
ed the college to examine into it's
working. My plans were made to
entertain these gentlemen, but these
plans were frustrated by the appear
ance Of Mr.. r. w. Simpson, a men,
Der OF the board, who took these far
mers in charge, and I did not have
the opportunity of presenting the col
lege work to these visitors. Mr.. simp-
son gave instructions to the farmer
In charge Of the carriages and order
ed other officials in regard to the care
of these visitors and in all other re-
spects assumed the prerogatives and
duties Of the president of the college
in the entertainment Of and the di-
rectiOp of thace forpparc <Lro,ut.