The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-26
HOUSE DEMANDS
@. w. u. INQUIRY
Continued from Page One.


remaining IS the equity they have IN the
building at Fifteenth and II streets. There
is a bonded Indebtedness OF $4,000 and
nearly 10000 OF floating Indebtedness"
"Wlu the gentleman from Missouri
please explain how It was. OF what ex-
cuse was given, for the use OF the off,
cials OF the institution Of the invi0late
endowment fund.- asked Representative
Cooper. THAT is an endowment fund,
and part OF the promise upon which II
was given 10 the institution was that II
should remain inviolate."
I'VE questioned them about that" said
Mr. Borlaud, "and the evidence brought
out the fact that in previous management
Of the institution there had been similar
Improvements. It was stated that under
a former management a part OF this sale
OF the Van Ness Park property had been
used 70 make the fund intact. The trus-
tees then turned the funds into the hands
OF the present management intact. but
soon after. they say, a panic occurred,
which held UP their banking account, and
that was the only excuse they ever gave
for invading this fund They said 1t was
necessary for the life Of the institution.
so as 10 keep it going.
Used Funds After Panic.
Now. the panic only lasted ninety
days. and It turned out, as shown by the
testimony. that they continued 10 draw
on this fund. and then they borrowed
S47.Oo0 on notes In the bank. and there
was a sale OF a small piece OF real es-
tate for $500"
The House was ready 70 vote by this
time. and its attitude was evident Rep
resentative Bouteu. Of Illinois. said he
was in favor Of the resolution. but he
thought It should not be adopted without
a full understanding by the House Of the
Morrill, act and its provisions Of reaching
the university. He then explained the
Morrill, act at considerable length. Mr.
BOutell Is the author Of the bill desig-
mating George Washington University as
the beneficiary under the Morrill, act IN
the District Of Columbia He explained
the reasons which actuated the committee
IN thus selecting the university. declaring
that every proof existed that Il was
neither a sectarian nor a private institu-
ton. two charges that had been made by
those who sought to prevent the uni
versity in sharing in the benefits Of the
Morrill, act. He cited a list of private
institutions in the District receiving ap-
preparations annually from Congress.
Character of University.
Representative Tiren, OF Massachu-
sets. gave some interesting historical tes-
tlmony bearing on the public character
OF the university. He recalled that In
1888 Daniel Webster gave his father. Nor
ton O. TirreIl. free scholarship in the
old Columbian Medical school, a privilege
Of appointment then enjoyed by Senators.
The debate having become somewhat
wearisome. Representative Sulzer. Of New
York. made hit by urging the House
10 stop talking about the Morrill, act and
to pass the resolution of investigation.
Representative Scott, of Kansas, chair
man Of the House Agricultural Commit
tee. said that all the information sought
10 be obtained from the Attorney Cen
eral was already available in the form
Of printed hearings before the Agricul-
tural Committee. The officers Of the uni
veUsity, he said, were willing 10 have
an investigation made. They did not deny
that the university was pressed fnan-
cially
Il want 20 disabuse the mind of the
House that something new has been IN
covered here" he said. Representative
Olcott Of New York, said that he wanted
the resolution to pass, as a friend Of
the university.
This brought the debate TO a close. and
the resolution was adopted without OPP
position.