Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-01-21

pear to apply. to any meetings Of the
board. We do not believe this was
ever intended, and therefore recon-
mend It's repeal
Your committee refers you to the
report Of the treasurer as to the ex-
penditure of money by this institution.
It is impossible for us, In the very short
time given to this Investigation, to go
into>ea expenditure, but as far as We
can Judge, they are correct, and the
books are well kept
| We do not think 1t advisable for the
Legislature to take any radical action
at this time, as We hope that with
new set Of bylaws and new presi-
dent, conditions will soon be vastly Inn
proved.
T. I. ROGERS,
| On the part Of the Senate.
| e. w. DUVALL4
l. M. LAWSON,
| On the part Of the House
Or. MeIl's Charges.
Dr. Melrs charges follow:
Senator T. I. Rogers and Representa-
tives L. M. Lawson and E. w. Du-
vail, Committee of the General AS
sembly:
Sirs-m accordance with your re-
quest, I furnish you with the follow
Ing information concerning the condi-
tions which have prevailed at Clemson
i Agricultural college for some years,
resulting In serious opposition to good
| government and the proper manage
ment Of the affairs Of the institution.
/. The board Of trustees has In the
past interfered too much with the du-
ties Of administration, which belong In
all well-regulated institutions to the
president of the college and his coll
leagues. The Committee Of trustees has
been accustomed to meet frequently at
the college for the purpose Of enforcing
the orders Of the board, instead Of leav-
ing to the president Of the college tlis
responsibility, which by right belongs
to his office. For illustration I cite
the following instances:
The farmer directed by a committee
Of trustees without consultation with
the president OF the college.
A committee Of trustees taking min
ute charge Of all details Of work and
construction and cultivation of crops
on the coast experiment station, near
Summerville. when all such matters
should be under the president of the
college and In direct charge Of the d.
| rector Of the experiment station.
| Prior to April, 1908, interfering with
| the discipline of the corps Of cadets by
setting the action Of the faculty aside
In more than one instance. A resolu-
tion passed in March, 1908, 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 trus-
\ tees who have, prior to December, 1909,
consulted directly with the officials
who are under the president. At the
last meeting Of the board an effort was
made to correct this practice.
i 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 It's In
terests, ordering the books and making
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 be-
long to committee Of the faculty as
sisted by the librarian. Under the fac
ulty management the library has
grown into one Of the most valuable
collections Of books to be found In
the board has been made part Of the
bylaws where It will require nine
votes Of the trustees to correct.
The repair buildings placed In the
charge Of cc-mittee of trustees when
more effective work can be accom-
plished and the buildings kept in much
better condition II the president was
charged with this duty. This Is GUS
| tomary in most colleges
President Not Consulted.
The orders Of the board are at times
promulgated by committees directly to
SUBJ officials and the president often is
embarrassed by not being informed
concerning these orders until he hears
Of them through the subordinate. This
practice destroys the presidents au-
thority with the officials.
The walks, roads and management OF
the campus are now in charge Of
committee Of trustees, who direct all
matters regarding the Improvement Of
the grounds, even to the details. The
president Of the college has been add
ed to this committee, but his influence
made small by the requirements i'm
posed.
On January ,28, 1909, a committee
from the State Farmers Union visited
the college to examine into its work.
ing. My plans were made to enter
| tain these gentlemen, but these plans
were frustrated by the appearance Of
Mr.. r. w. Simpson, member Of the
board, who took these farmers In
charge, and l did not have the oppor-
tunity Of presenting the college work
to these visitors. Mr.. Simpson gave
| instructions to the farmer in charge
Of the carriages and ordered other Of
| flcials in regard to the care Of these
| visitors and in all other respects as
sumed the prerogatives and duties Of
the president of the college in the en-
| tertainment Of and direction Of these
| farmers through the college.
iofa xf,fth ha
dents secretary, who Is q relative of
member of the board, and causing an
unfortunate condition In my Office
| which l have found 1t impossible to
overcome, so that a competent secre-
tary could be secured to do the work
Of the Office. My appeal to the board
to allow me to have absolute control
| Of the secretary in my office because
Of the confidential nature Of the work,
has been unavailing. found 1t was
necessary to call for the secretary's
resignation for the accomplishment Of
good service for the college. The board
of trustees has set my action aside and
| the young lady has been given leave Of
absence until "the new president Is
elected" (See board Of trustees min
utes, December, 1909
The committee of trustees insisting
| that the arrangement Of the subjects
into courses snail nrSt receive the ap-
proval of the board Of trustees before
they can be placed in the catalogue Is
| bad legislation. This duty, belongs
alone to the faculty. (See .by-laws.)
A committee Of trustees taking
charge of farmers institutes and di-
recting all the details Of the work Of
sending to the farmers the instruction
the college has to offer. This work be-
| longs to the salaried officers of the in
stitution under the general direction
of the president.
Meetings Too Frequent.
Petitions and papers Of every kind
| intended for the board Of trustees have
| in many instances reached the board
direct and not through the presidents
office. This practice has been sane
| toned by the trustees as individuals.
The president should be the officer to
bring everything from the officials to
the board, so that he may be well in
formed concerning all matters in and
about the college.
The board of trustees Is meeting
too often, and think the state law Is
being violated in these frequent meet
ings. There would be less chance for
interruption as above given II the
meetings were only two eacn year The
i coda on this SnbieCt.