The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-14
Board Asked to Remove
President of Virginia
Polytechnic.
TO INVESTIGATE
CHARGESIN MARCH
Serious Nature Of Allegations, in
Boards Opinion, Demands Full
Inquiry-Claitned That At
tendance Rolls Were Pad
ded-Dr. Barringer to
Reply.

Serious charges ngainst DR.. Paul b..
Dnrringcr, president of thc Virginia
POiytcclnic Institute. mt Diucksburg,
were filed with the honrdo of visitors
OF that Institution yesterday by the
welfare committee OF the General
Alumni Association. While the text
of the charges was not mndc public,
the report calls for the removal of DIR.
BnrrlnEcr from Office, The welfare
committee taking the ground TINT no
man who is guilty OF yyhnt they assert
! to he true has ii, right to remain ut
the l,end of public Institution NJ
learning.
Besides personal charges. the report
alleges that the presidents reports
have shown padded attendance etatls-
tics, and have given other informa-
and to keep the members in Ignorance
as to real conditions. i.
Dr. Barringer said to The Times-
Dispatch last night that hc could and
would answer all of the charges made.
and that his reply in writing. with
documentary evidence to sustain his
istatements. will be ready for the next
| meeting OF the board, to be held at
Blacksburg on March 25.
Welfare Committee Reports.
The whole matter was under con-
sideration throughout the day, the
board sitting in the courtroom OF the
State Corporation Commission. At a
meeting of the Alumni Association
held at Blacksburg last June. well
fare committee, headed by Lawrence
Priddy. Of New York, was named TO
examine into the affairs Of the insti-
tuition and make certain representa-
ttons to the board.
The report presented was signed by
TWENTY-FIVE members. all but five OF
those named. Three members of the
welfare committee. VINO are also niem-
| bers OF the board. were not asked to
istGn the paper.
The report of the welfare commit
tee made forty-nve I, vpcwsisten pages.
and was taken up iarscl:. with cx-
cerpts from the records and reports
OF the president in support Of the
charge that the board has been mis-
Informed 'as tosactua1 conditions, both
as to attendance and curriculum. Be-
/, sides the board and members OF the
jwelfarc committee. there were invited
TO be present number of
members of the Finance Com
nittecs of the Senate and House,
otherwise the meeting was pri-
vate, newspaper men and visitors
being denied admittance. and no direct
or official statement was issued at
the close, beyond the statement that a
full investigation would be made by
/ the board at the meeting held II,
March. n
! BnrrinEcr to Answer. 5
AT the conclusion OF the reading OF
the report. Which occupied several
hours. President L. E. Johnson. of the
Norfolk and Western Railway. a mem.
per OF the board Of visitors. took the
ground thar the charges brought h1
the committee representing the Alum.
nj Association. were of SO serious
character that no board under an,
i circumstances could refuse to take
4 cognizance of them. He, therefore
moved that at a meeting to be held a1
II Blacksburg, March 30, President Bar,
u ringer be called on for a formal an.
swer in writing, and the resolutior
was adopted unanimously. sss
i Some of the members Of the twelfnr.
\ committee took the ground that tfai
a was too long a time to wait, in view q
the seriousness Of the situation, ant
the immin ent danger of the presen
Legislature reducing State aid or cut
ting off the support ofthe institution
Members of the board, after discussion
& concluded that the charges were y
SO serious a nature and involved s,
A broad a field that DIR. Barring should
have that length of time to Scorrespont
With persons involved. and gather I'll,
u evidence necessary to support his de
tense. further resolution was adopt
ed directing President Barringer t,
place in the hands of Chairman Priddy
/, of the welfare committee, at least t.,
ba n1retiner otE ~.
burg, copy of his reply, with 81
evidence attached. SO that all partie
may be fully prepared to so into al
> investigation at that time.
n May Have Legislative Inquiry
i Members of the board do not den,
], that Legislative investigation OF IN
institution is imminent. Members
!, the General Assembly have frankl,
stated that unless the board ordere,
, a full inquiry at once q resolution
, would be offered for the appointment
) OF special committee to make
| thorough examination and report be
!. fore further State funds are exnende
!, at Rlacksburg. While the charges ar
Y admittedly Of serious nature, the,
). do not Involve any misappropriatio,
{ of funds or embezzlement, and IL
) that reason some friends Of the insti
!, tuition have taken the ground that a
. this stage the matter was more prop
( erly In the province of the board Q
visitors than OF the Legislature 4 es
peoally so far as they involve polio
! ana management, Others Y conten
that charges Of administration Q
A the affairs OF a State institutlonfshoul
I be handled directly and promptly b
7, the Legislature.
/, widely Divergent Accounts.
/ While none OF tho principals In
I yolyed viii make any direct statemen
!, for publication, widely divergent az
n counts are given BY friends Of I'll
q two factions, those close to tho wei
2 fare committee allesing most seriou
|. situation. which may result In n com
{ nlate vithdrawal Of State support frol
the the school. Friends q the presiden
however, tahs M sseana s ol,, thst
4 nolioy. n that Or. Barringers efforts (
q build idY m nn agricultural college hay
\ continued on Fourth Pa ge.5