The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-01-22

former state accountant, against
Chancellor Kincannon and Secretary
Ross, of the University of Mississip-
pi. ....---.
IT am frank to admit that an invest
igation by our committee for the pur
pose of ascertaining the truth or falls
| ity of these charges would be of lit
tie consequence" said Chairman Ed
dins last night ut would not amount
to much for the simple reason that
there is not an expert accountant on
our body, and We could not prepare
comprehensive report or make thor
ough investigation of the books of
the institution.
while l have not discussed the
matter with other members OF the
committee. 1t is my opinion that 1t
would be an act of injustice to Chanc-
ellor' Kincannon and Secretary Ross,
asfwell as all others involved, not to
have a fair and impartial fnvestiga-
ton made Whether 1t should be
done by the state revenue agent.scof-
fee, or BY, expert. accountants select
ed from outside the state, and, there
fore not subject to partisan influences
! am not prepared at this time to
say. However,. the charges, - should
not be allowed to pass unnoticed."
Another matter Of vital concern to
the University, as we'll as the. three
other state educational institutions,
now. pending before the senate com-
mittee on universities and colleges, is
the Burkitt bill seeking to. abolish the
general board of trustees, created by
legislative act In 1870. and return
to the old system of separate boards
for each institution. The Bnrhtt plan
is to have the. boards composed Of
five members each. Incidentally, this
would make nice little mess of
patronage for the new Governor.
81 am not at present in favor of
abolishing the general board plan,"
said Chairman Eddins. eat least,
want more light on the subject be-
fore taking action, and believe other
members Of the committee have the
same attitude on the subject.
81 have therefore decided to ask
Hon. ]. S. Sexton, the chairman of the
general board, to appear before the
committee at his earliest convenience
and give us his ideas on the subject.
That the state has secured the scrv-
ices of a genuine educational leader
in Mr.. Sexton I have not the slightest
doubt, and I would be reluctant to
make a change at this time until the
general board plan is given a thor
ough test, and showing made wheth-
or 1t is success or failure.
| .SeuaG q. ..4- I4..
Chairman Morrison, of the house
appropriations committee, says that
the public purse strings will not be
loosened until his committee is able
to proceed intelligently, having before
1t financial budget showing what
the states revenues will be during
the next two years, what the various
institutions want In the way OF funds
for support and improvements, and
| what they really need. ia 3oH
I sour committee Is working hard,
and we are getting our bills in good
4 shape" said Chairman Morrison. nAs
soon as the ways and means commit
tee can give us summary of ireye-
nues in prospect, and the humane
and benevolent institutions commit.
Itee drafts its budget, we will be able
to put the appropriation bills through
with q rush, and there win be no nee
essity1 for holding them up until tow
ards .the5close of the session." "a
1 That Chairman Morrison and his
colleagues intend to use, the pruning
knife. very literally Is q foregone con
lCtubhpht II 40 uoL oNou Aosurcu tuA'
\ the public schools will get saii they
! want, and the department of educa
ton will probably be very fortunate
| IL It gets an annual appropriation Of
| 81. 10000 per year. ~
Alarmed at the conditions at Nc
Comb City and Water Valley. where
i strikers are terrorizing laborers who
have taken their places in the l. c.
shops. the committee appointed
by the Mississippi legislature to in
vestigate into the advisability Of
maintaining the militia, will make a
report today recommending that the
troops be maintained. at both places
4 The committee is now considering
| the advisability OF recommending that
Governor Brewer send more men to