Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-10
What's New in New Mexico

lOfet mere De some reason lof not uu-
ing SO. feel disposed to insist upon
an aaTH meeting Of the board. | have
suggested a meeting previously during
the past two months, hut without re-
suit,
Even though you be fully advised
from other quarters, | thought II
would do no harm to write to you In
this way
With kind personal regards, am,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) FRANCIS e. LESTER.
Mesllla Park. n. NJ. Jan. 9, 1915.
Hon. William &, Mcdonald, Governor
Santa Ice, n. NJ.
NV Dear Governor Mcdonald:
Looking back over a period of about
two years during which | have been
connected with the agricultural col
lege as regent, / feel very strongly
that the interests OF the college have
suffered because our board has met
so infrequently, and has been SO little
in touch with the work of the institu-
tlon. Although very radical changes
have been made in the institution, the
number Of meetings that have been
held has been far less than In normal
times.
1t seems to me that the relationship
that should exist between board OF
regents and an institution such as this
should be much the same as that
which exists between the board OF d.
rectors of a bank and the directed
II should not be necessary for our
board to interfere with petty details,
but il is necessary to my
idea--thlt members of board should
show a much keener interest in the
welfare OF the Institution and of the
various departments than our board
has shown. The present condition in
the First State bank at Las Cruces
would never have come about II the
directors had had personal knowledge
of the workings of the bank. In the
same way. | feel that present condi-
tons In the college would be greatly
improved had our board been more
personally in touch with the work of
the institution. The responsibility for
this must Of course lie chiefly with the
officers of the board; ana IL is the
policy OF our present chairman, and
has always been, that the members
of the board should have as little TO
do with the institution as possible.
The result is that some members OF
the board do not know twenty-five
per cent OF the men we employ, even
TO speak to.
A personal interest on the part Of
board members in the individuals that
we employ and their work, Is bound
to increase the efficiency of that
work greatly.
| simply take the privilege of eX-
pressing my views on this point, az
a IL 4. hlk
intimated a desire to have a free eX-
preston of such matters and felt
confident that you wished to bring
about a high state of efficiency by
any means possible. When as is the
case with our board, no meetings are
held for six months or more at a time,
although the law specifies more fire.
quent meetings; when bills approved
are not considered by all members OF
the board in their meetings; when the
appointment of our faculty members
is left entirely to the president, ana
their selection not promptly con
firmed by the board--uBder condi-
tons such as these. | do not believe
the interests Of the institution are be-
ing furthered as they might be; nor
can there exist that cordial relation
ship between the heads of depart
ments and the board which is highly
desirable if not necessary for the best
work.
/ very much hope that you will sue
coed in working out a solution of the
present financial difficulty, and am
hoping to learn, from one source or
another. that success has been
achieved.
Very truly yours.
(Signed) FRANCIS T.. LESTER.