Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-07-26
TRUSTEES OF ALBANY
COLLEGE FIGHT HARD
Bitter In Opposition to Con-
solidatiOn With Forest
Grove Institution

4 buSNic; OIt, July SO-Nl lIH Ine IruS-
tees of Albany college legally intreneh-
ed and determined to fight to the last
resort in the courts to prevent the merg-
ing of the institution with the Pacific
University at Forest Grove, as recon-
pended by the overwhelming majority
of the Oregon Presbyterian synod com
mittee and by the college board of the
Presbyterian general assembly, battle
was waged on the floor of the synod
Lere today, continuing late into the
night, with the future Of the. college
apparently far from settlement.
The sessions were characterized by
warm debate, in which it was re-
Eeatedly asserted that the Albany
school was in disrepute; that misrep-
reservations had been made; that the
church had been kept in the dark, and
the college board of the general as
sembly had complained it had not been
souarely dealt with.
Committee Presents Findings.
Findings. of fact by the combined
committees on merger and education
we're:
That the institution has debt of
s73,9l3.95, which it appears unable to
pay.
That its endowment is impaired by
reason of failure to collect $41 ,S36.22 of
subscriptions pledged, and by the use
Gf certain endowment securities as col
lateral for loans obtained, this action
being in violation of specific conditions
upon which $4,000 of endowment funds
are held.
That plant and equipment are made
quate.
That the school has an intensely COM
petitive environment
Linn County Asked to Help.
That it is impossible to secure very
large amount Of money for the college
and to provide for it's future needs, un-
less the management of the institution
and the residents of Linn county first
nut the endowment in satisfactory con-
dition and give enough in cash to pay
the debts of the college and assure its
rermanency and efficiency in its pres
ent location.
This committee submitted resolu-
ton declaring the willingness OF the
synod to aid The college i'll every way
ossible on condition that the manage
ment and the residents of Linn county,
where IA of the % members of the
board of trustees reside, show that the
endowment of $125,000 is invested and
Eeld in satisfactory ofrm and $100,0O0
be provided to be used in paying depts
and for immediate needs OF the col
lcoe. In one year, if these conditions
should not be complied with, the reso- |
l1tion called upon the trustees to take
s.eps for the consolidation of the school
with the Pacific university, OF close
the college and return all funds to the
original donors.
Huge Funds Held to Be in Danger.
A substitute resolution was Offered
by Rev. John M. Skinner, of the Rose
CITY Park church, of Portland, elm :
mating the proposal to the trustees
and Linn county and calling upon the
trustees to take such steps as are
necessary to close the college doors
or merge with the Pacific university
This resolution was being debated late
tonight.
Rev. John H. Boyd, pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church, of Portland,
declared that the question of the mer-
ger with the Pacific university was a
dead issue. He wanted to know how
The trustees and those who wanted to
the college proposed to meet
the situation. He charged that $l6,ooo
tf the endowment funds had been
hvpothecated and that, as other endow-
rent gifts were contingent upon the
integrity of the funds, a large amount
was endangered, in addition to the $50,-
600 of the James J. Hill donation.