The sun., 1917-10-17
COUNCIL URGES
THAT COLUMBIA
BRUSHES
Faculty Recommends Ref
erence of All Charges to
Special Committee.
MANDATORY CLAUSE OUT
Report of Committee Of Nine
Materially Altcred-Prof.
Dewey Resigns.
MANDATORY CLAUSE OUT

An important change In the policy Of
Columbia University so far as IT az
fects officers Of the institution or mem
bers OF the faculty who come In con-
hict with tho board OF trustees or with
other officers or faculty members was
recommended to the board Of trustees
yesterday by the University Council at
special meeting In executive session.
These recommendations cmbody certain
changes in policy suggested by the uni
versity's committee Of nine which
formulated them. It is understood, as
a result Of the agitation over the ousting
OF Profs. J. McKeen Cattcll and II. w.
l.. Dana and the resignation Of Prof
Charles Austin Beard.
The principal change advocated by
the committee Of nine is the formation
OF committee Of reference. TO which
may be referred any matter affecting
the relation Of any officer or faculty
member to his colleagues or the trus-
tees AS this change was worded in the
printed report of the committee COPY
reference OF such matters to the COM
mittee OF reference was made manda-
tory. but the mandatory feature ap-
parently was stricken out in the execu-
tive meeting Of the University Council
and the words may be" substituted.
Took Power From Trustees.
Tn its original wording the proposed
change was the most radical suggestion
that has been made at Columbia in
recent years. taking from the hands of
the board OF trustees tho right to be
the sole judge Of the acts Of a faculty
member or officer Of the univ ersity and
vcsting that right In the proposed new
committee. As the recommendation was
finally adopted and sent to the Board
OF Trustees by the council. h,wever. 1t
merely provides that such matters "mae
be referred" to the committee by me
council. the president or any officer
Of the university.
Whether or not the proposed change
is made and the committee Of reference
becomes part Of the university gov
erning authority depends entirely on the
board Of trustees. to which the recon-
mendations OF the council and the COM
mittee of nine have been submitted. and
which alone has the power TO adopt
them and make them a part OF the
policy Of the institution.
Recon- me endatlOns of Council.
The five recommendations OF the
committee Of nine. AS they were finally
adopted BY the University Council, are
as follows:
/. That the council create a standing
committee TO be known as the Commit
tee of Reference.
=. That any matter affecting the rela-
ton OF an officer OF the university to his
colleagues or the trustees may be re-
ferred to the committee either through
the council or directly by the president
or any officer of the university.
8. That the trustees committee on ed
ucation be requested. before taking ac-
ton In reference to the separation from
the university of any officer on the per-
manent teaching staff Of the university
to submit to the committee OF reference
in conference or otherwise. for consd-
GRAFTON and report, the facts and docu-
ments regarding any specific proposal
for such action, and that the committee
on education be further requested TO rec
ommend appropriate formal action by
the trustees to establish such procedure
as the policy Of the university.
4. That this committee OF reference be
composed Of the president OF the unlver-
sity as chairman, and six members
elected by the council from the member
ship Of the university faculties. with
power TO elect two or more additional
members to serve for any specific occa-
sion that Of the first six members two
shall have terms Of service Of one year,
two OF two years and two of three years
as determined by lot and that thcreaft ter
members shall he elected for terms of
three years.
S. That the committee Of nine be dis
charged.
Prof. Dewey Quits Committee.
When the counci! made public the re-
port OF the committee of nine II became
known for the first time. except in the
inner circle Of Columbia. that Prof
John Dewey had resigned az a member
OF the committee because Of the action
of President Butler In demanding the
resignation of Prof. Dana. Prot.
Dewey's letter Of resignation. addressed
to Edwin X. A. Seligman. chairman Of
the committee, states that In view OF
DIR. Buffers action there seems no rea-
son for the continued existence Of the
committee. The letter In full follows:
'In view Of the fact that the presi-
dent has asked for the resignation Of
Prof. Dana under penalty OF dismissal
without securing an inquiry by or hear
ing before any representative body Of
the faculties. there seems no reason for
the continued existence Of the commit
tee of nine. and herewith present my
resignation.
"You are aware that ] have felt from
the first that the committee was In a
delicate position In that 1t would be easy
for conditions to 30 shape themselves
that we should become an inquisitory
body without corresponding power OF de-
Tending our colleagues against arbitrary
action. Conspicuous ignoring Of the
committee on an occasion when II would
have been conspicuously appropriate to
clothc 1t with authority to ascertain and
report upon tho facts renders. II seems
to me. the continued activity Of the
committee Inconsistent with professional
self respect. l wish my resignation to be
const rued retroactively so far as to dis
sociate myself entirely from the action
taken yesterday. II the permission of
the remainder OF the committee IN neces-
sary to effect this, may trouble you to
put this request before them?'
I4,OiNI British CHsualties In Week.
VoNnnN nrt 16-Rriticb m o,, m ~ = o