The New York herald., 1922-09-01
GOV. MILLER TO TRY
FARMINGDALE CASE
Summons Trustees to Show
Cause Why They Should
Not Be Removed.

The nine trustees of the State In
stitute of Applied Agriculture at Farm
ingdale. l.. L., were served yesterday
with summons to appear before Gov.
Miller In the executive chambers at
Albany on September H. to answer
charges which have been brought
against them. and TO show cause why
they should not be removed from Of
flee. The trustees are William NJ.
Baldwin. Henry p. Tuthill. William w.
Niles, Irving J. Long, Jacob w. Hne-
man, Carl II. Fowler. Hilda Ward.
Pierrepont
The trustees are charged generally
with inefficient management, and spe-
officially with authorizing improper ex-
pendture of money received from the
Federal Government for the vocational
charges follow an investigation made
by Edward G. thinner OF the State In
come Tax Department as special COM
missioner for the Governor. In his re-
port thinner recommends complete
change in the management Of the in
stitution and the removal of Albert A.
Johnson as director, declaring him TO
be unfit for the job, The report also
commends DR.. Allan Roberts, dean OF
the faculty, who was dismissed by the
trustees day before yesterday,
Refused to Resign.
Mr. Baldwin. one of the trustees under
charges issued statement last night
in which he said that 1t was not possi-
BILE within a short space to discuss and
reply TO the detailed charges. The
trustees. he said. have filed brief
with the Governor. He also said that
he recently had an interview with the
Governor, who demanded his resigna-
tion, which he refused to give.
In his report to the Governor Mr..
thinner makes the following charges:
That by broad Interpretation of an
opinion OF the Attorney General the trus-
tees assumed that they could use the
money from a contingent fund they Gre
ated in 1919 as they saw fit, and were
accountable to nobody. this rdnd is now
made UP of S1,259 from the Long Island
Food Reserve Battalion and $59.741
from the Federal Vocational Board as
tuition for disabled soldiers.
used to increase the salaries of members
of the faculty, including that of Direc-
tor Johnson; for labor. publicity and
many other purposes not within the APP
preparation by the Legislature
That nearly $35. 600 was paid out from
the fund In salaries. of which Johnson
got S6.093. IT Is charged that he re-
ceived from the fund $500 year in
addition to his salary OF $1,000 with
maintenance provided by the Legisla-
ture. Mr.. thinner said that under the
law the money should have been turned
back into the State treasury
Servants of the state.
That domestic servants for the director
were carried on the State pay roll as
'laborers"
That when Johnson was dissatisfied
with the public schools for his two chill
dren he had the trustees establish an
elementary school at the Farmingdale
Institute for their special benefit.
That no tuition was charged non-resi-
dent pupils. as required ny law, and
that Director Johnson was continually
suspicious Of his faculty and directly
responsible for an absolute lack Of
loyalty. confidence cooperation and
unity at the school,"
or Johnson the report said that he
was wholly lacking as an executive.
and that bcca use of his suspicious at
titude he could not obtain the loyalty
OF those under him.
"As TO the trustees" said the report.
their implicit faith and confidence in
Johnson had blinded them to his short
comings."
From the general charges AGAINST the
trustees Mr.. thinner excepted Miss
Hilda Ward who, he said. appeared to
be the only one on the board capable
of exercising any Independent judg-
ment.
Gov. Miller said yesterday: II do not
wish to discuss the Farmingdale mat