Evening star., 1935-02-13
.|CKES MAY REFUSE
HOWARD j. FUNDS
IN IRREGULARITIES
Secretary Says P. W. A.
Cash Must Go for I'M
provementS Only.
TREASURER is BLAMED
IN "TECHNICAL" DISPUTE
Disclosures Climax Long Con-
troversy at Institution-Anti'
Johnson Faction Involved.

To enforce compliance with Public
Works Administration regulations oy
Howard University officials, 1t was
said at the Interior Department TO-
day that Secretary Ickes may refuse
to advance further sums to the instl-
tuition until he is convinced the
money will be spent solely on the
improvements for which it is allotted
Secretary Ickes has called to tne
attention of Howard trustees speclnc
cases of irregularity-not due 10 dis
honesty-in the handling Of P. w. A.
funds disclosed by a recent investlga-
ton. He placed responsibility for
these irregularities upon v. D. john
ston. treasurer at Howard, who had
charge of disbursements. While 1cKes
made no recommendations as to dis
ciplinary action, officials at the de-
partment said this was a matter for
the university trustees to decide.
The disclosures by Ickes brings to
head a long controversy at Howard,
which resulted last Friday in the
breaking up of board meeting IN
New York, at which the charges were
discussed. The charges originated
with faction opposed to the admins
tration of DR.. Mordecai w. Johnson,
president, according to Interior De-
partment officials.
Similar to Beltsville.
Ickes' action in regard to Treasurer
Johnston was in the nature of reprl-
mand, for there was no suggestion OF
dishonesty in the misuse Of P. W. A.
| funds, some S29 900 Of which had been
spent for other purposes than the al
lotment specified. The case is SINH
| lar to that Of the Beltsville. Nd. ex-
perimental farm, which induced Ickes
to hold up further advances until
a reorganization was effected.
The Public Works Administration, it
was pointed out. may indirectly COM
| pei Howard officials to take similar
action in the case of the present ad
ministration. Howard is a private in
stitution. but is partially maintained
by Government funds. Ickes' aides
we're waiting for the trustees to take
the next step.
Some Of the P. w A. funds intended
for Improvements were spent for
ICdIIlCIS 4IhCS dloO
brought to the attention of the truS-
tees that Treasurer Johnston had paid
less than the P. w. A. minimum wage
scale to some of the workers on the
projects.
None Of the employees has made a
claim for additional pay. but if any
claims are filed, it was said, IckeS will
hold up further advances until the
wages are adjusted. The P. w. A.
has allotted Howard over S22OO,000,
but the irregularities charged are said
to involve expenditures of a $4,000
allotment for repairs, all of which
has not vet been advanced.
Treasurer Explains.
Treasurer Johnston explained that
he had followed the procedure under
congressional appropriations and had
been informed that P. w. A. regula-
tions need rot apply to the work pro-
vided all the money was spent for
worthwhile university purposes. He
is not charged with dishonesty, P. w.
A. officials explaining that the irregu-
laritieS were of a technical nature.
but clearly in violation of rules gov
erning expenditures.
In reporting the facts to the uni
verSity trustees, Ickes ignored recon-
mendations of a disciplinary nature
by his own Bureau Of Investigation.
In its report to the Secretary, IckeS
agents recommended that considera-
ton be given to recommending that
the Howard trustees consider the ad-
visibility of removing the president,
treasurer and superintendent of build
ings and grounds because of past
Irregularities. The superintendent of
buildings is E. S. Hope.
At the meeting of trustees in New
York, from which Chairman Abraham
Flexner was said to have withdrawn,
it is understood committee was ap-
pointed to continue investigating the
charges.