The University Finances

I have watched with muoh interest the proceedings ot the investigating committeo at the University, and hare about come to the conclusión, with many other graduates ot the in stitutlon, that the whole matter will be "whitewashed " and tlie state made to pocket the loss white certain professors at Aon Arbor wil still be retained in their position, and coutin u to live in luxurious style on their ill-gained funds. Th is certainly is not right. The alumni o the University and the taxpayers of the State of Michigan all demand a iull and speedy set tlement of the matter, and a just punisbmeu of tlioso that are guilty, let it fall on who i will. If the ex-director of the laboratory is sus pected of fraud (and I understand that he is in hls accounts with the laboratory, why no look intn his other dealings with the institu tion ? The state has within a few years buil lor the University a hall, a medical building, and several additions to the laboratory, and has a)8O built expensive water works, for which purpoBe it has appropriuted froin $100000 to $200,000. Now, all of these project have beeu placed by the Board of Regenta under the entire management of the ex-direolor of the laboratory. Why not, then, while the investigating committee are looking at his laboratejy accounts, look also and gee how this vast sum of money, given by the people of the state, has been expended r It is an easy matter, by actual computation and measurement, to laarn how niur.h sUine, how many feet of lumber, and how many brick have bcon used is the building of these buildings, and how many feet of pipe and how much machinery it has taken iu constructing the water worka. Then look up the receipts and reporta resutting from these expenditureB and see how they compare. It may turn out that some hundreds of feet of lumber and pipo, or thousands of brick, have been charged in the accounts which, by the showing of the investigating committee, could not actually have been used in the construction of these improvements to the University. If there is any such defalcation, let the guilty suffer, as other defaultera do to-day all ovei the land. Aa we tax-payers understand tin matter, the ex-director has nothing now whatever to do with the laToratory, but is now a member of the hterary department, and at the head of the " School of Mines," - but as there are no students in the School of Mines, and really no School of Mines to be at the head of, why is it that he should receive $2,500 per year trom the University for the use only of his name and not for any labor whaterer ? This is a queation which I should be pleased to have some member of the regenta anawer. We trust that the regents, through their investigating committee, will soon giv to the tax-payers a full and just account of what haa been done with their money, and will prosecute thüse wlio have misuaed it. Alumnus. Detroit, Feb. 12th, 76. We fear that our Detroit ootemporary has been sadly imponed upon, for one thing ia evident, " Alumnu " displays too much ignoranoe to be a gradúate of the Uuiversity, or such a lack of truth as to brand him am unworthy son. I. As to bis insinuation that the "investigating oommittee " is engaged in an attempt to "whitowash" any one, those who know Messrs. Climie, Walker, and Itynd will scout the idea; and if the expert accountant is a party to a " whitewashing " scheme, Gov. Bagley and eiQot. Baldwin, who reoommended him will need apologize to the Committee, the Regents, and the State. So let that pass Hite a gust of idle wind. II. It will be news to the Regents or others con versant with University mat tera that the State bas witbin a few years built for the University " a medical building " or " several additions to the laboratory." Exoept $10,000 paid toward the medical building by the city of Ann Arbor, it and the laboratory and additions were bnilt by appropriations froni University funds not coming from the State. It will be also new to the Regents and all well inforzned citizens that the State has " built extensivo water works, for which purpose it has appropriated f rom 1 150,000 to $200,000." If our inemory serves us rightly, or if there is not a mistako iu the appropriating act, as officially published and interpreted, the amount was just $5,000III. And "dow all these projects have been placed by the Board of Kogents under the entire management of the ex-director of the laboral ory." If " this was thus " what of it ? But the director (not yat " ei") had nothing to do with the building of the new " hall.'' That building was ereoted under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. Jenison, assisted by Prof. Wood, and those gentlemen charged and were paid the usual superintendente oommission. The " ex-director," or speaking plainly, Dr. Douglas, did have charge of the medical building and the laboratory, - as he did years ago of the old medioal building and the old south dormitory building, now the south wing of the hall. He may have charged fot such superintendence, and may have been paid for such superintendence, and we presume that such is the fact. The work was not done in term time, was no part of his legitímate duties aa a professor, cost the University no more than it would to have employed an outsider, and no one who knows the buildings will venture to say that the work was not as well done as on the hall or any other building on the grounds. We are told (not by Prof. ! Douglas) that for superintending " thd ■ sztensive water works," Dr. D. has i jr charged nor been paid anything." ' IY. As to the proposition to count the rick, measure the stone, luniber, pipe, te, it is sufficient to add that the geveral buildings were built by contraot, the contracto furuishing, ia every instnnce we think, the material. V. " We tax payeru " can learn by inquiring at the legitímate sources of in'orination that the " ex-direotor " is professor of ohemistry in tho medical departmeut, professor of metallurgy and applied cheinistry (in the School of Mines), and director of the laboratory and that he has regularly lectured to the medical clasg and discharged the Dthor duties inoumbont upon hiin. We have referred to tha article o " Alumnus " not in the interest of Dr Douglas, but in the interest ot' the Uni veraity which cannot but be injured b; these unjust and ill-timed assaults ; anc in defense of the Begents who withou pay or emolumenta, or with very smal thanks, have the University and it nuances in charge. We say unjust, anc the facts we have stated warrant us in the use of the term ; we say ill-timed beoause Dr. Douglas should not be in dioted, tried, and convicted by anony mous scribblerg, or even a rosponsibl preRs, until the committee now investí gating bis financial management of th laboratory, etc., has completed its labora If that committee find that he has mis appropriated fundo plaoed in bis hands or " gobbled " f unds not belonging t him, or been paid for services not ren dered, of whatever [name or nature, w shall offer no excuse, apology, or defens in his behalf. Until such time the pub lic should not pronounce judgment on both the Begents and Dr. Douglas.