Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1920 [PAGE 784]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES S. M. A. MEMORIAL FUND

[June 2,

(17) A request for authority to use the money remaining in the Recreation Fund of the U. S. School of Military Aeronautics ($3028.29) to purchase the largest bell of the chimes proposed for the Library tower; this bell to be suitably inscribed to the S. M. A, and the inscription to be duplicated on a bronze tablet suitably placed on the building.

On motion of Mr. Blair, this request was granted.

DECISION OF JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL OF T H E ARMY CONCERNING ACCOUNTABILITY OF COLLEGES FQR PROPERTY

The following statement: I have received notice of a recent decision by the Judge Advocate General of the Army with respect to the accountability of the colleges for property, The decision practically nullifies paragraphs 114, 115, and 117 of War Department Special Regulations No. 44. These paragraphs have authorized replacement of property lost, destroyed, or damaged due to unavoidable cause and without fault or neglect on the part of the institution, or any member of the R. O. T. C ; have permitted a survey in certain instances in order to determine accountability for loss or damaged property; and have not held institutions too strictly to account when they have assumed reasonable care or precaution. The decision of the Judge Advocate General is to the effect that the Department has no legal authority to modify at all the obligation of the bond "to relieve the obligers of full responsibility for a return of the property loaned in the condition as when received (except for reasonable wear and tear)." This means that the University will be responsible for loss or damage to federal property in its custody irrespective of its care or the cause of that damage.

(18)

This statement was received for record.

DESTRUCTION OF BARN

(19) A statement that on April 19 last, between eight and nine o'clock In the evening, one of the group of barns on the Horticultural grounds was struck by lightning. The tools were gotten out with slight damage, but the stock of feed and bedding stored above was burned. The loss is estimated at $2500. Concerning this matter, Dean Davenport writes: ! "I must take this occasion to again call attention to my favorite contention. It is of course a logical and sound business policy for the state to assume and carry its own fire risk, but if it is to do this, then it should provide insurance. Failing in that, it throws upon the University not only the entire risk, but also the burden of meeting as best it can and without funds the consequence of these disasters. "Aside from the ordinary fire risks, which are heavy, this is the fourth building struck by, lightning and burned since my association with the University began twenty-five years ago. The fire at the Natural History building was extinguished without putting the building out of commission, but all the other buildings burned as long-as* there