CRITICISM OF THE CARNEGIE TRUST 215 



the item of ^128 which the department is credited with 

 receiving from the Carnegie Trust out of the annual grant 

 of ;iooo for equipment. Thus so far as the main 

 provision for science by the Carnegie Trust in Aberdeen 

 is concerned, the money is diverted to other purposes. 



The Chemistry Department, when the writer was 

 appointed to the Professorship, was credited in the 

 1913-14 accounts with the receipt of 534 of public 

 money that is, ,149 from the Carnegie Trust out of the 

 annual 1000 grant for equipment, and 385 from the 

 Exchequer. Nevertheless, counting in an old endowment 

 which brought in 194, it was entirely supported by the 

 class and examination fees paid by the students taught, 

 without this 534, which was diverted to other purposes. 



By the Act of 1889 all financial control and responsi- 

 bility was taken out of the hands of the Professors and 

 vested in the University Court, who were enjoined by 

 Ordinance 26, Clause V, to keep a separate account of the 

 fees, distinguishing those drawn from each class, and by 

 Clause XI, in providing for the educational needs of the 

 several Faculties, to have due regard, inter ah'a, to the 

 contributions made by the Faculties respectively to the 

 funds of the University. 



Latterly the accounts have ceased even to attempt to 

 conform with the first of these obligations, and for lack 

 of this information it is impossible to say where the 

 moneys nominally given to Chemistry and Geology really 

 go. It is not suggested that they go to Arts or Law, or 

 any particular Faculty, specially. The Court alone can 

 give the necessary information. 



A questionable system seems to be in vogue, euphem- 

 istically known as " saving the General Fund," whereby 

 grants of public money are given not directly only to 

 such departments as are spending more than they earn, 

 but even to those like Chemistry, which'are earning what 

 they spend. The Court is under obligation to report to 

 the Government and the Carnegie Trust annually the 

 manner in which the grants have been expended, and the 



