THE THEORY OF GOVERNMENT AT MEMORIAL HALL.

IT is on some accounts greatly to be regretted that in College societies the theory of government is so entirely disregarded that any settled course of policy is impossible, and the society is led on, step by step, by mere momentary whims of the majority, or by the influence of its affairs, until the original constitution is entirely forgotten. At Memorial Hall, however, the case is even worse than this, since there no constitution is to be found; for the "Scheme for carrying on the Dining Hall" was, as "A Director" has claimed, valid only for a year, and we are now left with merely a general understanding that the Hall is to be managed to the best of their ability by ten or twelve officers, who are subject in some undefined respects to the control of the Corporation.

If the "scheme" to which I have referred is not to be regarded as a still valid constitution, nowhere that I know can a clear definition of the powers and duties of the officers be found, and not even in that scheme is there any provision for the direct or indirect responsibility of these officers to the Association. The annual election of officers, from a mistaken but widespread idea that any government of students will be overruled by the influence of the President or the Corporation, is not viewed as an event of any importance, and we have therefore great reason to congratulate ourselves on our good fortune in obtaining such efficient officers. Once elected, those officers are, in an official capacity, completely separated from their fellow-boarders; they become absolute, as regards these latter, though they are fettered in some most important respects by the restrictions which the Corporation has been able to impose, while obtaining from us, at the same time, what would seem to be a most profitable investment for their money.

The officers may be, it is true, overwhelmed by complaints which are poured into their ears by individuals, but in this way the opinion of the majority cannot be ascertained, and no means are provided for the officers to report to us the difficulties that they have to encounter, or to show how impossible it is to satisfy every want. Unless the opinion of the majority is allowed to be clearly expressed, each man thinks that he is sustained in his possibly absurd complaint by the whole Association, and will never be satisfied till his complaint is attended to.

Again, we have no means of determining on whom our blame shall fall. Defects may be due to the negligence of officers in not keeping the steward up to the mark, or to the total incapacity of a steward, who, if secure of the Corporation, may neglect the order of those who are really his employers. Neither officers nor steward report to the Association, nor are the proceedings of the Board of Directors made public, in order that we may judge how far each member of that Board deserves our confidence or our censure. And even if it is clearly shown that a director is inefficient, there is no way of impeaching him except to call an informal meeting of the Association to protest publicly against his continuance in office.

But beside the indefinite nature of the duties of our officers, there is no clear limitation of the rights which the Corporation reserves to itself. If the College is afraid to incur the complete responsibility of providing a boarding-place for those of its students who desire to economize; care should at least be taken that these students should not get the impression that their efforts to provide such a boarding-place for themselves may be interfered with at the pleasure of the Corporation. As in the reign of George III. ministers were continually called upon in the House of Commons to deny, if possible, the existence of any unseen "influence behind the throne," so, on a smaller scale, there should be some means for our officers to declare publicly that they have not been unduly hindered in the performance of their duties.

The Dining Hall is at present managed as cheaply as possible without seriously injuring our health, and I think it is an open question whether the majority of students are not of opinion that if the grade of food were higher their health and comfort would be greatly improved; but there is no way of deciding such a question, and therefore, out of deference to the necessities of the few, the many are obliged to be content with inferior food, unless they are willing to pay at a private house a price which shall not only give them good food but also insure a fair profit to the keeper of the boarding-house. If the price of food were raised to $5.50 or $6, those who are contented with or are obliged to put up with, the present grade of food, might form another association at the Divinity School Commons, perhaps, while the less in number at Memorial would be fully made up by attracting men who now pay $6 or $8 at private houses.

Of course I do not suppose that all that has been said will meet with every one's approval, but what ought to be urged upon the Corporation and the students is the formation of some definite constitution, which shall explain the powers, duties, and responsibility of the Corporation, the Directors, and the Steward, and in which provision shall be made for stated meetings of the Association, at which the Directors, the Auditor, and, if necessary, the Steward shall present reports, and which shall give an opportunity for a fair, open discussion of the condition of the Association. I believe that we are still sufficiently selfish to care for our own comfort, and that as soon as we have an opportunity to look after that comfort, we should manifest the greatest interest in the welfare of the Association.

R. H. G.