The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-25
NEW YORK COLLEGE.
The Alumni and Faculty Oppose
Its Abolition.
A COMMITTEE OF DEFENCE.
President Webb's Views on the Value OF
the Institution.

who left II before graduating was held last night in
the large lecture OF the college building About
i've hundred gentlemen were present, among whom
were General A. s. Webb the president OF the college,
and several members OF the faculty. General A. r..
Ketchum, The president OF the Alumni Association,
occupied the chair Mr.. G. H. Crawford acted as Sec
rotary.
General Ketchum read tho ''call" for tho meeting.
II alluded bill Tor the abolition or the college
proposed in tho Assembly by Mr. Grady and set iorth
that the graduates and former students shou'd
publicly express opinions as 10 the propriety oil
the change Mr.. Ketcnum said that the Dill
called serious consideration by all citizens
but particularly by those who had Shared
IN the benefits OF the college. The effect Of
bill doubtful Some said that, as 1t now STOOD
it would only have tho effect OF repeating the
act OF 1861 which made the institution col.
lege and would leave it an academy and de-
pendent on the Board OF Apportonmont Tor It's
annual Income, II was before the passage oil
that act. Others, said the speaker, believe that
the scope OF the present bill embraces the total
abolition Of the college, and II is said to be the nten-
ton OF the proposer to alter 1t as 10 leave no doubt
Us to the attainment OF that result. Therefore he
thought that the question demanded the most serious
consideration since a movement on loot which
must end either in The abolition OF the college or the
esscning OF lis sphere OF usefulness unless proper
measures be taken to prevent such q result.
MEASURES.
The Executive Committee OF the Alumni Associa-
hon then reported that IL had caused the appoint
ment OF a ''Committce OF Defence" which consisted
Df twenty five members. This latter committee, In
turn reported that bad taken such steps as seemed
best calculated to further the interests OF the college,
These reports were accepted AMI tho Committee on
Defence rendered permanent after which Professor
Compton, graduate OF the college and member of
its faculty, offered series OF resolutions TO express
the OF the meeting on the bill now before the
Committee Cites. These the subject ofmuch
discussion, in the course of winch many gentlemen
uttered OPINIONS unavorable to the abolition scheme
and assigned many different reasons Tor holding such
opinions.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
After being subjected 10 revision by committee,
the resolutions were unanimously Carried III the io!
loving form:--
Whereas bill has been introduced in the Assembly Of
college Of tho Cry New York exists and whereas
this college OF value city and that It's
abolition would work great harm IN many ways,
Heso.ved, THAI we, citizens OF New iors, alumni and
against the Of this bill OF any similar measure
and Tor the following among other reasons = =,
Firt-rhirty years ago our ctzens appealed to the
9 the State to supply to The youth Of ths cay
long been felt The necessity OF such education as great
OF in the city able provide therefor this
Secoad-rhe proper OF republican govern.
ment demands that not only the wealthy Tut also many
be ionnd large number Of highly traned ntelecs COM
,h"pnh t 1 Of hs cnil a is ono
oil the efficient of stimulating the aborer
or mechanic that hopeful INDUSTRY which the peace OF
ae the psSspsry OF the people and the stability
fOuith-ln between
and states those must inevitably fall behind which neglect
to avail Of every possible means Of increasing
fV The College of the City of New York is the only
or can now furnish higher education to large numbers of
stru-It is the only institution in which tho trimming
haa y I'll Who i. 70 profit oy afnlsnsa
Pap and @ mae naR
sret the only college in this city which is wholly
free from denominatonal influences, ana in which AL
nens meet equal footing and without regard to class
E%M-lt IS a COLLEGE nine-tenths of whose students
, Niah-lt Is college which has already started more
than twelve yonng men in the paths OF learning
Tu-I is college to which thousands of pupils in the
which men CLIFTON and verpancs thought desirable
judged in Us is4 and which H's ' is
ersssina popularity Ssessed by the ANNUALLY
number Of applicants for admission TO its privileges For
Resolved That we petition the Legislature of the State
1850 take any other action by which the useful
ness OF this peoples coiiege may be impaired.
PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
In response TO general request, President Webb
addressed few words tho meeting He
said that he heartily sympathlzcd with the action of
The meeting ana entirely approved Of It, lie was
convinced OF the usefulness OF the college
ISSUE and the point which was most electual in
ming over the enemies of tue college the ques-
ton, "Wha Will you do If you abolish Itp Will you
leave the thousands OF youths who profit by It
without such advantages, or how will you provide
Them II not in the present manner2" His remarks
were received with loud and continued applause The
meeting adjourned alter session OF almost three
hours, subject to the cali OF the Chair
Subscription lists circulated among those present
Ia accordance with the arraD gements the Commit
tee OF Defence, anu IA considerable sum was sub |
Bcribed and promised aid forwarding The |
Necessary measures for the defeat OF the bin
INTERVIEW WITH WEBER,
\ HERALD reporter called last evening on General |
Webb, AID found That gentleman IN his office, the
College OF the City oil New York, looking over some |
nj I'M Itefo thnt hrOr
with the of citizens objected to the aboi-
ton OF the College oil the CITY oil New YORK. Alta |
rough estimate there are already 40 900 signatures to
Tue petition AS soon as the General was dsengaged
The following conversation ensued:-
RkPoKrER-l have called, General, to hear your ex-
PLANTATION OF the statement that appeared OF the
morning papers, which set forth the cost OF every
graduate from the College oil the City OF New York as
ST. 600.
General wEBB--It Is almost ridiculous to answer.
but as II should not so uncontradctet will give you
lew D6ures that may serve 10 answer the purpose
In annual report the Board OF Regents we cave
fixed The NUMBER oil students at 1,2GG, but as some
times pupils are unable to attend through sickness
md other causes, Will give you the actual numbers
present In college as reported at the meeting
Of the Board Of Trustees. On October there were
!, 003 pupils 0ctoUer 20, 9S2 ana November 20 there
were CAS- SO much for the number OF pupils that wc
annually instruct.
REpoRTER-What are the expenses OF the college?
General WEBB-The expenses for the year ending
July /, 1877, were slll,5o7 So Now, with LOCO pu-
ps and tho above expenses IL appears stran 90 how
they each cost the city $4,000. To the best of my
lei each pupil costs the city, on average, about
kl40, of which about $50 is Tor books.
REPoRTE2-H Is u that you do not have more
graduates from your colegey
General WEBli-Simpiy because the majority OF The
students do not care to take tue entire Last
year $50 out OF 700 students elected take IA course
OF one year. We nave course OF one year, which We
call tue commercial course and which is selected by
the majority oil the students We have also courses
that can he finished in two three years The pryn
Cipa reason that We 90 not graduate stuaetts s
because their parents remove them TO put them TO
business, as they cannot afford TO keep them col
lege any longer. Again. there numbers OF our pu
O |