The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-24
An Outrageous Proposition.

An Outrageous Proposition.
Tho course OF Commissioner LUMMIs in
opposing in the Board Of Education the
outrageous project for the erection OF n
new and costly building for tho college In
Lexington avenue shows that he Is faith
full servant Of the people. When a reso-
luton looking to that end was introduced
into the Board a few days ago ho refused
to lend any aid to scheme for throwing
away millions OF the public money for tho
erection Of spacious building for an insti-
tuition from which less than q hundred pu-
pills would be graduated annually. His
protest was unavailing. however. and the
resolution for the preparation OF a bill au-
thorizlng the expenditure was passed.
The proper resolution to have passed
would have been one directing that bill
be drafted abolishing altogether this USE
less cXcrescenco upon our public school
system. The concern is OF no bene-
fit to anybody except its corps OF
professors. Every student graduated
from it could have secured better educa-
ton elsewhere. whether he had the money
to pay for 1t or not. Not single young
man in New York who is fitted for q collegi-
ate course. and can spare the time for
it. would be shut out from its pursuit II the
building OF this Lexington avenue institu-
ton were torn down and its educational
machinery destroyed utterly and finally.
Columbia College, for instance. has now
purchased an incompatible site. to which in
q few years 1t will remove its educational
plant. where it can enlarge and extend
greatly both It's collegiate and university
facilities. It will have room for the
accommodation Of every young man
throughout this metropolitan district
who desires to follow a collegiate course
without going to q distance. With vast
and constantly increasing endowment. it
will always have at its command the means
to furnish its students with the best facili-
ties for education obtainable at the period.
1t aspires to give them every advantage for
general and special study afforded by the
greatest universities OF the world. A
young man can enter into its academic
department and continue under Its benef-
icent direction and tuition until he has
been ushered into a professional career as
doctor. lawyer. an engineer. an archi-
tect. an electrician. a man OF letters, q
scholar. q teacher. q man OF science. q
studious and original investigator. Every
assistance and all the implements and up
planes he needs as he proceeds on his way,
will be provided for him.
Every student. moreover. gets and will
get this as an almost free gift. II he pays
his tuition fees. he will pay only small
part OF the actual cost OF his education to
the college. to say nothing Of tho interest
OF the vast investment in the educational
plant. He can pay for the instruction with
his gratitude only. however rich he
may be. for five times the fees OBJ
tanned from its students would not
provide sufficient financial support for such
n university rs Columbia. great uni
vcrsty is essentially n phianthropic insti-
tuition. Its efforts and aims are altrulstic
and not at all selfish. 1t Is run to spend
money for the general benefit. and not to
make money.
To pretend. therefore. that the one-horse
school In Lexington avenue is peculiarly
and distinctlvely the free college Of the city
Is absurd. All college education is OF tho
nature OF gratulty. It's cost to the stu
dents Is chiefly in the time which they must
expcnd upon 1t. and the support which they
must have meanwhile. Hence very few Of
tho boys who enter tho Lexington avenue
institution can afford to remain through
the five years OF its course.
II tho city is to be taxed for the COL
legiate instruction OF boys, tho most ex-
travagant way OF expanding the money is
on such q concern. For small part OF the |
sum Columbia College would receive all the |
students the City College can graduate.
The cost OF founding what Is called O schol- |
arship In Columbia is $1,000. The payment Of |
that sum entities the founder to have al |
ways one student educated in the college
free OF all charges for tuition" The annual |
expenditure upon the Lexington avenue |
Institution is about sl5o.OOO. Accordingly,
tho cost OF keeping 1t up for single year
would provide for the free education Of |
seventy-llve students In Columbia College
Tor all time. Doubtless the city could |
make even better terms with tho trus-
lees OF Columbia. and. without any |
loubt at all. the young men would
get far better education than thew
now receive. These public scholarships
,ould he made prizes for which pupils In the
grammar schools would contend; and win
ling such prize would confer distinction
IN youth. instead OF loading him with an
sense Of obligation. Their
number could also be increased IL the desire
Ind the worthiness for more were mani
ested. AS compared with the cost OF keep
ng up the Lexington avenue college, the
outlay would BIO Insignificant. The money
would be paid once for all time. and 1t would
70 no more than a single yoar's expendi-
ure on an inferior institution.
Yet tho Board OF Education proposes to |