Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-13
THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
The Dream and Project Of George
Washington

Attention of Congress To-Day.
The Plan Formulated Upon the
Highest Plane-A Very Modest
Demand Made Upon Congress.
The Scope of the Proposed Insti-
tuition.
Washington, December 12.-The bill
| to establish the University of the
| United States will again be introduced
| IN both houses Of Congress tomorrow.
| The bill in general terms provides
| for an institution of the highest pos
| slble type, for the graduates of accred-
| tied colleges and universities only,
| with special reference to the work OF
! original research and investigation in
| all important fields of inquiry. The
| government is vested in board of re-
| gents and a university council. The
| board of regents embraces the Presi-
| dent Of the United States, the chief
| justice of the United States, the COM
| missioner of education, the secretary
| of the Smithsonian Institution, the
| president of the National Academy Of
| Sciences, the president of the National
| Educational Association, the president
| Of the university, and nine other citi
| Zens to be
t APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT,
! by and with the advice and consent
| Of the Senate, and no two of them
| shall be from the same State. The
i university council is to have immedi-
ate charge of the work of instruction,
| research and investigation. /. consists
/ OF the regents and twelve other mem
! bers, to be appointed by them from
among eminent educators, with a like
| impartial distribution. All courses
| and officers of instruction are to be de-
! termined by the council, also all regu-
| lations governing the internal manage
ment of the institution. Neither sec
! tartan nor political preferences in any
! form are to be allowed, whether in the
appointments, or in any of the opera
| lions of the institution. Authority is
! given to establish with other institu-
| lions of learning such cooperative re-
lations as are deemed advantageous.
Provision is made for the use of
what is known as University Square"
THE SITE SET APART
by Washington for university purposes
| anu iolCly OtCupItu ny TIE Naval OD-
| seryatory. Congress is now asked for
| but enough means to enable the Board
| OF Regents to organize and practically
lnaugurate the institution. Gifts and
benefits are to be deposited in the
United States Treasury in trust and in
| vested in bonds of the United States,
| bearing per cent. interest.
The present bill is the outgrowth of
hun of
| ton. Tie thought of National Uni
! verslty first came to Washington while
| commanding the Revolutionary army.
Subsequently. as President, he repeat
| edly urged its establishment, and in
his last will and testament left s25 900
! In stocks, as first endowment, the
i interest to be compounded Had Con-
! gress fostered the plan. this sum would
now be nearly s5,OOO,O00 The idea
| thus cherished by the Father of his
/ Country was also endorsed by Presi-
/ dents John Adams, Jefferson, Madison.
/ Monroe, John Quincy Adams and Jack
( son, and in more recent years by Pres
| idents Grant and Hayes. During all
this time the measure was advocated
| by men of the most distinguished
learning and craftsmanship, but, owing
/ to the lack of organized effort, moth
ing practical was accomplished.
! THE MORE MODERN MOVEMENT
| in this cause may be said to have been
lnaugurated in 1869 by the National
! Educational Association. after an ap-
! peal from DR.. John w. Hoyt, Of Wis
! consin, at the close of his tour of in
! spection in all the countries of Europe
| and in the United States, in regard to
| education. by authority of the govern
ment. That great association thrice
unanimously endorsed the university
( proposition, and through its committee
bill was introduced and unanimously
reported in the House Of Representa-
tives in 1873. The measure continued
/ to receive the Endorsement of leading
I scholars and statesmen from time to
/ time, ard in 1880 a university bill was
/ introduced in the Senate by Mr. Ed
munds, of Vermont. and upon his mo-
/ ton referred to a select committee,
I with Senator Proctor as chairman.
The present general movement was
/ begun at the Pan-Republic Congress
/ of 1891, by the appointment of a COM
mittee of promotion, to be enlarged at
I tie discretion of its chairman, ex-Gov-
ernor John ". Hoyt, which committee,
by steady growth. became what is
known as the National University
| Committee Of One Hundred-a com
mlttee now grown to several hundreds
embracing the presidents of all the
/ State Universities and some two hun
| dred other leading institutions, the
| superintendent Of public instructions
/ of all the States but one. and many
! of our most distinguished statesmen.
| scholars, scientists and men Of af-
( fairs.
In 1892 Ex-Governor Hoyt presented
| to the Senate a memorial giving
A COMPLETE HISTORY
of the efforts of the already made for a
National University, with the argu-
ments therefor, of which several edi-
tons have been printed. In 1898 Sena-
tor Proctor's committee unanimously
reported the bill. Senator Hunton. OF
Virginia, succeeded Senator Proctor as
chairman and the committee was made
the standing cimmittee it now is. It
was likewise reported unanimously. in
1894, and the bill was ably discussed
in the Senate. In 1895 the national
committee of one hundred formed in
| executive council TO act in its behelf.
both in the framing Of bill and in
Systematically promoting its passage.