New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-13
4 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
EFFORTS BEING MADE TO PUSH THE
BILL THROUGH CONGRESS.
aIsroEY OF AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT STARTED
~ WASHINGTON IN l7as--IT HAS THE
APPROVAL. OF EMINENT STATES
MEN AND EDUCATORS
MEN AND EDUCATORS.

Washington Dec. 1.-THE bill to establish the
University of the United States will again in
troduced in both houses of Congress tomorrow.
The measure in general terms. provides for
institution OF tho highest possible type. for the
graduates OF accredited 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 a Board of Regents
and a University Council The Board OF Regents
embraces the President Of the United States. the
chief Justice Of the United States. the Commits
sion of Education. the Secretary OF the smith
sonan Institution. the president Of the National
Academy OF Science the president of the National
Educational Association, the president of the I'M
versty and nine other citizens 70 be appoh'eu ~
the President by and with advice and consent ol
the Senate. no two OF them being from the same
state. The University Council IS to nave iIl'ne
date charge OF the work Of instruction reSeaC"
and investigation. II will consist OF the regents
and twelve other members. TO be appointed by them
from among eminent educators, with IKE impair
tial distribution.
All COURSES and officers OF Instruction are to be de-
termned by the Council; also all regulations gov
erning the internal management OF the institution.
Ns,.ber sac,aran nor political preferences in any
form are 10 be allowed whether in the appoint
ments or any of the operations OF the institution.
Authority is given 10 establish with other institu
ions of learning such cooperative relations as are
deemed advantageous.
Provision is made for the OF what is known
as University Square. tho site set apart by Wash
ington for university purposes and lately occupied
" the Naval Observatory. Congress is now asked
for but enough means to enable the Board Of Re-
gents organize and practically start the insutu-
tion Gifts and requests to be deposited in the
United States Treasury in trust and invested In
bonds of the United States bearing per cent in
terest.
HUNDRED YEARS OF AGITATION.
The present bill is the outgrowth of more than
q hundred years of agitation. The thought OF
National University first came to Washington while
commanding the Revolutionary Army. SUISSE
ouently as President. he repeatedly urged Its es-
adjustment and in his last will and testament
left s25 900 in stocks first endowment, the IN
terest 10 be compounded. Had Congress fostered
the plan this sum would now be nearly S'VoVco'
The idea thus cherished by the Father of his Coun
try was also Endorsed by Presidents John Adams
Jefferson Madison, Monroe. John Quincy Adams
and jackson, and in more recent years py Fresi-
dents Grant and Hayes. During all THIS time the
measure was advocated by men distinguished TOT
learning and craftsmanship, but owing 10 lhe
lack OF organized effort nothing practical was ac-
complished
The more modern movement in this cause may
be said to have been initiated in 1853 by the Ma
tional Educational Association, after an appeal
from Dr. John w. Hoyt. of Wisconsin al 'ne
close of his educational tours OF Inspection III "'i
the countries of Europe and In the AineiN"'
States by authority Of the Government
That great association thrice Unanimously il"
dorsed the University proposition ana throusH 10
committee a bill was introduced ard unahiinouslS
renorted in the House OF Representatives IN 4o'''
The measure continued to receive the ihdorseihen'
~ leading scholars and statesmen from TIME 10
time and In 1890 a University bill was introduced
in the Senate by Mr.. Edmunds Of Vermont anu
On his motion referred 10 select comfh'''ee' WI"
Senator Proctor chairman
THE PRESENT MOVEMENT
hpriln "A
pan-Republic Congress of 1891, by the appoint
roent NJ q Committee Of Promotion, TO be enlarged
IN the discretion Of its chairman eX-UoVerhoi 'O"'
w Hoyt. This committee became "hat - An L.
as the National University COMMITTEE oi O
dred and has now grown to several hundreus' eiA-
bracing the presidents of all the state uhiVeis'o
and some Two hundred other leading lnst 81 u ne
the suporntendents of public insIpncu Sisngiished
statesmer scholars, scientists and men o. senafe
In 1892 Ex-Governor Hoyt 5dioTy %, the Efforts
already made for National Universl3{i ,ons have
Srep printed In 1893 Senator Procors of
unanimously reported the o proctor as chairman
and the committee was made the s'anoig gUs
1,es II now is 1t likewise reported una S
IN 1884 ard the bin was ably discussed IN the "'"'
me-. IN 100 an Executive Council to act in Its behalf
10Th in the framing of bill and in systematicaIy
PTSNmSnsN ii r. Fuller Chief Of the
United States; ex-senator George r. of Pennsy
villa WiliiaH nSrew D. White Ambassador TO Germany;
eTnor John Lee Carroll general president s. &C.
General Horace Porter AN KentScRy University;
ex-senator Eppa Hunton senator ana an dCombIa
sebaoT a. b. henderson Of Missouri General
John Eaton accommodating Oh hducao diro D
Ma autical Almanac" District Of Columbia; John
A. Kasson Minister 70 RAown 6oode assistant
secretary Smithsonian lnsttotoni 1nivrrsity Com
John W. Hoyt. chairman NatlohaI CiiFeiSi'S O
nittee Washington.
ENDORSED BY MANY EDUCATORS.
This Council after several meetings. Chief Jus
tce Fuller presiding prepared the pending bill ana
in due time the Senate committee, senator hye
chairman. submitted favorable report ihciuu"s
letters of Endorsement from some three huhoreu
eminent educators and leading public men. as wei
as the arguments Of members Of the council before
the senate h ana b nepSe vide correspondence and
distribution OF documents from the Once h o. inc inc
committee. with steady increase Vi pu"i'0 III
With the approval OF the National University ndcy
Committee, patriotic women OF the country under
lead Of Mrs. Ellen A Richardson OF Boston; as
sS aTa ssreanzed the George Washington Memorial
Committee for auxiliary though Independent work
the fSS the Se eTed TT 1Sss square
rst Unyersiy snab charaeeT and naehce as
10 give great hope OF The success OF thei uhoef-
Moreover. distinguished friends Of art are plan
ming for National art galleries 10 be ss'19IlS,vn ia
OF the u@i,e Gis stat asD u" ' ,r.
II is the Intention OF the National Uh'VTrs ny
establishment OF the proposed University, ana II i ~
Intended that the bill shall be pressed 10 cary
nasssec SO tbat July g. 1898. the one hundredth
anniversary OF Washngtons heauest sn h "hnvIS
al least the practical beginning or VIVA shoud
become the leading university OF the world
THE NATIONAL BOARD or TRADE.
Washington. Dec. 12--The National Board OF
Trade. which numbers among It's members the
principal boards OF trade and kindred commercial
hOdieS Of tho mi here to- morrow 10
organize for its regular session. which opens on
Tuesday. A number Of important Inatters viii be