Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-13
P Al RIOTtC w o M EN-
Efforts in Progress to Build the Washington
Free University.
Senator WELLINGTON Re'n'roduee' the
Bill Providing for the Estnblfsh-
ment o. th@ Institution.

The George Washington memorial COM
mittee, which comprises in its membership
many of the most prominent ara patriotic
women in the country, is engaged in a,tx-
Hilary, though Independent work, in behalf
of the early establishment of the free uni
versity in this city in pursuance with tho
often expressed desire Of the father of his
country. Its purpose is to raise S250000
for the erection of first university build
ing, and the character and influence of the
ladies is such that great hopes are eI.ter-
tanned of their success.
The chairman of the committee is Mrs.
Ellen A. Richardson of Boston. There
will be a meeting of the members tomor-
row at the Raleigh, and many Of them
lra re already arrived for the purpose of
attending. Mrs. Gage, the secretary. is at
the Raleigh. 1t is expected that the re-
ports made at tomorrow's meeting will
show very substantial progress in the di-
rection of securing subscriptions for the
desired fund.
1t is expected that Prof. John Atkinson.
now OF Chicago. will appear before the
meeting and make a formal offer of S2.0O0
toward the Washington Free University,
for the establishment of department de-
voted to his system of surgery. The pro-
lessor, 1t is said. claims to be as nearly
related to Washington as any living per-
son, and is now in possession by inherit
ance Of the old Washington estate in West
moreland, England.
The Bill Introduced.
Senator Wellington today introduced the
Dill to establish a University of the United
States. The bill is similar to that intro
auced in the Senate by Mr.. Kyle on March
ID last. Mr.. Wellington, now being chair
man OF the committee to establish the UNI
versity of the United States, takes the place
OF Mr. Kyle on the committee in regard to
this measure.
The bill provides that there shall be es-
tablished in the District of Columbia a
body corporate to be known as the Univer-
sity of the United States for the purpose
of promoting the advancement of knowl-
edge in the higher branches and to carry
en- instruction. research and investigation
for the benefit of mankind. 1t provides
that the government Of said university
shall be vested in a board of regents and
a university council.
The board of regents shall be composed
of the President of the United States. who
shall he president of the board; the chief
justice of the United States, the commits
sioner of education. the secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution, the president of
the National Academy of Sciences, the
president of the National Educational Asso-
citation and the president of the university
and of nine other citizens Of the United
States, no two of whom shall be citizens of
the same state, and who, with their sue
cessors, shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States by and with the
advice and consent OF the Senate.
1t provides that the university council
shall consist of the board OF regents and
of twelve other citizens of the United
States. to be appointed by the board of
regents from among eminent educators
connected with institutions of learning in
the United States. but no more than one
shall be appointed or hold office from any
one state at the same time
TIE bill provides that in all the opera
tons of the university neither sectarian nor
partisan preferences shall be allowed in any
form.
The opportunity and facilities afforded
by the university shall be free to all per
sons who in the Judgment of the university
council shall be deemed competent to use
them. but admission to the university shall
be of those only who shall have shown such
advancement in and possession of knowl-
edge as to qualify them to pursue the
higher branches of learning, research and
investigation.
The bill provides further: THAT the
grounds in Washington city which were
designated by President Washington as a
site for a national university, and which
for this reason We're long known as Uni
versity Square, and recently occupied by
the naval observatory, are hereby granted
to the said corporation to be utilized for
the benefit Of the university