The San Francisco call., 1897-12-13
Bill for Its Esta tabIishment VIII
Be Introduced in Con-
greSS To-Day.
MOVEMENT STARTED BY
WASHINGTON.
Since the First Presidents Time
the Agitation Has Never
Ceased.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL
CALL OFFICE, RIGGs House. !
W WASHINGTnN Dec ID {

WASHINGTON Dec. l2
The bill to establish the University o.:
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 possible type,
for the graduates of accredited colleges
and universities only with special refer
ence 10 the work of original research and
investigation in all important fields of in
qury. The government Is vested in a
Board of Regents and a university couu-
Gil. The Board of Regents will embrace
the President OF the United States, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the
Com missioner OF Education, the Secretary
of the Smiths oman Institution, the presi-
dent of the National Academy OF Sci
ences, the president of the National Edu-
cational Association, the president of the
university and nine other citizens, to be
appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, no
two of them to be from the same State.
The university council is 10 have imme-
date charge of the work of instruction,
research and investigation. Ii consists of
the regents and twelve other members, TO
be appointed by them from among emf
nsnt educators, with e like impartial dis
tribution. All courses and officers of in
struction are to be determined by the
council, as also regulations governing the
international management of the institu-
ton.
Neither sectariaI nor political prefer
ences in any form are to be allowed,
whether in the appointment or in any of
the operations of the institution.
Authority is given to establish with
other institutions OF learning such CO.
operative relations as a-e deemed adYan-
tageous. Provision is made for the use of
what is known a. university square, :"
the site set apart b. Washington for uni
verslty purposes and lately occupied by
the Naval o Observatory. Congress is now
a ,ked for enough means 10 enable the
Board of Regents to organize and practi-
callY start the institution. Gifts and be-
quests are 10 be deposited in the United
States treasury iE trust and invested in
bonds OF the United States bearing 3 per
cent interest
The present bill is the outgrowth of
more than hundred years'o of agitation.
The thought Of university first came to
Washington while commanding the revo-
Iutionary army. Subsequently, as Presi-
dent he repeatedly Urged its establish
ment, and in his last will and testament
lie it S25, 600 in stocks as first endowment,
the interest TO be compounded. Had Con-
eress foslered the project this sum would
ow be nearly s., 000,U00. The iuea thus
cherished by the Iather OF his country was
a lso indorsed bv Presidents John Adams,
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy
Adams and Jackson, and in more recent
years by Presidents Grant and Hayes.
During all this time the measure was ad-
Vocaied by men most distinguished for
learning and statesm ian hip. but owing 10
the lack OF organized efforts nothing
practical was accom- plished.
The more modern movement in this
canse may tie said TO have been begun in
1869 by the National Educational Associ-
alton, after an appeal from DIR. John w.
Hoyt of Wisconsin. at the close of his
educational tOur OF inspection in all the
countries of Europesand in the American
STATES by authority of the Government.
That great association thrice unanimously
lndorsed the university proposition, and +,
through Its committee, a bill was intro
duced and unanimously reported in the
House of Representatives in 1873. The
measure continued to reseivs the ind orse-
ment of leading scholars and statesmen
from time TO time, and III 1890 university
bill was introduced in the Senate by Ed .
munds OF Vermont, and, upon has mo-
tion, referred to select committee. with
Senator Proctor as chairman.
The present general movement was be-
Gun at the Pan-R Repu blic Congress of
1891 by the appointment of a committee
OF promotion to be ENLARGED in the dis
cretion of its chairman, Ex-Governor John
w. Hoyt, which committee by steady
growth became what is known as the
national university committee of one
hundred-a committee now grown 10
several hundred embracing the presi-
dents OF all the State universities and
some 200 other leading Institutions, the
supertendcnts of public institutions of
all the States but one and many of our
most distinguished statesmen. scholars
and men of affairs.
With The approval of the National UNI
verslty Committee, patriotic women OF the
country, under the lead of Mrs. f len A.
Richardson of Boston, have organized the
George Washingto Memori al Com IN ittee
for all auxiliary, their purpose being to
raise by popular subscription $3.50, 600 for
the erection on University square of a
first university building.
1t Is the intention of the National Uni
verslty Committee that the Government
shall cooperate in the establishment OF
the proposed university, and it is in
tended that the bill shall be pressed TO
early passage, so that July 8 1899, the one
hundredth anniversary of Washing on $
4