New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-24
TORONTO UNIVERSITY CRISIS.
MEANING OF cHANCELLoR's RESIGNATION
STATUS OF VICTORIA UNIvERsITY-sEv-
GRANGE FROM STATE PROPOSED

Toronto Feb 3.-As already reported in dis
patches TO The Tribune. Edward Blake Chancellor
of Toronto University for the last twentyour years
has resigned that Office. He feels that the inter-
ests OF the university at this stage require an ef
fclent working chancellor on the spot. Except for
occasional visits Mr.. Blake has been absent from
Canada since 1892 when he elected to the Inn
perial House of Commons the Nationalist rep
resentative from South Longford. Besides his Par
liamentary duties. he is employed in the
jority of the cases that appealed from colonial
courts to the judicial Committee of the Imperial
Privy Council 1t is not unlikely, however that he
would have consented remain at the head of
the University Corporation had the life of the in
stitution been flowing on quite smoothly. But he
saw Its chief college confronted with financial
problem which presses for solution Joined with
that question is the one whether the university
shall remain under State control become indie
pendent. Then there is the strain federation
In the session of the Ontario Legislature which has
just opened, the Government Is expected to intro
duce another bill affecting the relations with To-
ronto University of Victoria University which is
federated with Toronto University. In the Speech
from the Throne it promised that a measure
or measures would be introduced relating educa-
ton From we'll informed source 1t is learned
that part of the proposed legislation will bear upon
Toronto University
Mr.. Blake has probably been the stanchest friend
the university had Two specially important
services he rendered the his help the work of
reorganization after the fire of 1890; the other in
the reconstruction Of the staff and decentralization
Of the finances of 1891. Thousands of dollars for the
founding of scholarships and for other university
purposes has from his private purse
The day after the receipt of Mr.. Blake's resigna-
ton that of Mr. Mulock. the vice-chancellor ar
rived. He too pleads the pressure Of political
gagements Mr.. Muock is a member for North
York in the Dominion House of Commons and is
Postmaster-General in the Dominion Government.
He has held the office of vice-chanceIlor for sew
eral years, and has contributed literally of his
large wealth for the benefit of the university.
At a meeting Of the senate of the university on
the 10th, the designations accepted The cleo
ton of their successors will take place in March.
For the chancellorship Sir William r. Meredith,
Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas has
already been nominated. He holds an honorary
degree from the university and therefore eligible
for the office. He has twice been elected to the
university senate as representative of the gradu-
ates heading the poll in his first election
vICTORIAs STATUS
Since Victoria University entered the federation
of Toronto University, in $780, the question OF its
status has never been allowed to rest AS the great
and prosperous seat of Methodist culture, Victoria
University chung jealousy TO its independence. and
when finally it did consent to federate with To-
rCnto University IL upon conditions objection
able TO considerable party of Toronto men, and
that were not altogether satisfactory to party of
Victoria men. At federation Victoria per-
mitted to continue degree comforting body The
act of federation also gave to the graduates of
Victoria University the right to elect a separate
University. This power TO be enjoyed for
only six years. At the end of that time, however
an act was passed by the Ontario Legislature
tending the time of separate representation of Vic
toria another six years. This attempt to maintain
Victorias individuality at the expense of the Fed
eral University was strongly resented by Toronto
University, and imputed to Il desire on the
BE the solid Methodist In 10 the present ses
sion OF the legislature another bill is believed to
further emphasize the differentiation of Victoria
vincial University.
THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM
For some time the opinion has been growing that
the connection of the Provincial University with
State is disadvantage to the former. According
to the law every endowment of the University of
Toronto is to be vested in the Crown The pres-
dent, professors, lecturers teachers officers and
servants of the university appointed by the
Lieutenant Governor. The statute provides that
lectures must be Free except in medicine and law
The Minister of Education and the president ap-
pointed by the Lieutenant G. Governor are to be ex
off1cio members Of the University Senate. and the
observation-disclosures in Council may appoint nine
members me Of the Senate The Senate is to
makes itself responsible for the financial admins
tuition is not considered to have any claims on pr
Of Of n w fG few
or other public spirited citizens of large means
WeSS # not S he beter for If 10 S
This consideration might be expected to weigh
much more strongly with Victoria, which long en-
joyed the bounty Of rich members of the Meth
odist communion. Why should Victoria sink itself
True, the University Of Toronto has received in
recent years large areas of Crown land but the
lands are in wild region, where there little set
Element Eleven twelve thousand dollars is all
that the university has been able realize from
sales of land in the last three years
OF university legislation to be introduced in the
present session of the Provincial Parliament one
measure will be to provide for university finances
The Legislature will be asked devise further
ways and of meeting the financial require
ments of Toronto University and University Col
lege, the teaching body of the university Accord
ing to the estimate of the Board Trustees of the
university, presented the 18th inst the deficit
for the coming year will be upward of $4,000 How
university only be conjectured. 1t is proposed
that Provincial land tax of one-tenth of mill on
the dollar be levied. Another grant OF Crown
lands is suggested. Whatever is done, Ii must be
the agitation for the severance from the State.
Victoria's interests complicate the financial prob
lem. Though Victoria gets large voluntary sup
port from Methodism, il stands the same foot
ing as University College with respect subsidies
from Toronto University funds. The total receipts
OF Toronto University amount to about 800 900 a
year. 1t is suggested in quarters that the
Government effect an arrangement whereby the
endowment OF Toronto University shall he passed
over TO University College, and that another State
Both federation and State connection are in danger
unless better financial arrangements are made
University College, purely secular and State in
stltution, feels that Victoria College p denomina-
tenacious of its separate life in the federation
ought not to be endowed from resources belonging
10 toronto University. a State body.