Evening star., 1901-07-04

virtue of the action taken in Washington
last May, all organized effort in favor Of
national university has been given up In
favor OF a much more practical plan Of
utilizing the scientific and educational
facilities of the general government As Is
perhaps not generally known on May Is an
institution was formed at the national cap
ital called the Washington Memorial In
stftution.' It's organization was conse-
quent on an understanding between the
Washington Academy of Sciences, which
includes in its mem bership the leading
scientific men in Washington and the coun-
try at large. and the George Washington
Memorial Association. which latter organt-
zation looked to creating a memorial to
Washington along the lines he suggested in
his message and his will. Fhe new organt-
zation will. however not attempt to es-
tablish a university. but will act as an in
termediary in the utilization Of the facili-
ties for research which exist so abundantly
at the capital.
Congress. anticipating some such move
ment, by the act Of April II. 1892 and
March 8, 1901. has thrown open the depart
ments to duly qualified students. and the
Washington Memorial Institution. acting
in conjunction with the various universities
| throughout the country. will. as it were. or
ganize the work to be carried on in. by and
through the bureaus. This is a field Of ef-
fort that Is unique. 1t allows the freest de-
velopment of all American universities and
schools Of research and yet practically car
ries on advanced university work at Wash
ington without creating cumbersome in
stitution In useless rivalry to existing foun-
dations. And solution of the long
standing national university issue 1t can
not be improved upon"
Possible Development.
In a recent editorial the San Francisco
Call said:
Reports from Washington are to the ef
feet that the committee appointed last WIN
ter to consider the advisability Of establish
Ing a national university at the capital
have concluded that a university Of the
kind is not advisable nor desirable. and by
way Of a substitute propose the establish
ment Of Washington Memorial Institute.
The proposed foundation is not to compete
with universities. but is to serve as me-
dunn through which all students can have
such facilities Of study as the national
capital and its great governmental depart
mentS afford.
THE establishment of a national univer
sity was one Of the desires Of Washington.
and in his will he left beQuest for such
institution. For some time the scheme
was discussed by successive Presidents.
but nothing was ever done. In those early
days it was felt that the country could not
afford the expense. and the people were
not aware Of the immense benefits which
universities confer upon nation. Then
time came when the plan was forgotten
When 1t was revived some years ago 1t
was found that the country had under
gone q transformation. The objection then
made was not that the country Is too poor
or that the people do not appreciate the
use of universities, but that so many In
stitutions Of the kind have been established
there Is no longer need Of one at the ma
tional capital
THE advocates Of the measure have.
however, been active and influential, and
last winter Congress passed an act provid-
ing: That facilities for study and research
in the government departments, the LII
brary of Congress. the National Museum,
the Geological Park the bureau Of ethnol-
ogy, the fish commission. the Botanic Gar
tablished shall be afforded to scientific in
vestigators and to duly qualified individu-
ais, students and graduates Of institutions
Of learning in the several states and terri
tories, as well as in the District Of Column
bia, under such rules and restrictions as
the heads Of the departments and bureaus
mentioned may prescribe
With that much to go upon it Is fairly
certain that had the committee in charge
of the movement reported in favor of a uni
versfty Congress at the next session would
have granted an appropriation and the
ng-desired university might at last have
been established The committee however
has thought best not to promote a rival of
the existing universities The proposed
Washington Memorial Institute is to facli-
tate the use by students of the govern
mental resources at the capital, and is to
cooperate with universities in all parts of
the country. 1t is, of course, possible 1t
may grow into university after all.
Washington has ceased to be a staenaut
town. Whatever Is planted now in that
city and is carefully tended is ant to do
velop rapidly. The Washington Memorial
Institute. therefore, may yet figure more
largely in the educational world than MANY
a university that now looks upon I. "a
small thing. 90