Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-12-12

Washington. Dec 10. 1t Is not 10 be
assumed that there is to be an eager
and of hand acceptance by Congress of
the offer OF Andrew Carnegie to give
$40, 000, COO for the endowment OF q
national university 10 Washington under
the direction Of the Federal government.
Ii ia u tradition Of the government
that az much care must bs exercised in
the acceptance OF gifts as In the making
OF appropriations. The full details OF
this offer ny Mr.. Carnegie are withheld
for the reason, it is said, that the Presi
dent proposes to lay the matter before
Congress and does not want to he
anticipated by publication Of the en-
tire plan. 1t is learned, however, from
those who profess to know all about 1t,
that the endowment is to ba made in
securities Of the Steel Trust. This will,
probably, supply reason for opposition
in Congress to the acceptance OF the
Gift.
Much has heen said 10 Congress on
the subject OF this trust. j. W. Bah
COOK of Wisconsin, who is Republican
member Ut the ways and means com.
mittee. introduced a bill in the Fifty
sixth Congress- o put products in COM
petition with this trust on the free list
as measure for tile restraint of dan
gerous trusts.
Should the United States government
accept as an endowment of M institu-
tiou to be controlled by it $4,000, 900
OF securities of this trust, Ii might bs
held thereafter to be party at interest,
barred from the prosecution of the Steel
| Trust under the Antitrust law or
equally guilty If the method OF doing
business Is contrary 10 public policy.
The matter will be very carefully
looked into before Congress accepts the
gift, and it may be that some men in
Congress will publicly resent the offer.
The proposed gift is 10 furtherdnce OF
the plan suggested 100 years ago by
President Washington. At the cabinet
meeting today the President laid before
its members the letter from Mr.. Car
Degie containing the proposal aud sug-
gested that some definite form OF accept
ance by Congress- should be recon-
meGded, and this, it is expected, will
be forwarded for appropriate action
some time before the holiday recess, il
Mr.. Carnegie has drawn up his propo-
sition by that time for presentation.
During the cabinet session it was de-
ve!oped that the propriety OF accounting
tho gift was not seriously considered
As understood hero, the doration is not
definitely fixed at $40, 600, 00o, hut this
sum is named as the amount Mr.. Car
negie believed might be sufficient,
although should tue scope OF the plans
become wider Ii was the opinion OF
those interested in projecting such a
work for years the sum probably will
BIS increased.
About two weeks ago Mr.. Carnegie
visited the President and lunched with
him, and during this meeting the sub
ject was talked over and the President
for the first time learned of Mr.. Cur.
nagie's desire to establish d great sent
OF learning ct the Eation's capital His
plan, as outlined to the President, was
for university under government aus.
pices and managed by board of regents
somewhat similar to that appointed to
conduct the Smithsonian Institution,
only larger, and including, besides,
eminent men of learning, scientists and
representatives from the Legislative
branches Of the government. He be.
lieved that the various scientific bureaus
OF the government might become ad-
juncts to the proposed university, where
students might have the benefit of ad-
yapces made by these Offices In oil
branches of science. The proposed Gift
has bnen secret with the President
and cabinet, and it was not intended II
should become known until duly com
municated to Congress for action.
What Mr.. Carnegie proposes to &C.
complish has been the dream for years
Of ex-senator George +. Edmunds Of
Vermont, and had thu snthusiastio sup.
port OF Senators George 4. Hoar and
Henry O. Lodge Mr.. Edmunda many
years ago introduced 10 successive Con.
crosses bills for carrying out Washing
toms ideas, but they scarcely reached
the stage Of committee consideration
From the agitation OF the subjec,
grew the Washington Academy Of
Sciences, which sought to conserve all
the interests striving for the establish
ment OF such q university, and under
this INFLUENCE the co operation OF lend.
ing educators of the country was &c.
cured. 1t is believed through this Mr..
Carnegie's attention was directed to
the thought OF giving the nation a
magnificent institution Of learning
located in Washington city.
GOVERNMENT tNT0M0LOGlST.
| Civil Servica Exa,ntnotf,n 10 H.. ~, A. .