The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-12-10


Washington. Dec. 10.-Andrew Carne-
gies offer to donate $40, 900 900 to the gov
ernment for a national university has re-
vived interest in the plans of George
Washington for great national institute
Of learning under the patronage Of the
federal government. This project was
among the most cherished dreams of the
father of his country. He left bequest
in his will which he valued at $50 ,00O but
which proved of less value, owing to the
nature of the securities in which the
money was invested. In laying out the
capital site was reserved for a national
university, and it is still unimproved.
Owing to the growth of the city it is not
regarded now as adapted to the purpose
and would have to be sold
For reasons not easy to understand.
congress has never seriously interested
itself in the national university project.
Private institutions supported by endow-
ment have always opposed such a uni
versity. They fear the competition of an
education factory subsidized by the gov
ernment. So, last year, when the project
was revived President Harper organized
the presidents of all the principal en-
doWment universities in an association
known as the National Educational asso-
citation. Here it was jocularly dubbed the
Think trust" The presidents met in
Washington behind closed doors and re-
solved that 1t would be injurious to start
up government university; or, if one
must later be started, it should be a uni
versity for original research along lines
not pursued by the endowed institutions.
In other words, it must be non competi-
tive.
Professor Harper was among the first
to get wind of the Carnegie offer He
came in haste to Washington and has been
busy for the last week working with Pro
fessOr N. M. Butler of Columbia univer-
sity and others to insure the use of the
money in some way 9hat will not COM
pete. They have Efged the spresideut5 TO
recommend a post graduate institute for
original research. Senator Depew is the
author of a bill to carry into effect the
provisions of Washingtons will. This,
will now be modified and it may be that
congress will vote an appropriation to
supplement the Carnegie millions and
build up one of the greatest institutions
Of learning in the world.
OuS pAdu WHICH uuuS nearly 1nQOrS6m6nC
is for an amalgamation of the scientific
departments of the government with the
new university. The agricultural depart
ment spends millions a year in original
research. The navy department supports
SAn astronomical observatory. The treas
ury department runs a mathematical
bureau on the coast and geodetic survey
the treasury department has the bureau
of scientific weights and measurements
1 ~ -, As.aII-
And thus there are bureaus scattered all
over which should be under one control
ling management. A bill to accomplish
this will be ready when the president
transmits the Carnegie letter to congress.
COMMITTEE Speaker Henderson has
practically completed the
ON INDIANS. makeup of the committee
on Indian affairs, which
will have charge of the bill to amend the
Nelson timber law. Sherman of New York
will be continued as chairman, Curtis Of
Kansas will be second and Eddy Of Min
nesota the third man on the committee,
and the other members will be Lacy of
Iowa and Sheldon Of Michigan. Three
new republican members were decided
upon. The first selected was Representa-
tive Burke of South Dakota, who will sue
| ceed Gamble, promoted to the senate, and
MarSnaIl OF North DAKOTA IN place or Par
ker Of Pennsylvania. Representative
Brown of Wisconsin, who succeeds Alex
ander Stewart in the house, will also sue
| ceed him on the committee. This leaves
one republican vacancy on the committee
which will be filled il a few days.
| PAY FOR Ray W.Jones and Nath-
an fratt, representatives
| TIMBER of the Commonwealth
| Lumber company, have
asked for another opportunity to discuss
demands for payment for green timber
cut in their camps on the White Earth
reservation last winter. They have asked
! Commissioner Jones to summon Captain
Mercer and Special Agent Sullivan, the
/ latter of whom was in charge Of oper-
/ ations in their camps. Commissioner
Jones will not comply with this request
unless he is directed 70 do so by Secre-
! tary Hitchcock The secretary is not
| likely to do this, however, as he depends
| on Commissioner Jones to manage the
timber cutting. The commissioner said
to- day that everything in connection with
the Commonwealth companys operations
was settled SO far as he was concerned.
! He is satisfied that 'Neil's scale Of green
| timber cut is accurate and will insist upon
| the payment of the full amount demanded
| by Captain Mercer. II the company does
not settle within reasonable time the
matter will be presented to the United
States district attorney for suit in the fed
eral court.