The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-10
the educational instrumentalIty Of the

the educational fundamentally OF the
country
mo one of the bills heretofore brought
before Congress to provide for the incor-
roration of a national university at Wash
ington commends itself to the Judgment
of this committee as practical measure
THE government is not called upon TO
maintain at the capital university in
the ordinary sense of the term.
After referring at length to the various
questions that enter into the erection of
a national educational institution, the re-
port continued:
THE committee have been advised OF
plan for a non-governmental institu-
tion at Washington which may be abb
to supply all that is desired This plan
is the outcome of action taken by the
Washington Academy of Sciences and by
the George Washington Memorial Asso-
ciation.
Both organizations have agreed to CO.
operate to found an institution In the
city of Washington as a memorial to
George Washington which shall be main
tained to promote the advanced study Of
the sciences and the liberal arts.
Argument I'm It's Favor.
Concerning the proposed institution, 1t
is assumed:
First. That 1t will be independent OF
government support or control. as 1t will
also be Independent of the support or
control of existing institutions.
Second. That it's objects will be: (A
To facilitate the use of scientific and 9TH
er resources OF the government for re-
search. (B) To cooperate with unlver-
stiles, colleges and individuals in secur-
ing to properly qualified persons oppor-
tunities for advanced study and research
now obtainable only to limited extent
in Washington, and not at all elsewhere.
Third. That it's oversight and control
will be in the hands of trustees and offl-
GERS representing the educational expe-
rience and ideals OF the existing insti-
tutions for higher education.
The committee submitted a resolution
to the effect. that a plan Is approved for
a non-governmental institution. known
dis the Washington Memorial Institution,
to be maintained in Washinngto. ID. c.,
for the purpose of promoting the study
of science and the liberal arts at the ma
tional capital, and of exercising oversight
of the advanced studies OF duly qualified
students in the governmental laboratories
Dand collections.
Convention Favors University.
The report resulted in a hot two-hours
debate. which ended by the adoption Of
the following resolutions:
Resolved That the report of the COM
mttee be received and the committee dis
charged and that while we express our
appreciation ofs their labors we are not
prepared to abandon che position taken by
the National Educational Association in
favor of a national university"
This was adopted by % TO 4.
President Baker of the University OF
Colorado was the first speaker on the
committees report. He could not under
stand the process by which the commit
tee arrived at the decision, and said:
1T looks very much like prearranged
harmony"
Continuing. he said:
IF we had "a national university, one
that was compelled to keep in touch with
| the people OF the country and their
| thought, II would In century, cure all
the evils that threaten the land at pres
| ent."
He said that the presidents of eighteen
state universities had written him letters
favoring the national university. and
read letters from Gen. Miles, Ambassador
White, ex-senator Edmunds and John A..
Kasson, declaring for its establishment.
After calling the report "a contemplate
thing" he said:
This council should affirm its belief in
national university and should advise
the National Educational Association to
appropriate money for the best commit
tee that can be appointed to work for its
establishment"
Harper Defends the Report.
President Harper took the platform in
the defense of the committee and said:
"The character of the members should
relieve them from aspersions like those
preceding"
He denied that there was any prear-
ranged harmony. Considerable more de-
bate of an acrimonious nature followed.
Papers on THE Lessons of the Educa-
tiona1 Exhibits at the Paris Exposition"
were read by Miss Anna Tolman Smith
of Washington, and Howard ]. Rogers Of
Albany, N. Y.