Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-18
QUESTION DISCUSSED
INQUIRY TO BE MADE TO THE
TRUSTEES.
Views of Local Oficials-Two Scholar
ships Annually the Prize
Sought.

Will the District of Columbia be a bene-
ficiary of the will of Cecil Rhodes? This is
a question that is agitating the minds of
the board of education, the District Com
missioners and many fond parents who de-
sire to have their children enjoy the bene-
fits of a scholastic education abroad.
When the South African magnate died,
few months ago, 1t was discovered that by
the terms of his will two scholarships at
Oxford University were provided for every
state and territory in the United States.
There is little doubt on the part of educa-
tors and those who are interested In the
betterment of scholastic work that Mr..
Rhodes, when he executed his will, had no
intention of making the District of Column
bia an exception to benefaction that was
evidently intended to be general.
The District of Columbia is not a terri
tory 1t is governed directly under the
United states government, yet 1t Is sep
arate and distinct from the territories that
are under the Jurisdiction of the govern
ment. When the terms of the Rhodes will
were made known the board of education
of the District of Columbia recommended
to the board of District Commissioners thai
an inquiry be made to ascertain If the dis
trict embracing the capital of the United
States were to be included or excluded.
Believes District Is Included.
board of District Commissioners, said this
doubt that the District of Columbia would
be included He also said that the fact
that the District of Columbia was not in
cluded in the terms of the Rhodes will was
evidently due to Mr. Rhodes unfamliar!ty
with the United States. In other words,
Mr. Rhodes would not single out the Dis
trict containing the capital as part Of the
States ShOuld 10
the benefits of his will.
Il am not aware" Mr.. Mcfarland said
that any official information has been re-
ceived as to the possible or probable action
in the premises My underst anding is that
under the terms of the will, there was to
be created an American commission, to be
composed of leading educators, that would
advise as to the disposition Of the scholar
ships In the several states and territories
in the United States.
Whenever that commission is created 1t
will be in order for the Commissioners OF
the District of Columbia to ask for consid-
Grafton If the trustees of Mr.. Rhodes es-
tate determine not to appoint such q COM
mittee, or delay in the matter, then the
Commissioners will deem 1t wise to appeal
direct to the trustees
THE Commissioners of the District of
Columbia are firm in the belief that the
District is entitled to two scholarships I'M
der the terms Of the will. The Commits
sioners will do everything within their
power to secure the same"
Correspondence Begun.
From another source this afternoon 1t
was learned that the trustees of Mr.
Rhodes vast estate are already in CORE
spondence with the presidents of a number
of the leading colleges and universities Of
the United States In the interest of having
them act as committee to decide how the
scholarships shall be apportioned.
trustees. homes In
land, are unfamiliar to a great extent with
the educational conditions that obtain in
this country, and they will, 1t is understood
depend on American educators to decide
upon some uniform plan that shall be In
line with the general terms of the Rhodes
will.
The names of President Eliot of Har-
ward and President Hadley of Yale have
been mentioned in connection with this
American committee.