Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
UNIVERSITY PROPOSED
Plan of Porto Rican Commits
sioner of Education.
CAP-ST0NE OF SYSTEM
VIEWS OF DIR. LINDSAY, AUTHOR
OF THE PROJECT.
Would Be Valuable in Extending the
Sphere Of American influence
Throughout the West Indies.
CAP-STONE OF SYSTEM
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
SAN JUAN. P. R.. March II, 1908.
DR.. Samuel McCune Lindsay Of Philadel-
phia, commissioner Of education for Porto
Rico. and who is graduate of the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania, bids fair. to be
called some day the father Of the Univer-
sity- of Porto Rico. He has introduced in
the executive council of Porto Rico, of
which he Is a member, q bill establishing
such an institution, and there Is no rea-
son to doubt that Porto Rico is about to
take another step forward along educa-
tional lines.
Commissioner Lindsay's bill provides that
an institution of higher learning shall be
established to be known as the University
of Porto Rico, and that no other insttu-
tion in Porto Rico may make use Of that
name of Porto Rican University" 1t Is
proposed that this university shall provide
the Inhabitants Of Porto Rico as soon as
possible with the means Of acquiring a
thorough knowledge of the various
branches Of literature, science and useful
arts, including agriculture and mechanical
trades, and with professional and technl-
cal courses in medicine, law. engineering
and in the science and art Of teaching. The
In board Of trustees composed OF the gov
ernor OF Porto Rico, as a member and Its
honorary president; the commissioner OF
education, as a member and its president;
the attorney general, the secretary and the
treasurer Of Porto Rico. as ex-off1cio men,
bers, and four other members, to be ap-
pointed by the governor Of Porto Rico for
a term Of four years. The governor will
make subsequent appointments.
The Departments Included.
It Is intended that the university shall
consist of the following departments. to be
organized in the order of their Importance
as soon as the necessary funds may be
available, and 1t shall be the duty Of the
board OF trustees to appeal to the philan-
thropy of publcspirited citizens Of Porto
Rico and the several states Of the United
States for gifts and requests Of money,
books. buildings and equipment for this
purpose in addition to such financial assist
ance as the government Of Porto Rico may
have given or may give the university for
its endowment.
% A normal department to be known as
the Insular Normal School for the training
Of teachers in the subjects taught in the
public schools Of Porto Rico, and for the
support Of which the legislative assembly
shall appropriate annually sum not less
than per cent Of the total amounts appro-
prited to the department of education for
the support Of the common schools.
(2 An agricultural and mechanical de-
partment for the training of teachers, and
for the promotion of agriculture and the
mechanic arts. to be maintained in con-
formity with the requirements of an act Of
Congress approved August 80. 1890, being
an act entitled IAN act to supply portion
of the proceeds of the public lands to the
more complete endowment and support Of
the colleges for the benefit Of agriculture
and the mechanic arts, established under
the provisions Of an act of Congress APP
proved July 2, 1892 80. g. ,...-
(3) A department Of the natural sciences
and engineering. .., ,--
"a A department of liberal arts.
90 A department of liberal arts,
60 A department of law.
% A department of architecture.
(S And such other departments germane
to well-equipped university as the board
of trustees may from time to time be able
to establish.
Means Of Maintenance.
The treasurer of Porto Rico is designated
as the one to receive money grants and pay
the same to the treasurer Of the University
Of Porto Rico, on the warrant Of the audi
tor of Porto Rico. The president of the
board Of trustees will be the chancellor
The institution will be for both sexes, and
for the male students military tactics may
form a part of the discipline. The institu-
ton Is to report annually to the commits
sioner of education Of Porto Rico and the
treasurer Of Porto Rico is to establish a
university fund into which shall be paid:
Escheated inheritance; 80 per cent Of all
fines imposed by the district courts of
Porto Rico; the royalties from all fran
chises or public rights granted by the ex-
ecutfve council; the unexpended balances
at the close Of any fiscal year of moneys
applied by the legislature to the depart
ment of education, and 20 per cent Of the
sale Of all public lands, to be deposited in a
permanent university fund, of which IS
per cent may be devoted to erecting build
ings for current expenses and equipment.
Effect Of University.
Concerning the university project Com
missioner Lindsay has this to say:
1.-The strategic position Of the Island CT
Porto Rico as part Of American terri
tory, whether regarded from the industrial,
commercial political or military view
point, points Enthusiastically to the necessity
of creating as soon as possible an Amerl-
can-Porto- Rican University. Already sew
eral hundred Porto Rican boys and girls,
some Of whom have been sent at the eX-
pense Of the ineuar government, are in
the United States attending college or
Institutions Of higher learning, especially
professional schools. A university here
would do more to extend the sphere of
American influence throughout the West
Indies and the countries of South America,
and to equip men and women for the i'm
portant work of teaching and leadership in
professional life and in the governmental
work in Porto Rico than any other gift the
American people could make.
Opportunity Of a Philanthropist.
ITO create such an institution as part
of the public school system Is an absolute
impossibility at the present time chiefly
for financial reasons. especially so long as
any large proportion of the 100000 chill
dren are without common school facilities,
and unless governmental aid is given by
the federal government Of the United
States, or the revenues Of Porto Rico are
miraculously increased. that will be the
case for many years to come. The work
of primary teaching must be done first.
Industrial training and agricultural in
struction must come next. Professional
training and higher education cannot be
considered until these more fundamental
and important needs have been adequately
met While the government Is endeavoring
to fulfill its duty to the people OF Porto