Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-08
UNDER CONFEDERATION
DISTRICTS CLAIM TO CECIL
RHODES Scholarship.
Commissioner Mcfarland Receives
Letter From q trustee Of the
Milionaiteas Estate.

When the will of the. late Cecil ]. Rhodes
was published with its provision for Ameri-
can scholarships atsthe University of Ok
ford Commissioner mcfarland Immediate
ly called upon Secretary Hay and stated his
belief that the District of Columbia ought
to be accorded two of the scholarships. even
though it was not mentioned specifically in
the phrase of the will. Il appropriate two of
the American scholarships to each OF the
present states and territories of the United
States of North America" Secretary Hay
inclined to the same belief. In Consequence
when the American ambassador at London,
Mr.. Choate, transmitted to the State De-
partment the request of the trustees for adj
vice as to the method of ascertaining the
qualifications of the candidates from the
educational officials in the various states
and territories, Secretary Hay addressed a
copy Of the communication to the Commits
sioners of the District as we'll as to the
governor of each State and territory. This
communication was dated July D. 1!U2. The
Commissioners procured as soon possible
the views of the board of education and
transmitted them with their approval to the
State Department which sent the papers
through Ambassador Choate to the trustees
of the Rhodes will, the Earl of Rosebery
Earl Gray, Lord Miner, DR.. Jameson and
Messrs. Belt. Michel and Hawksley.
Nothing further having been heard about
the Commissioners, Commissioner Macfar-
land the 2Cth of August last addressed a
letter to Mr.. Dourchier F. Hawksley, who
mad forwarded the request for information
through Amba ssador Choate, on behalf of
the trustees of the Rhodes WILL reciting
what had taken place and saying:
Having heard nothing officially on the
subject have the honor to request that the
Commissioners may be Informed as to the
intentions of the trustees with respect to the
District of Columbia. 1t is hoped that at an
early day the trustees may notify tie Com
missioners that scholarships have been as
signed to the District of Columbia and the
terms upon which they will be awarded.
The population of the District of Columbia
is nearly 3CG,G3; it is estimated that there
are 900 students in its institutions of high
er learning and that nearly one-sxth of its
population is enrolled in its public schools.
AS the national capital it has unique dis
tinction."
Mr. mcfarland also called his attention
to the decisions indie ating the analogy of
the District of Columbia with the terri
tories and with the states for certain rur-
poses, and pointed out that the District has
larger population than any one of X of
the states and than any one of the terri
tories
Letter From Mr.. Hawksley.
In response Commissioner Macfarland
has just received letter from Mr.. Hawks
ley, in which he says:
THE suggestion that scholarships should
be awarded by theFitrustees of the will of
the late Mr.. c. ]. Rhodes for the District of
Columbia is receiving the consideration of
the trustees. and a decs on will no dOuct
be arrived at before any scholars from the
states are elected YOusare probably aware
that none of the United States scholars go
to oxford before 1901 You may expect
further communications from me before the
end of the present year.
Mr. Macfarland in his letter of acknowl-
edgment. expresses the hope that the de-
cfsion of the trustees will be favorable to
the District. So far as is known the trus-
tees have not assigned any of the scholar
ships to any of the territories. The Will
provides that my trustees may in their
uncontrolled discretion withhold for such
time as they shall tn nk fit the appropra-
ton OF scholarships to any territory
NO scholars have been chosen from any of
the states as yet, inspite of announcements
to the contrary.