Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18

-
the trustees and a decision will no doubt be
arrived at before any scholars from the
sta ties are elected. You arc probably aware
that none of the United States scholars go
to oxford before 1904. You may expect a
further communication from me before the
end of the present year.
Mr.. Macfarland acknowledged receipt OF
Mr.. Hawksley's letter, and since that time
has been patiently waiting for the an
nouncement from the trustees of their deeis-
ion as to the status of the District Having
heard nothing from the trustees up to last
week, MFR. mcfarland early in the week
again wrote to MI. Hawksley, asking what
conclusion had been reached with regard to
tie status of the District. He has. OF
course, not yet received reply to the last
letter of inquiry.
Not Official Notice.
After reading the letter received from MIR.
Parkiu by Mr. Bradshaw today Commits
sioner mcfarland called attention to the
fact that he has not as yet received any Of
fetal notification of the decision of the
trustees. and that until they inform him
definitely that the District will not be con-
sidered as entitled to scholarships ne Will
still hope that some arrangement may DE
made by which the District students Will be
included
From the very first. 1t is understood. Mr.
Macfarland has considered the District s
chances for benefits under the will as de-
cidedly doubtful, in view of the terms and
provisions of the will. and also in view of
the construction placed upon the status of
the District by the Supreme Court. He has
hoped. however that the trustees would
consider the District either n state or
territory in their administration of the will.
He said to a reporter for The Star today
that in case the trustees officially inform
him that the District cannot be considered
as state or territory the matter will have
to rest with their decision. However, he
stated, if the trustees in their expected
communication offer any opening through
which they may be induced to regard the
District entitled to the scholarships that
a further effort will be made to secure
recognition for the District institutions.
Mr.. Macfarland expressed regret at the
disappointing contents of Mr.. Parkin's let
ter. but without having received official
notification of the decision of the trustees
did. not wish to take any action in the mat
ter just at present.
Col. John Biddle. Engineer Commissioners
stated that he is disappointed that the Dis
trict should be left out of benefits under
the will. nasmuch as the people of the Dis
trict seemed to heartily desire the scholar
ships for District students.
Superintendent Stuart's Regrets.
Il am very much surprised and deeply
regret to learn of the adverse action of the
trustees of the Rhodes will relative to the
Districts participation in It's benefits said
Superintendent a. L. Stuart of the public
schools, when the contents of the letter
from Mr.. Parkin was made known to him.
Il am sure that l can also speak for the
members of the board of education reia-
tive to this point. and say that they also
regret the reported adverse action. Not
only will educators of the District, but
the people of the city generally will be dis
appointed that the District is to be barred
from receiving any of the scholarships that
will be awarded TO the states and terri
tories.
Il suppose, of course. that until the trlls-
tees have officially notified Commissioner
Mcfarland of their decision that it would
not be advisable for the District authorities
to take any action in the matter. under
the circumstances surrounding the question.
1t sc ems to me that the District should not
be excluded from the benefits of the will
III the matter of scholarships, and 1 am
surprised to learn that the trustees have
decided to leave out the District in the
assignment
'In case the trustees in their official let
ter TO the Commissioners confirm the pri
vate communication to Mr.. Bradshaw, l
think 1t would be advisable for the District
officials and school authorities and the
authorities of the various colleges to join
in movement looking toward securing by
the trustees a reconsideration of their ac-
ton. 1t seems that representatives of the
capital of the nation should not be exclld-
ed from the benefits of the scholarships"
Regarded as Favorable.
The fact that Secretary Hay sent to the
District authorities copies of the circular
letter from the trustees inviting sugges-
lions as to the best method of assigning the
scholarships has been considered as an
indication that the District would be re-
garded as either a state or territory by the
Rhodes will trustees. The fact also that
the funds at the command of the trustees.
for these scholarships are by no means
small has also induced the people of the
District to believe that liberal construc-
ton would be placed upon the terms of the
will with regard to the status Of the Dis
tfict
1t was learned by inquiry today that a
number of promising young men from the
various colleges of the city have been an
ticipating entering the competition for the
scholarships which it was supposed would
BIZ assigned to the District. No doubt the
news contained in Mr. Parkin's letter to
Mr.. Bradshaw will be a source of disap-
pointment to the prospective scholars. all
of whom will hope that a favorable recon-
sjderation of the decision may be obtained.