The Washington herald., 1908-04-26

Dublin, April 25.-As a. rule, the Irish
universities bill. introduced in the House
of Commons by Augustine Birren, chief
h secretary for Ireland, commends itself to
the Irish people as bold and intelligent
= attempt to settle the long-burning ques-
tion OF higher education in this country
The Catholics of Ireland are, almost to
a unit, in favor of the measure, and even
the Protestants Of Belfast regard it with
favor.
At meeting Of the professors and lee
turers OF Belfast Queens College yester-
day, resolutions were passed unanimously
expressing extreme qualification that an
earnest attempt was being made TO settle
the Irish university question on a perma-
nent basis, and rejoicing that the pro-
visions Of the measure insured that the
proposed new university in Belfast should
stand for the same broad, nonsectarian,
and purely academic basis on which the
Queens College. Belfast. had worked
since its establishment, that the univer-
sity was TO be free from all religious
tests and ecclesiastical control, and was
10 be free and completely self-govern-
ing university.
Adds Dignity 10 Belfast.
Another resolution stated that the eIe-
walton of Queens College to university
raak would not only add greatly to the
dignity of Belfast by making it a univer-
sity city. but would give a great impetus
10 higher education throughout Ulster
The Presbyterians of Ulster are not, how
ever. favorably disposed TO the bill. for
they fear that one OF its effects will be to
make Magee College. the great Presby-
terian seat Of learning. subordinate 10
the Belfast University.
The following are the salient features
Of the bill:
Two new universities-one in Dublin,
the other in Belfast.
Each is 10 have a body corporate under
name TO be afterward decided on.
Belfast University is 10 contain one col
lege-the Queens.
The new Dublin University is 70 have
three constituent cOlleges-Cork and Gal
way Queens, and the new college. all
with new charters and reconstructed gov
eTning bodies.
The existing Royal University is 10 be
dissolved, and its grant OF $4,000 70 be
equally appropriated between the Belfast
No Religious Tests.
There are 10 be no religious tests.
The universities are to be governed .aca-
demically by their senates. the Crown re-
serving the right TO nominate certain
members.
The first senates are 10 be nominated
for FIVE years; Belfast will have a senate
OF thirty-five and Dublin thirty-six, and
there viii be a proportion of women.
On the Belfast senate there would be
one Catholic. and on the Dublin seven
Protestants, including Mr.. Butcher. N. P.
The first professor of the Dublin Col
lege would be appointed by statutory
commission, and the president would be
Catholic layman.
The Catholic College at MaynOoth and
the Presbyterian Magee College are not
mentioned. but the idea is that they may
be affiliated with one or other of the uni
versities
The present exchequer grants TO univer-
sity education would be increased from
eS6,5OO 10 eSOOOO a year Belfast would
get $1,000 from the church funds and
21s,00O TO make the annual endowment
S2S, ,000 The endowment and main
tenance Of the new Dublin University
would be $4,000 a year.
Cork Queens College is 10 have its IN
come raised from Ell, 152 10 s1sO00 a year,
and Galway from e10,5S6 TO e12000.
For new buildings. Belfast is 10 get a
grant OF $4,000. and a maximum sum Of
9l50,000 is named for the new university
and college in Dublin.