The Washington times., 1908-12-02
Rumored That Bishop Car
roll Will Succeed O'Con-
nell at University.
PLAN NEW POLICY,
IS RUMOR ALSO
Predicted Head Has Great Admin
istrative Capacity 10 Bring
to College.

xsespite the dissemination Of ecclesias-
teal authorities TO predict any change
In the policy Of the Catholic University
OF America, a report has originated
from vell-infoFmed AOurces to the ef-
feet that the present rector. the Ri
Rev. D, J. O'Connen has decided to re-
tire at the end Of his term and that
plans have been formulated involving
important changes in the administra-
ton OF the papal institution
Bishop O'Connell-whose conservation
last spring foreshadOWed the change
viii. In all probability, be appointed
auxiliary bishop OF san Francisco. II
Is said In this capacity he viii act as
assistant to Archbishop Riordan. The
pest carries with fl no right Of success
sion such as was held by Tne late Arch
bishop COadjutOr Montgomery. Lh6Eo
is also a possibility that BlshOp ConaIy'
a former rector Of the university and at
present at the head Of the see Of Mon
terey and Los Angeles, may be made
archbishop cOadJuIOr. II he chooses 10
accept the place. IN this event Bishop
O'Conneu may be appointed to his
post. In view OF the repeated assertions
Of Bishop COnaty, however, that ne pre-
fers to remain where he Is, II Is not
likely that this viii occur.
Has Had Experience.
The successor to Bishop O'Conneu, it
is believed. will very likely be Bishop
Carroll. Of Helena, Mont. The latter
has had experience as the head OF =
Catholic college ia Dubuque, Iowa, and
in other ways is fitted TO act as the
rector OF the university. though from
the purely academic point OF view he
viii enter upon a comparatively new
field. The probability OF his selection
is strengthened by the fact that the
trustees OF the institution desire TO Grad
icate the impression that the rectOrship
is merely a stepping stone TO the hier-
archy Of the United States, and open,
therefore, only TO an ordinary clergy
man.
The selection of Bishop Carroll
though not yet definitely decided upon
coupled with urgent appeal, made by
Cardinal Gibbons and other bishops or
the United States, for contributions TO
the collection taken up for the uuiVeT-
sity in the Catholic churches Of the
country Sunday, Indicate that the trus-
tees are prepared to do their utmost
10 iCaugurat6 new era for the papal
institution, which has gone through
many vicissitudes. including the Wag-
guman failure. since the removal Of its
rrst rector. Archbishop keane, The
collection is an annual occurrence DuL
the tone Of appeal was much stronger
this year than IL has been heretofore,
despite the assertion that the university
was IN a prosperous financial condition.
Bring About Reforms.
Bishop Carroll will. therefore, be in
a position to bring about such reforms.
particularly those governing the FeIa-
fions OF the rector and the faculty, as
he may choose. II is largely because
OF his administrative capacity that those
who are especially Interested welcome
the news OF his appointment.
in other ways, also, there probably
viii be marked changes in the policy
of the institution. The admission OF
undergraduate students has not had the
effect on the attendance that was an
ricipated, and the admixture Of the col
lggiaUe and university courses has given
rise to difficulties
In every influential quarter there is
an apparent movement TO Increase its
efficiency and 10 accomplish TO a great
er extent the purpose for which IL was
endowed