Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-03
DUTY Of THE CITIES
Why Higher Education Should
Be Furnished Freely.
TALK WITH C. w. DABNEY
Views of President of University Of
Cincinnati. -
FROM AN ECONOMIC VIEWPOINT
Value to a Municipality of the Es-
tablishment of an Institution
of Advanced Instruction.

of Advanced Instruction.
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the chicago RECORD
Charles William Dahney. president OF
the University of Cincinnati. is a strong
man: of Drawn as we'll brain. of mus
cular as we'll as mental force, and he
makes an impression wherever he goes
He is a native of Virginia.; his father was
Stonewall Jackson's chief he was
educated al Hampden Sidney College and
the University of Virginia. and spent two
years at the University of Gottngen
Germany. Upon his return he was ap-
pointed to the chair of chemistry In the
University of North Carolina. and was
the first TO discover and make known the
valuab deposits of phosphates in the
eastern section and the tin ore in the
western section of that state. He organ
lied the Agricultural College of North
Carolina and represented that state upon
the boards of commissioners at several
expositions. He was assistant Secretary
of Agriculture at Washington during the
second Cleveland administration and made
splendid record. He was appointed
president of the University of Tonnes
see In 1887 and resuscitated that ancient
institution and gave 1t an impetus OF
progress that is likely to be perpetual
In 1904 DR.. Dabney was elected presi-
dent of the University of Cincinnati. and
has shown remarka BILE ability and energy
and has had remarkable success in that
position. Since he was inaugurated the
income of the university from all sources.
including the colleges of law and medicine.
;ot, inir
increased from s1oa.mO to s2G9. 600 a year.
Its productive endowment has increased
from Ss13.HU to S1.:;D.OO
The number of instructors has increas-
ed from nfty-six to ninety We. the num-
Der of courses from 2i1 to 366. and the
number of students from AT to 1.1OO1all
Of which has occurred in four years.
Kept Aloof From Politics.
TIE University of Cincinnati is unique
in some respects. being controlled by The
municipal government of that city. While
l was in Cincinnati the other day l asked
President Dabney whether it was ever
afflicted with politics
LAS far as I can find out from The study
of the history of the university he re
piled. lit has never been in politics in the
ordinary sense OF that phrase. 1t is
municipal institution in part ard it is
proposed to make IT more distinctly
fishes certain relations with public OFF,
Gals. but | have never found any trace
Of graft or any evidence or sign of any
effort to use the university fer any per-
soma! or political purpose. On the con-
trary. many of our public men have serv-
ed the university at great sacrifice of
their time and with absolute unselfish
ness
THE business affairs of the university
are In the hands of a board of nine direct
Of
each mayor when elected. Our mayor is
elected every three years. and the d.
rectors are appointed to serve six years
So. you see. they lap over and each board
represents three different mayors. They
can never all be changed at one time. 1t
Takes four years 70 change the ma jority
of the board. and by the shifting of par
ties and interests ii invariably has rep
resentatiyes from different classes of peo-
pie and different lines of social and po-
litical sentiment. 1t is the same plan es-
sant;ally as that adopted by the states
which have university boards appointed
by their governors. and the same that
has been adopted by the College of the
City of New York. If we are going to
have a real city Institution We could not
have a squarer board than We now pos
sess.
LAS matter of fact the plan works all
right Good men are appointed: repre-
sentative business and professional men,
We have at present three manufacturers
two doctors. one lawyer. one banker one
minister. and one general business man.
including the leadign men of the COM
munty.
Other Municipal Universities.
What other municipality maintains a
universityo"
1.-THE only other large municipal institu-
items are the University of London. the
University OF Manchester. the University
Of Liverpool and the University OF Bir-
mingham based on similar lines. There
are some in Australia. but there Is no
other like this. The only one in this
country that compares In any way with
the University Of Cincinnati is the College
of the City of New York. They are alike
in that they both receive public money.
but the latter IS dependent on annual ap-
preparations which may be changed by
each board of estimates: while the Uni
versity of Cincinnati has a half-mill tax
fixed III the state law and levied on the
entire taxable property OF the city OF
Cincinnati. In addition. We have an en-
dowment. which the College of the City
Of New York has not.
we have productive endowments for a IL
| the colleges Of about Sl.:.OOOo- The in
| come from taxation is about $4,000, that
from endowment S5l.JW. the fees,
buttons. etc. counting the law and medi-
| cal departments. about $4,000. making
/
| The municipal universities In Englan nd
| have no epdowments and are entirely de-
pendent. Ike the College OF the city of
New York. upon annual appropriations
! The University of London is an aggrega-
| ton of old institutions. 1t has, for ex-
| ample. several colleges of liberal arts. the
| Kings College and University college.
| the East London College. the Royal Ho-
| loway COLLEGE tfor women. an agflcul-
| tural college. eleven medical schools. sew
! eral theological schools. twelve technicai
| schools and Institutes. three musical
academies and graduate department at
| Nensngton. which is becoming the center
| of the university proper"
You have some pronounced views as 10
/ the responsibility of a municipality for
| the higher education of cftizens: l sug-
| gested
Municipal University Logical.
! The municipal university" replied DR..
! Da bney. is the logical outgrowth OF the
| American idea that all the youth should
| be educated 10 the best purpose without
regard 10 the position or wealth OF their
parents All thu people, every one. can
| be educated only at the public expense.
and hence public support of education has
| been Incorporated in the American system
of finance. Higher education Is no less
| fundamental in the scheme tnan eie-
mentary education. Education ought not
| to he partial but complete: not limited to
childhood or youth but continued through
out life Therefore, American states and
cities have expanded their educational
| systems 50 that they reach from the
kindergarten to tine university.