Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26
IRISH VARSITY BILL
Some Relief for the Most Dis
tressfuI Country.
DETAILS OF BIRRELL PLAN
Believed Now That All Parties Will
Be Satisfied.
RECORD OF COL. TEMPER
Question Of More Turbine Boats for
the Transatlantic Ferry-Re-
vival Of Shaw.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON. April 8. 1908.
The liberal government has at last
brought in an Irish bill which has salts
fed most people in that distressed island,
and which has already received the bless
ing of the tories. This happy achieve
ment has been accomplished by Mr.. Bir-
rell's Irish university bill. Some years
ago Mr.. Bryce formulated plan of hav-
ing one university for the whole Of Ire
land, with number Of affiliated colleges.
This plan wos not acceptable, because
Trinity College. Dublin, which is to Ire
land what Oxford is to England, refused
to fall in with the scheme, and It was
not practical to compel its adhesion by
parliamentary force. Mr.. BirrelPs plan
leaves Trinity College alone and estab-
fishes two new universities, one in Bel
fast and one in Dublin.
The movement Is an interesting one as
1t will settle long vexed question and
do good deal to make Irishmen happier
There are at present two universities ex-
listing in Ireland one founded by Queen
Elizabeth and the other by Queen Vic
toria. The income of Trinity College,
Dublin. does not fall far short of s9p. loo
year. but 1t is not as generally sup
rope. for Edinburgh has an income of
t117:OOO year The Royal University,
which took the place of the Queens Uni
versity in 1879. is purely an examining
body. 1t teaches nothing. and has only
an income of e20.OOO a year. The Queens
College. Belfast. has an income Of e13 1O1.
that of Cork 4ll.25O. and the Queens
College. Galway. a1O.5s6 The total in
come OF these thr'e institutions might be
placed at E36,JCO. Then there is the
Catholic University College in Dublin.
which has no state endowments directly,
but which receives about e7,O0D year
In the form of fellowships out Of the
100000 voted by parliament for the Royal
University
Royal Charters.
The two new institutions will be
founded by royal charter. and one will
be called the University Of Belfast. but
the name Sf the other has not yet been
definitely settled. In Belfast there viii!
be one college and university. like Trim
ity College. Dublin, hut the Dublin Uni
versity will include the Colleges OF Cork
and Galway and the Catholic University
College in Dublin. The Royal Cniver-
sity will be dissolved. and the 100000
which it now receives will be divided be-
tween the University of Belfast and the
University in Dublin. In neither Of these
universities will any religious test be r.
low. scholar. graduate or student nor
will any of the professors have to make
any Of thos. long rambling declarations
which are now In some cases required.
Each of them will be governed academic
ally by their own senates. which for the
first five years will BE- nominated by the
crown.
The senate in Belfast will consist of
thirty-five gentlemen and enc lady. and
in Dublin Of thirty-six and sone lady Mr.
Birrell said he knew nothing himself Of
the religious belief of the members Of
these senates. but his theological scouts
Informed him that in the Belfast senate
there would be one Roman Catholic. and
in the Dublin one seven Protsstants
The senate will have the appointment
and dismissal of the professors. but a
right of appeal will be given in the case
OF dismissal to the board Of visitors. TIL.
existing professors In Galway and Cork
Will go on. but in the new college in Dub
lin new professors must be appointed, and
It is proposed to intrust this duty to the
statutory commission. which will be set
up by the bill. The head of the new COL
lege in Dublin will be a Catholic layman
In regard to the question Of affiliation.
the chief secretary stated that the Bel
fast University would have power to af-
iliate Magee College. and the Dublin Uni
versity Maynooth College.