New-York tribune., 1909-11-15
DIR. R.BUTLER REPORTS
Tells Columbia Trustees of
Tniuersity's Needs.

President Nicholas Murray Butler OF CO.
luinbia University In his annual report to
the university trustees enters protest
against the domination OF the mechanical
I'm Jhe conduct Of "A university or college. a
thing which he believes 20 he increasing In
the colleges OF this country. DR. Butler as
se-ts that no is not In agreement with those
educators who believe that mans intel
leciuai ability can he measured by steel
tape or by n quart measure.
1T is Nitslly important always and every
where" says Or Butler. Ito he on guard
against the domination Of the mechanical.
the bookkeeping and the accounting eie-
ment ia education"
Dr. Buffers report was written before the
death 81 John Stewart Kennedy, 80 there Is
no reference 10 a possible disposition Of the
Kennedy bequest. although ;he president
makes II plain that great many new
buildings must he erected before the uni
Nersiiy can hope 10 he uuhampered The
report considers the erection az a new plt
losophy building. ~ a cost Of $4,000 new
auditorium. two dormitories. one for stu
dents and tho other for faculty members;
and the stadium. overlooking the Hudson
River. between 18th and 10th streets. and
the completion of University Hall. These
the use Of the kennedy funds. snd the re-
port for that reason may be taken as a
forecast Of what may he done with the
money.
Of the proposed stadium and athletic field
Dr. Butler says;
one pledge of Slea0o0 toward the cost Of
this project has ALREADY been received.
The cornmendsble project 10 establish on
the east bank OF the Hudson River. he
tween Hath and n6th streets, landing
memorial 20 Robert Fulton is well under
way. Rv planning and designing The ath-
letic field and stadium in connection with
the Fulton memorial il will he possible TO
add new and effective public monument
10 the possessions Of the city OF New York.
as well as 20 provide the long needed and
long awaited athletic field concerning which
both undergraduates and alumni are 50
urgent. snd as 20 the advantages Of which
there can surely b no difference Of opinion
The treasurer's report sets out in detail
the gifts that have been made 20 the uni
versity trustees in the year Just closed. TO-
falling S4esoe2 o.. which. with the gifts
made 20 Barnard and Teachers colleges
ana other afhlisted institutions. reach
szS7.215 os. The wear before sI,oI7,e3S 81
VAS received. ss4osls7s more than last
year. The total property endowment ot
the university is s4o.s4e.3s3 Is, while the
debt amounts 20 S422523s IS. The total
income last year was S2eo76eI1s, Of
which sl.lo5. ESQ IL came from student tut
tion fees.
In regard - the curriculum DR.. Butler
has this 70 say.
The free elective system has broken down
wherever II has been tried. II is now every
where 10 be superseded by q definite and
controlled plan Of study. which will not at
tempt 70 NJ one eurrieulum % every stu
curriculums as there are students. that
each may satisfy his own intellectual needs
ard receive the training which IL is best
for him 20 have, While having his own In
dividual,ty studied and respected.
IN what may be taken as q reply 20 the
charges Of the Carnegie Foundation that
Columbia. with some other institutions. was
admitting students az too low q standard
of scholarship. Dr.. Butler shows that in the
fal OF 1875 nfty-fye students entered the
several departments OF Columbia with con
ditiens. He says:
The mechanical Interpretation OF the rules
governing college admission would have eY-
cluded these Hfty-five students. whereas IL
now appears that forty-four OF the fifty
i've had the capacity and the training 70
ScoOit themselves creditably during the
freshman wear. IN my opinion. II Is sound
edu tlonal administ stration and wise educs-
riOnal policy 10 administer the rules gov
erning college admission with such strict
ness that no favor Is shown TO the incom-
petent and with such good sense that no
Injury Is done 10 the worthy and sde-
Quately prepared candidate whose formal
record is defective In some slight degree.