The Washington times., 1909-09-09
OUTLOOK PLEASES
c. v. j. OFFICIALS
CONTINUED From First Page)
Morrill, acts within easy reach Of all
the separate portions Of land
Letter in Full.

Morrill, acts within easy reach of all
the separate portions Of land
Letter in Full.
DR.. James letter TO members of Con-
gress, n copy of which he forwarded
state university presidents in the re-
quest for cooperation in his plan, is as
follows:
Champaign, Ill,
April II, 1904
My Dear Sir:
a determined effort is being made 10
pursuade Congress to make consider
able appropriations in aid of a private
institution of learning in the city OF
Washington. 1t has taken the form of
a bill to appropriate to the District Of
Columbia, a sum similar in amount TO
that now granted TO the various States
in aid Of agriculture and the mechanic
arts, and to give this money to the
George Washington University, PRIV
ate corporation chartered by Congress
with headquarters in the city Of Wash
As citizen of the United States I
beg 20 protest against the policy OK
building up private institutions at tho
expense Of the Federal Treasury
Similar experiments have been tried
on a larger scale o. smaller scale IN
the various States Of the Union for
more than a century. The results have
everywhere been neutrality-suspicious.
unsatisfactory in some places, but un-
satisfactory in all alike. The drift OF
public policy in the United States is
combine private and public interests in
the administration Of such institutions.
Reasons For It.
The reason for this in this case is
apparent. The object of the act is de-
clared 10 be the promotion Of the liberal
and practical education of the indus
trial classes in the several pursuits and
professions Of life. Institutions organic
ed primarily for the education Of the
professional classes. under the control
OF private corporations find 1t difficult
TO appreciate the Importance OF educa-
ton for the Industrial classes, and have
almost uniformly diverted the funds
given for such purposes to the support
of older forms of education
This particular grant IN aid OF in
stTuctiOn in agriculture and mechanic
arts was assigned by some OF the States
when the grant was first made to pri-
Vate institutions already in existence.
In every case the result has been un-
satisfactory, viewed from the large
standpoint of public policy. The attempt
has been finally given up In every State
where IL has been trled, except Massa-
chusetts and New Jersey. In the latter
case tse institution practically has been
converted into a public institution, since
it's support Is chiefly derived, directly
and indirectly from the Federal grant.
The grant 10 the Massachusetts Insti-
tute OF Technology, while made to a
very worthy institution. has certainly
not accomplished for the citizens OF
Massachusetts and for the liberal and
practical education OF the industrial
classes results at all comparable with
those which have been achieved in
States like Illinois, Michigan. Wisconsin,
Minnesota, or Iowa, where the grant
was assigned to a public institution.
Class by Itself.
Cornell University form a class by
itself as il was expressly orga nized
for the purpose Of taking over the land
grant Of 1852, and so was not hampered
Dy previous traditions and obligations
which would interfere with the proper
administration OF this trust. or tempt
IL to divert these funds to the uses
or other departments already in exist
ence.
The only excuse for making this grant
70 private institutions at all, was TO
be found IN the fact that some Of the
States were so poor IN peCuniaTy re-
sources and Sa backward M educational
Intelligence or so committed 10 the mol
icy OF private institutions for higher
education to the exclusion Of State in
stitutiOns, that the people were unable
or unwilling TO make the compare
lively small expenditure necessary 10
furnish the proper buildings to house
such an institution. This Is surely not
the case with the Federal Government
of the United States.
II Congress deems IL wise and proper
to appropriate for the District OF Co
lumbia d sum similar to that already
given TO the States and Territories IN
aid OF instruction in agriculture and the
mechanic arts. we'll and good. but let
the grant be made TO a public institu-
ton: to one under the control OF Con-
Rress, and not 10 one under a private
board of trustees.
The only proper method is for Con-
gress 70 DO as the States have done
where no public institution was In exist
ence, namely, organize one for the pur-
pose OF administering this money for the
District OF Columbia. The grant viii
shortly amount TO a sum equal TO the
interest on 100000 per year, aud such
a sum from the public Treasur,. should
be administered by public, not private,
authorities
Faithfully yours.