Evening star., 1909-02-26
EDUCATION OF NEGRO.
Howard University Appropria.
ton Prov0keS Debate.
HOUSE DISCUSSES NEEDS
Item for New Building Eliminated
on Point of Order.
PUT BACK FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Fitzgerald Hopes to Have Provision
for Building and Grounds Con-
verted to Purpose Desired.

made to eliminate from the sundry civil
bill an appropriation of $4,000 for a new
| hall of science for Howard University in
| this city.
A strong fight, led by Representative
Fitzgerald Of New York, resulted in re-
storing the 900 under the item i'm
provements for buildings and grounds"
Mr.. Fitzgerald admitted that as the pro-
vision stands now the university could
not use the $4,000 to erect q new build
ing, but he hopes to have Congress grant
the necessary authority before adjourn
ment March 4.
| There was a good-natured discussion
that followed the reading by Representa-
tive Sims of Tennessee of a letter from
| Thomas P. Morgan, chairman of the civic
| committee. for the inauguration. asking
| him to nominate mounted aid and limit
| ing the apointee to the white race. Mr..
Sims suggested that 1t was apparent that
colOred men were not wanted in the pa
rade in honor of son of the home state
OF Garfield. Mckinley and Taft.
Does the gentleman from Tennessee
want to appoint a colored MANI" sug
gested Mr.. Campbell. somewhat face.
tiously.
Mr.. Sims did not deign to reply to this.
When Representative Butler of Pennsyl-
vania wanted to know If Mr.. Morgan
was democrat there were cries of reg
ular order" and this vaudeville perform
ance was shut off.
Debate on Negroes Needs.
There was a long discussion in the
House during last nights session of the
paragraph appropriating for Howard Uni
versity. accompanied by comment on the
needs of the negro race.
The paragraph reads as follows:
versity, to be used in payment of part of
the salaries of the officers. professors,
teachers and other regular employees of
the university, the balance of which shall
be paid from donations and other sources,
of which sum not less than 81 800 shall be
used for normal instruction, $40 600
Representative Bartlett of Georgia
raised a point of order against the para
graph. saying:
Il should like to inquire of the chair
man Of the committee what Is the author
ity of law for the appropriation of $4,000
Or of $4,000 carried in this bill for the
new building?'
Only Medical School for Race.
Mr.. Tavney replied that he did not
know that there is any authority of law
for the appropriations that have been
made by Congress for great many years
for the maintenance of this institution.
The original farm, together with the
buildings Of Howard University, are now
valued at a million dollars. This institu-
tion is sustained and supported almost en-
tirely from the federal Treasury and pri-
vate donations made by phianthropic peo-
pie throughout the country.
1T Is the only institution in the United
States where the people Of the colored
race have an opportunity of acquiring
medical education. They are not admitted
to any medical school either in the north
or In the south.
1T has been the general policy of Con-
gress for many years. or ever since the
institution was founded. to contribute
from year to year from the general Treas
ury to the maintenance of this institu-
tion.
Mr.. Bartlett called attention to the fact
that the Howard University appropriation
was nearly 100000 more than last year.
Representative -Gardner's Plea.
Representative Gardner of Michigan
favored the university. He said:
This Is the only institution of its grade
for people numbering 1O,OO.OOO souls.
This institution has grown from 800 to
now almost 1900 pupils. We cannot af-
ford to deprive the colored man Of this
opportunity to develop leaders for his
race.
During the last forty years the gradu-
ates Of the colored institutions of collie
giate grade in this country have num-
bered. on an average, but seventy-five, |
giving seven or eight graduates of that
race to million of people.
I'VE cannQ pay the debt in dollars and
cents that the negro race has put us un-
der obligation for in the centuries of the
past in this6ountry..
They are part of our civilization;
they are part of our society: they are
a part of our governments; they are a
n1I hoy
our religion. They come into our homes
as nurses for our children, as cooks in
our families. and as servants generally; |
they mingle with us in various relations
we can for them.
Madden 1nvokes Liberty.
Representative Madden also supported
the appropriation. He said:
"A vote to eliminate this appropriation |
would be a vote against giving an oppor-
tunity for the educa ton of a people which |
it should be our highest duty to assist. |
We should give them every possible op-
portunity for advancement, help them IN
every way We can TO meet their respon
SibilitieS as citizens and enable them to
compete with their fellow w-citizens in the
struggle for existence.
Every lover of liberty will agree that
this country should do what 1t can to
SISNdtt " tHe IllSHeSl pane OF clLlZenSnlp
every man, woman and child under the
protection of our flag, no matter what the
color of their skin may be- I sincerely
hope that no vote will be cast tonight
for the adoption of this amendment
Education to Fight Phthisis.
Mr.. Fitzgerald of New York of the
appropriations committee, also favored
the proposition. He spoke of testimony
before the appropriations committee to
the effect that tuberculosis is making |
terrible ravages among the colored race
Of this country. Not only IS it important
to the people of that race that every |
thing possible be done to check the raw |
ages of this disease, but it is of the ut
most Importance TO the people of the |
white race. wherever the colored people |
reside. that the colored people shall have |
this disease checked for the protection |
of the whites.
THE training that these colored physi- |
clans receive there is of immense benefit |
to the people of both races I believe |
that it would be a great misfortune TO the
people of the country. regardless of race
if anything were done to prevent either
the hospital or the university CARRYING
out the work that can be carried out to
the fullest extent possible
Point of Order Upheld.
The chair reluctantly upheld the
point of order for the appropriation for a
new building for the university. Then
Mr.. Fitzgerald moved to increase the
amount for improvement of buildings and