Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-25
MORRILL, LAW FUND
Arguments in Behalf OF George
Washington University.
PROPOSED AS BENEFICIARY
Dr.. Richard D. Harlan Makes An
swer to Criticism.
WOMEN'S LEAGUE PROTESTS
Declares the Institution Is Ineligi-
ble-President Needham to
File Written Answer.
PROPOSED AS BENEFICIARY
woMEN's LEAGUE PROTESTS

File Written Answer.
\ second hearing on the proposed
amendment to the Morrill, land act ex-
tending the benefits of that law to the
District and naming the George Wash
ington University as beneficiary was held
before the Senate committee on agr1-
culture and forestry this morning.
The hearing was enlivened by sharp
criticisms OF the university on the part
OF DR.. Elnora Folkmar, representing the
Professional Women's League. and the
filing of a protest against the naming of
George Washington University as the
beneficiary under the proposed amend /
menr by DR.. Ida Highberger OF the same
organization.
On behalf Of the George Washington
University, DR.. Richard D. Harlan and
President Charles W. Needham spoke
before the committee today. Dr. Har-
Ian took up one point of criticism Of the
university after another and answered
each concisely and with statistics or
published facts regarding the university.
At the opening of his statement to
the committee DR.. Harlan took up the
claim that the George Washington Uni
versity was a sectarian institution. He
reeounted the special efforts taken by the
officials of the university to make the
control entirely non-sectarian and the
instruction entirely free from such criti-
cisms He pointed to the organic laws
of the institution as laid down by Con-
gress, showing that the institution s
board of trustees and officers have no
qualifications regarding religious beliefs
to meet.
Complies With Morrill, Act.
Answering the charges that the George
Washington University is private insti-
tuition, DR.. Harlan declared that no big
university is a private Institution in gen
eral terms. because they are not run to
make money for private interests. There
is nothing in the Morrill, acts. he said,
to restrict the use OF the funds derived
under the act to state institutions In
several of the states. notably in New
York, where Cornell receive the benefits
and in Massachusetts, .ere the Massa-
chusetts institute OF Technology is the
beneficiary, state universities are not re-
treasury. There is. therefore, he said.
precedent for giving the money to the
George Washington University for the
District.
The Morrill, lands he explained. were
designed to aid instruction in agriculture
and the mechanic arts. If Congress de-
sires such instruction to be given in the
District it has two alternatives : to
create District university like the state
institutions, or to give the funds to a
university already established. Under the
second alternative. he argued the George
Washington University is a proper bene-
fcfary because it is the only institution
Of the kind in the District for white stu
dents where there is established either a
college of engineering or agriculture.
Appropriation Not a Subsidy.
Congress, in being asked to pass the
proposed amendment to the Morrill, land
act, he said. is not being asked to give
the George Washington University a sub
sidy. Congress, he said. is asked to give
the District the benefits Of the act
You are asked to put the university in
a position to help the young people of
Washington, not to help the university"
declared DR.. Harlan.
At the request of members of the Sen
ate committee. a statement was filed in
the record to show the financial status of
the university at present and the full
registration of students in the several
colleges and from the several states of
the Union. "A
At the conclusion OF DR.. Harlan's
statement Senator Burkett, acting chair /
man of the Senate committee. asked il
any one wished to speak against the
bill 1t was then that representatives. of
the Professional Women's League at
tackled the financial and educational fit
ness of the university to receive the
money from the federal treasury.
Formal Protest Read.
Heiberger read a formal protest against
the passage of the bill. 1t asserts that
women do not have equal opportunities
fessional courses of the university, and
that such attitude is in violation of the
spirit of the Morrill, acts in declaring that |
the beneficiaries under the act shall not |
discriminate as to race or color.
DR.. Elnora Folkmar was the spokes- !
man for the delegation of members of
the Professional Women's League. She |
vigorously opposed the naming of George |
Washington University as a beneficiary |
representing the District under the Nor |
ri1l acts, charging not only that the uni |
versity was ineligible because it made |
distinctions of race color among its !
students. but also because it was in
financial straits and should not be re- |
lieved by act of Congress from bank |
ruptcy. She urged the selection of How |
ard University to receive the benefits of
the Morrill, acts If the District is to |
become a beneficiary.
President Needham to File Answer. |
President Needham had no opportunity |
to reply to the criticisms. as the Senate |
committee was required to adjourn and
allow its members to attend the session |
of the Senate. But he was given per- |
mission to file an answer, to be included |
In the record of the hearing.
Those present representing the George
Washington University were President |
Charles w. Needham, DIR. Richard D. |
Harlan, John B. Larner and Abram Lis |
ner representing the board Of trustees; |
William H. Singleton. Col Hopkins, Prof |
Ruediger. DR.. William c. Borden, dean |
of the medical department.; H. c. Davis |
secretary.