Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-26
The Morrill, Acts and the District


President James of the Illinois State
University. in his argument yesterday be-
tole the House committee on agriculture
i'm opposition to the bill extending the
Morrill, acts to the District and naming
George Washington University as the in
strumcntality, cast doubt upon the local
demand for this legislation, seeking TO
asperse the. motives of the citizens who
have appeared in support of it by alleg
ing their selfish interest in George Wash
ington University. Il respectfully sub
nit" he said, that this is hardly fair
representation of the real opinion of the
people of the District of Columbia upon
this important matter
The Illinois educator betrays lack of
UNDERESTIMATE of the situation in this
criticism, for matter of fact the peo-
ple Of the District have expressed them
selves in favor of this proposed extension
through numerous organizations. A citi-
zens' committee has been named, COM
prising some of the most active members
"f the community. to urge this legisla-
ton. The directors of the Chamber of
Commerce and the chamber itself have
Endorsed the project and committee has
been appointed to urge Congress TO ac-
ton The directors of the Board of Trade
have appointed committee for the same
purpose and the board itself has ap-
proved the course. Various citizens as
sociations directly representative of the
local sentiment have Endorsed the pend
ing bill and other organizations have
added their voice in its favor.
1t is true that in some instances the
spokesman of these local organizations
are also members of the board of trustees
of George Washington University but
far from being reflection upon them,
this is d tribute TO the makeup and the
representative character of the board of
trustees. The only theory upon which
criticism OF Justice Harlan or others
identified with this movement can be
based is that in urging this legislation
they were making a selfish plea in their
own personal interest. Any suggestion
10 that effect rests upon the incorrect
theory that the proposed appropriation is
primarily a subsidy for d private institu-
ton. As was developed yesterday at the
hearing by the questions OF Chairman
Scott, the main object of this legislation,
Tor which these citizens of Washington
are appearing, is the extension of the
Morrill, acts TO the District of Columbia
20 far as the measure is public act and
only secondarily the designation of a
specific institution the beneficiary or
instrumentality, by Congress in its ca
pacity as the local legislature. As to the
aspersions cast upon Justice Harlan's
motives, there is a feeling of general in
diSnation that such a preposterous and
Contempuble suggestion should have been
made in regard TO man of his character
and standing.
The truth is that all Washington is
strongly in favor Of the extension of the
Morrill, acts TO the District, and equally
strong and unanimous in favor of the
designation OF George Washington Uni
Ncrsity as one If not the sole instrument
tality to make the acts locally and irnme-
datcly effective
Apart from personalities the opposition
developed al yesterdays hearing was not
calculated 10 check the course of this leg
ISiation There is All obvious lack of logic
IN the position of the protestants They
concedc that the District of Columbia is
entitled TO the extension Of the Morrill,
acts for the benefit OF its young people
and that it has been SO entitled for years.
II the District has thus been entitled TO
the benefits of these acts. for the present
purposes OF discussion the acts may he
construed as extended and, nobody oppos-
ing, tho question arises how will the
Youth of the District obtain this educatio
of which they are in so serious a need?
President James and his associates in this
protest say that il is best to give this edu-
cation by means of a state college or
Sanized initially by Congress and built
from the ground up Then they must adj
nit that there IL no such institution I'm he
ing i'll the District IL would take years
To secure the necessary legislation to
create it, and to get the money for its es.
adjustment and development, and more
wears TO build il and prepare IT for giving
The needed instruction 10 the youth OF
Washington. They know well enough
that universities are not built in a day OF
a year
This being SO, the practical question
arises, what is to he done meanwhile,
The District youth are in need of instruc
ton along these lines. The law Is beins
extended to give this education to then
and does not prohibit the giving of in.
struction through privately founded in
situations while working for the evolution
of state university. Even though suci
an institution should be conceived TO b,
the best method TO carry out permanent,
the purposes OF the Morrill, acts. why no
use temporarily the best instrumentalit,
that lis to be found?
George Washington University is eithe
the only local institution available for us,
under this proposed legislation. or It Il