Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-20
THE PHILIPPINES.
WI-The University.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

One Of the newest and at the same time
most interesting of American universities
Is the University Of the Philippines. II
Is now in its third year and already Is
| recognized as one of the leading insti.
! tutions Of higher learning in the fai
east, ranking with the best universities OF
Japan. 1t is the capstone of the public
| school system of the Philippine govern
ment, and as such is designed to impart
| to thousands of Filipinos the last word
in the policy of personal efficiency. prac-
teal training, economic and industrial
development which the Americans are
implanting in the Philippine Islands.
The University of the Philippines was
created by an act of the Philippine COM
mission, passed June Is. 1903. an appro-
pration of $4,000 being authorized for
preliminary plans. The institution as now
organized was authorized by an act or
the Philippine legislature of January 80.
1911. amending the previous act 1t Is
wholly a governmental affair. authorized
by Filipinos. paid for by Filipinos. des-
tined in time to be directed largely by
Filipinos, and always will be devoted al
most exclusively to the education OF FIJI
ipinos. In short, 1t is university TOT
the Filipino, s President Murray Bart
Inauguration in Manila, December 20.
1911 Needless to say, everything is
taught In English.
The university is composed of the col
lege of liberal arts. the college OF medi-
cine and surgery. the college of law. the
college of agriculture. the college or en-
cheering, the college of veterinary sci
ence and the school of fine arts
It is controlled by board OF regents
made up Of government officials and cit
liens. Ameri-
College Control cans and Fill
in Board of Regents. ing the secre-
tary Of public instruction, the secretary
of the interior, in whose department are
the great scientific bureaus Of the gov
eminent. and the director Of education.
One Of the regents is Ri. Rev. jeremiah
j. Harry. archbishop Of Manila. The
president of the university was formerly
dean Of the Episcopal cathedral OF St.
Mary and st. John in Manila. Both Sc
lections were made largely because Of
the important part religion plays in
Philippine affairs. A university council
composed of the president and the deans
Of the colleges empowered to award de-
grees directs the internal affairs OF the
university. The board Of visitors COM
prises the governor general, the speaker
of the Philippine assembly and the JUS
tees Of the supreme court.
The usual academic and scientific de-
grees are given. While the university Is
doctorates. several Of its departments
provide splendid opportunities for re-
search work, Of which a number OF
Americans and foreigners in Manila are
a rich storehouse in the herbarium OF
the bureau of science with its 10000
mounted specimens, two-thirds of which
are Philippine. The botanical library con
tains practically complete set Of books
applying to the fora of the Philippines
and to all of Indo-M Malaysia. The library
of the bureau of science. the most nota-
bic in the far east. Is open to chemists
who desire to complete their course TO,
the degree Of doctor Of philosophy or tc
prepare a thesis on chemical subjects re-
lating to the tropics.
Perhaps no university in the world Is
in a position to advance the practical
study of trop.
Tropical Medicine ical medicine
One of Chief Courses. raduat .
course as is the University of the Phil
ippnes. Schools of tropical medicine are
to be found in all parts Of the world, but
many of them are in temperate chimes
where actual contact with tropical dis
ease is almost impossible. The college OF
medicine and surgery supports a depart
ment Of tropical medicine which is fully
equipped and capable of offering facilities
for study and research to medical men of
other countries who would investigate the
diseases of the tropics. Such visitors are
welcomed to the use Of the laboratories
and libraries of the bureau of science and
of the college of medicine and surgery.
Veterans lawyers of America and Eu-
rope find much to learn in the study Of
the Philippine codes. They are a COM
posite of Roman law and the English
common law. American legal forms have
been grated on Spanish Jurisprudence.
Under the direction of the Philippine code
commission a new and composite frame
work of national laws Is being erected.
To the zoologist in search of wider knowl-
edge the shores and waters of Manila bay
furnish a large amount of interesting
FANCY AND