Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-22
EDUCATION IN D. c.
Ga|Iinger Bill to Regulate In
stituti0ns of Learning.
GEO. WASHINGTON'S IDEAL
May Be Accomplished by the Pend
ing Measure.
FAKE SCHOOLS REGULATED
President Wilson Likely to Take
Keen Interest in Proposed Leg
islation for the Capital.
FAKE SCHOOLS REGULATED
VIM. F.. Brigham. in Washington Correspondence
Of the Boston Transcript.


VIM. F.. Brigham. in Washington Correspondence
OF the Boston Transcript.
Woodrow Wilson. former president Of
Princeton University. will find as Presi-
dent of the United States task laid
under his hand to place on a sound basis
the private education in the District Of
Columbia carried on by incorporated in
situations. The plan Is embodied in Sem
ate bill S37S. introduced by Senator CAL
linger. and aims with other things.
to prevent the future Incorporation Of
fake" universities and colleges. Incl
dentally. it would bring about some re-
| organization Of existing institutions. 1t
presents broad interest in that it may
serve as a model or guide for the states
IN establishing legal definition of what
constitutes an institution of learning" a
university and a college; and it raises
educational questions Of national interest
The movement which the measure rep
| resents is worthy of attention also as
letting in flood of light upon the mis-
use of the words National Federal
and other like terms employed by corpo-
ration promoters to convey to an inno-
are more than local in scope and impor-
lance.
Law Loose Beyond Belief.
The present law governing the incorpo-
ration of educational institutions In the
District is loose beyond belief. Under it.
institutions of learning may be incorpo-
rated by irresponsible persons, with pow
cr to defraud the public by comforting
bogus academical or honorary degrees.
They may be founded under high
sounding names which imply that they
are national in character. and, even IT
honest. being without money or prop
erty, they often become objects of char
ity and burden upon the people of the
District. dragging out miserable exist
ence for few years and then pehshing.
meanwhile having maintained low stand
ards and injured, by their unfair compe-
ttion, all the reputable and established
institutions of the same class in the DIS
trict. Whether honest or dishonest, they
may be given added prestige and power
through the circumstances of their incor-
poraton, regardless of their local char
acter.
Washington's and Madison's Idea.
The history of government education, or,
more strictly speaking, of institutions
chartered by Congress. runs back to the
foundation of the government. Madison
in the constitutional convention advocated
a national university. but this was be-
fore the convention had set aside the ten
miles square for the federal city. After
that was done the convention refused to
consider the national university plan. on
the ground that whatever was thought
proper to do in regard to a university at
the seat of government could be done UNI
der the power to legislate for the District
of Columbia. Washingtons and Madi-
sons subsequent recommendations make
ii clear that both intended the university
to be national in the sense that II could
be appropriated for from the District
funds but that it should be essentially a
private institution. Madison. as Presi-
dent, recommended a university in Wash
ington, to be supported partly from the
sale of city lots belonging to the District
In 1875. Congress. sitting at Philadel-
phia. passed the organic act giving power
to establish system of education. which
was broad enough to have covered a
university Washington's will contem-
plated a private institution in the fed
eral city. 'patronized by Congress. This
phrase has been the cause of some con-
troversy, but the consensus Of opinion
appears to be that Washington intended
that Congress should exercise vistorial
power over the proposed institution. such
as existed in England and was copied
with success by the commonwealth of
massachusetts lie punt APPEARS W HdN e
been established by both Washington and
Madison that 1t would be proper to APP
propriate District funds for such an inSti-
tuition as they had in mind.
In 1918 Georgetown College, already
going concern as Il Maryland corporation.
was authorized by Congress to confer de-
grees, but the act did not incorporate the
college d District institution. In 1916
II. project for a national university in
the District such as Madison bad in
ind NO toll RI ri
there. About this time Luther Rice.
returned Baptist missionary to India and
connected with Baptist theological
school in Philadelphia, came to Wash
of some forty acres. one corner of which
Is now notable as the site of the home
of the late Justice John NJ. Harlan.
Rice moved the school to Washington and
tried to get charter for it, but Con-
gress refused to incorporate 1t as a pure
ly Baptist institution.
In 1920 the Senate took up the matter,
and February q. 1Sc1, Congress granted
a charter to Columbian College, which is
recognized one of the best Of the old
non-sectarian charters. An attempt was
made while the bill was I'm process to
prescribe that certain United States Of
ficials should be trustees of the college.
but this attempt failed. In 1874 George
town College was Incorporated by Con-
gress. and in 1857 Gonzaga College. which
is really a branch of Georgetown Uni
verslty. Columbian College held to its
venerable title until 1873: then Congress
changed the name to Columbian Uni
versity. and in 1901 the name was again
changed by authority of Congress,
whether wisely or not, to George Wash
ington University.
In 1870. five years after the civil war
and when the material future was as
sured. the real development of the mod
ern city of Washington began Andrew
d. White. president of Cornell. favored
the idea of a national university support
ed by national funds. which was vigor-
ously opposed by Charles W. Eliot, presi-
dent of Harvard. and is still opposed by
practically all educators identified with
the private institutions Of the country.
although 1t has a determined backing
among those connected with state insti-
buttons who desire a postgraduate ma
tional university as the crown OF the
state university system.
How the Fake Colleges Started.
May 5, 1870 general INCORPORATION law