The Washington herald., 1913-03-09

country have loaned their services In
drafting a definition of an institution OF
learning" a university and q college
which will determine the legal qualifica-
tions of an applicant under the lava Sec
tion which may serve as a model for
many States. According to the proposed
law. an institution of learning is "a cor
iporation for the teaching Of useful learn
ing or skill of such kinds as are usually
taught in the public or private schools
colleges. or universities in the United
states of generally recognized standing,
Iby such means and methods and upon
such standards as are usually adopted
by such institutions: or for the increase
lof useful learning or skill. by literary.
scientific, artistic. historical. economic.
sociological. or philanthropic investiga-
tion or research for the public benefit:
or for the dissemination of knowledge on
subjects of generally recognized public
utility or benefit by means OF systematic
lpublic discussion. lectures. demonstra-
tions, or exhibitions, or by means of sys-
tematic publications on such subjects. or
by means Of public library: or for any
or all of said purposes; which is sup
ported by gifts. devises or bequests, or
by fees paid by pupils, students, MEM
bers, or the public, or by both donations
and fees: and which is not for the Pc
cuniary gain or profit of the donors or
| contributors TO the institution or Of the
trustees. directors, or managers of the
, Institution
"A university" within the meaning of
| the proposed law is an institution Of
learning primarily for teaching purposes
which gives instruction above the grade
| of that given In high schools or Sec
ondary schools in the United States of
generally recognized standing, and which
| may give such instruction up to and
through the highest grade in literature
arts. and sciences. according to methods
asd standards used in universities in the
United States OF generally recognized
standing. and which may include such
instruction in applied sciences law, pol
itices. medicine. and theology, and other
branches of useful learning or skill 4
university may. as incidental to its teach
ing operations. carry on such operations
in research or investigation or in dis
semination OF knowledge by lectures bub-
liCations, or otherwise as are usually
carried on by universities in the United
states of generally recognized standing
and may maintain all necessary build
ings. means, and appliances for properly
carrying on its operations, and may also.
in connection with its medical department
maintain a hospital"
"A college" the hill defines, 'is an in
university. which gives instruction in
literature. arts. and sciences generally
above the grade of that given In high
scho"l and secondary schools in the
United States Of generally recognized
standing through the grade recognized
as undergraduate by the universities and
colleges in the United States of gen.
orally recognized standing. according to
methods and standards used by such
-.
instruction nf such undergraduate TOR
postgraduate grade. or of both grades.
in a special branch or branches of
learning usually taught in such universi-
ties aud colleges. according to methods
and standards msed by them" Only a
university may confer honorary degrees.
The intent OF the bill In not only to
safeguard the future. but to clean up the
existing situation, which will be dis
cussed more in detail later. The law
would bring privately chartered institr-
tions under system of regulation and
supervision and would protect legitimate
colleges and universities. several of
which exist in the district against an |
improper use of the degree giving power. |
Washington and Madison's Ideas.
The history IF sovernme mt education. |
or more strictly speaking, of irstitIricrs |
chartered h. Congress. runs back to the |
foundation Of the government. Madison |
ir til" constitutional convention advo- |
Gated national university. but this was
before the convention had set aside the |
ten miles square for the Federal city |
After that was done the convention re-
fused to consider the National Univer-
sity plan. on the ground that whatever
was thought proper to do in regard to
~ nf napfl
could be done under the power to leeis-
ate for The District OF Columbia. WASH
ngton'S md Madison's Subsequent rec
make it clear that both
Intended the university to be national
m trc sense that it could be appropri-
lted for from the District funds, but
hat it. should be essentially q private in
stitutiOn. Madison as President recon-
nended Il university in Washington, to
De- supported Partly from the sale of
:ity lots belonging to the District.
In l195 Congress, sitting at Philadel-
0hia. passed the organic act giving
'ower to establish a system of educa-
ion which was broad enough to have
covered 4 university. Washington's will
a private institution in the
Federal city, "patronized bv Congress-"
This phrase has been the cause of some
.ontruversy. hut the consensus of opin-
on appears 20 he that Washington in-
ended that Congress should exercise
-isitorial power over the proposed in
titutipn. such as existed in England and
VAS cvpied with success by the Com
nonnesith Il Massachusetts. The point
ppears to have beer established by
10Th Washington and Madison thai it
would he proper to appropriate District
unds tpr such an institution IS they
,ad in mind
In 1915, Georgetown. already going
oncern as a Maryland corporation, was
authorized by Congress to confer de-
,rees. but the act did not incorporate
he college as a District institution. In
S16-1I. a project for a national university
n the District. such as Madison had in
mind. was taken to Congress but died ,
here About this time Luther Rice. a
Baptist missionary to India !
nd connected With a Baptist theological
chool in Philadelphia, came to Washing |
on and raised money to buy tract of
ONE forty acres. one corner of which I
now notable as the site of the home
( the late Justice John NJ Harlan. Rice
loved the school to Washington and I
ried to get charter for it, but Con-
ress refused TO incorporate it as a purely 4
BAPTIST institution. La
In 1870 the Senate took up the matter, 4
nd February 9, 1921. Congress granted a
charter to Columbian College, which is a
as one OF the best of the old =
charters. An attempt was a
iade while the bill was in process to \
rescribe that certain United States Of n
icials should be trustees of the college, 7
ut this attempt failed. In 1874 George q
,wn College was Incorporated by Con- y
ress, and in 1851 Gonzaga College, which a
really a branch Of Georgetown Uni r.