The Washington times., 1913-02-18
COLLEGE
BILL IS FAVORED
Commissioners Approve Act to
Safeguard Good Schools
Within the District.

Accompanied by a memoranda of Al
pheus Henry Snow. formerly of George
Washington University, in which it is
declared that the reputation Of the Dis
trict as an educational center is seri-
ously affected by the fragrant abuses
and fraud practiced under the present
law providing for the incorporation of
educational Institutions, the Commits
sioners sent to Congress today a favor
able report on the bill introduced by
Senator Gallinger relating to private
education in the District Of Columbia. !"
The object OF the bill is to subject
the Incorporation or reincorporation and
management of such institutions to prop
er supervision. and to provide safe
guards against the issue Of diplomas
and the granting of degrees by ire
sponsible organizations.
N Act Passed In 1870.
BY the act Of May s, 1870. Congress
provided for the Incorporation Of edu-
cational corporations by a general law
under which such Incorporation should
take place by the filing of articles OF
incorporation in the office of the re-
corder of deeds. This law, practically
unchanged, has since continued In force
and has been made part OF the Dis
trict code.
The following is Mr.. Shows statement
in part in regard to the law: THE act
OF 1870 as originally passed and as 1t
now stands In the District Of Columbia
allows educational corporations to be
formed by any persons, regardiess OF
their character or responsibility ana
T@oVs spproVsl Of ass sny official body. Il evens
allows persons to form educational cor
porations Of such dignity as colleges or
universities and to give any kind OF
academic or honorary degrees without
any restriction or supervision whatever.
''The result is that any five persons
can sign and acknowledge articles OF In
corporation Of the briefest and simplest
character, simply stating their Intention
to incorporate as a college or university.
and, upon filing these articles with the
recorder of deeds. may, without owning
property or carrying on any instruction.
confer any kind Of academic or honor
ary degree upon any person they see ut
without any attempt to teach these per-
sons or to ascertain their qualifications
and may charge for such degrees what-
ever prices they can get.
Abuse of Privilege.
Congress, doubtless. supposed that
public sentiment would prevent such a
II08Tdnt duucc anu iiouu, Oot thsS hoc
not proved to be the case. The charter
thus so easily obtained NAV be used
anywhere In the United States. or, in
deed, anywhere in the world where for.
eign educational corporations are not
forbidden to operate. This has actually
been done in many instances.
Educational corporations organis-
ed by irresponsible persons under
the act of 1870. now forming a part
Of the District code, advertising
themselves to be chartered by the
Congress Of the United States are
operating IN many States of the Union
and are selling degrees and are even
sending degrees abroad to applicants
in foreign countries.
This abuse of the stutory priv
ilege Is seriously affecting the repu-
tation Of the District as an educa-
tiCnal center. and even the reputation
of the United States among foreign
nations"
The objects of the Gallinger bill as
defined by Mr.. Snow. are:
First: To prevent for the future