The Washington herald., 1913-03-09
Wiping Out " Fake" Universities
Is Mem Administrators Work
College Degrees While You Wait and the Misuse of Words
"Federap and "Natonar in Schools to Be Probed.

S to Be PrObed.
with the private institutions of the coun-
try, although 1t has a determined backing
among those connected with State in
| stitutions who desire a postgraduate ma
tional university as the crown of the
State university system.
How Fake Colleges Started.
May 8. 1870. a general incorporation law
for the District was passed, which includ-
ed the loose provisions for institutions OF
learning" which have been discussed In
the foregoing. This is the law Of to-day.
The year 1900 representing the centennial
of the District of Columbia,-the removal
of the Capital from Philadelphia to WASH
ington-marks the beginning of an era of
corporation exploitation. Corporation pro-
motion ran wild and all kinds of business
and educational enterprises took out
charters until now nearly 200 so-called
educational corporations are in ex-
istence here, on paper or in fact. These
include. of course. many Institutions
In every way worthy. like George WASH
ington University. Georgetown Unlver-
sity, the Catholic University Of America,
the American University (Methodist),
the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral
Foundation. which has power to establish
all kinds Of institutions OF learning in
connection with the cathedral. the Ma
tional University, Howard University
tor negro students. although whites
compose its board of trustees), and some
others. OF these. all but the Catholic
University OF America are incorporated
under special act Of Congress. There
should be added also st. Johns Uni
versity tEpiscopaD. which maintains a
university at Shanghai. and Boone Iai-
versity (EpiscopaD. which maintains
university at Wu-Chang. China. These
two. like the Catholic University, are in
corporated under the general law.
The Gallinger bill would affect all exist
ing teaching institutions In the District.
All the universities existing in the dis
tricts which are not included in the fore
going list would No automatically put out
of business: the bill expressly provides
that no other institution shall be or shall
establish or maintain university. Exist
ing institutions not named in the list
which are operating as universities may
reincorporate as colleges. Thus the bill
seeks to Dinghy the honorable and COM
prehensivc title of university and to
protect the degree-giving power.
Larger Than Local Problem.
This whole question. in its final analy-
sis, is much larger than a mere educa-
tional problem OF the District OF Column
bs. For peculiar reasons, 1t may even
involve the issue of the National Uni
which has been the dream OF
some statesmen and publicists since the
earl days of the republic.
Three of the leading figures in Amer
lean history have gone on record with
respect to the advancement of education
in a manner which possesses a striking
interest In relation TO the present situa-
tion. Thomas jefferson at one time
warmly favored the hea OF a university
al the seat of government. In ITS the
University Of Geneva was destroyed as
an incident OF the revolutionary move |
ment and the faculty offered to come to !
this country and form a nucleus of the I
faculty OF the proposed university In |
Washington. jefferson encouraged their |
plan. but It was frowned upon by Wash |
ington and John Adams. Later. 1t hav- |
ing become evident that the republic |
must exist as compromise between |
slavery and free soil. Jefferson opposed |
the National University scheme and es-
tablished the University OF Virginia, as
a State institution supported also by |
private funds. He located it in the
beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge
about 100 miles from the Capital and
[ is clear that jefferson contemplated
hat this institution should become in
TACT the National University-near the
Capital yet not a part OF II.
The present National University plan
night be called an extreme Hamiltonian
Dlan, in the sense that II represents an
extension of Government powers and
in a field which many believe
involves danger to education and to our
However that may he. the
'lan of George Washington of establish
ng an institution or institutions TO be
by private funds, but operaI-
d under the visitorial power of the Gov
rnment. represents a moderate policy,
veil eNemplified by Harvard University
md particularly appropriate in the Dis
rict of Columbia. The smallness of the
District inevitably precludes the ex-
stenee of any independent institution in
ivalry with university supported by
he Government Not only would a Ma
ional University of this type offer pre-
umably superior facilities. but is close
with Congress. sitting be-
ide its doors, would tend to give Con-
ress an overshadowing influence in its
fairs. perhaps at the expense of edu-
ational freedom. On the other hand.
uch university conceivably could op-
rate to curb political freedom.
For geographical and other reasons.
therefore,, II is the belief of the advo-
ates of the GallinGer bill that Congress
hould permanently adopt the idea OF
;eorge Washington and. by protecting
Nisting institutions in tho District. safe
uard their future against improper nr
competition. Such plan
'ould not necessarily shut ont a. post
raduate university, such as the Associa-
ion of Presidents OF State Universities
roposes, but unquestionably it is incon-
istent with. If not rcpugnart TO. the
lea of a general National University.
The views of President-elect Wilson
18th reference to the Gallinger bill have
OF yet been canvasscd. although it may
c said that some OF the most distin-
uished educators in the country have
cen consulted in the preparation of the
Ill and have given II their approval
n. Wilson, however, having obtained
is own education at Princeton, Univer-
ty of Virginia and Johns Hopkins, has
nbibed all the influences which might
lay upon this issue. and it is believed
,at his administration presents an IDEAL
eriod for the solution of a problem
hich has remained undermined since!
e beginning OF the government