The Washington times., 1914-12-28
PRESENT LOOSE SITUATION.

The general incorporation law under
which these institutions are chartered
in the District was passed in 1870. and
Is still in force. II provides that any
five persons. with no restriction or for
mality except that OF filing a certificate
in the Office of the recorder OF deeds.
may incorporate themselves as a college
or university and confer degrees. The
result is that while many excellent and
f1ourishing educational institutions have
been incorporated under the law. By
responsible persons, others of less re-
sponsibinty have taken advantage of
the looseness and ambiguity OF the law
to establish fake concerns. Among the
methods of dealing with this evil Is that
or requiring a property qualification to
be established by an amendment TO the
general law. Still another Is to estab-
fish a supervisory board to have author
ity to deny the degree-giving power
TO any institution unable to qualify
under such requirements as may be
prescribed in the law or by the board.
New York, Pennsylvania. and Michi-
gan apply both these methods. New
Jersey. Massachusetts, Maryland. and
Arkansas have State supervision only.
the New Jersey law having been passed
while President Wilson was governor.
In Nebraska, there Is no State super
vision. but there is n financial qualifica-
ton for institutions desiring incorpora-
ton as colleges or universities. The
amounts OF financial resources required
to be shown varv IN the different states
between 10000 and $500. 600
Board of Trade Interested.
Earnest discussion of the problems
presented has been going on in the
Washington Board or Trade for some
months. Its committee on universities
reported not long ago that the law
should be amended to prohibit the
charter OF a college with q showing of
less than 10000 or Of a university with
less than $4,000 of resources It was
suggested by the committee also that
the degree-Giving power shall be limited
to those colleges and universities to
which Congress has given the power by
special charter. and 20 those properly
incorporated under the general law, and
that all degrees. botn academic and
honorary, shall be given In accordance
with the standards applied by institu-
items of recognized standing in the Unit
ed states.
Tho Board of Trade has decided TO
take stand in favor of the principles
OF supervision. While primarily OF local
interest the provisions OF the Gallinger
bill are so broad that they may AFFECT
DlStllutlbllS FNlSlIlb any NAifif III III"
United states.
The board would consist % nine per-
sons. to be appointed by the President
three representatives Of State colleges
and universities. three OF private insti-
tutions. and three Of the general educa-
tional interest OF the country. The
nominal salary Of Sl.Go and travelling
expenses would be paid each member.
The bill first gives tho board the
mower 70 make rules and regulations
concerning the standards tn be applied
in determining whether or not an In
stitution Incorporated under the general
law for the District is a college or a
university; and also concerning the
standards to be applied in educational
work. and in granting a degree by the
colleges and universities which are sub
iect TO its supervision or which may
apply to it for approval OF POSTGRADUATE
degrees.
This power is extremely important.
as another section of the bill grants to
any college or university upon American
soil the right to apply to the board for
Its approval Of any POSTGRADUATE de
gree proposed 10 be granted by such