Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-04
BY Frederic J. HaskIn

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Feb. 2.-The
House Committee on Education has
not mot once during this session of
congress, we were told yesterday. Con
grcss is in the midst OF an unusually
active game of save tho pennies.
and the chances of any money being al
lowed for educational advancement
are so slim that the committee sees no
use in getting together to discuss oven
bills that were favorably reported out
at the last session. Several bills Tor
important educational projects have
been reintroduced. but It Is not prob
able that any of them could set the
approval OF the committee, and IL they
did they would never get by congress
in It's present state OF mind.
Whether this Is wise economy or not
is n matter OF opinion. The majority
in congress thinks it is.
Thorc arc three interesting projects
which patiently await congressional
approval and funds. Ono OF these pro-
vides for a department OF education to
replace the bureau o, education. An
other is designed to bring domestic
science Within reach OF more women
and girls. especially those who work In
tho day.
The third bill does nos reach so many
people as the other two. but IL would
mean a good deal to mo country. This
Is a measure to create national uni
vcrslty.
A national university was planned by
George Washington. Benjamin Frank
lin wanted II provided for In the Con-
sutution. but he and several others
were overrulod by statesmen who said
that the university would be cstab-
lished anyway and that there was no
need TO cucumber the Constitution.
Washington is known TO hayo WILL
l.. 81 dNrsf
as fund to start this university. This
sum would by now amount to 5000 900
at compound interest. 1t cannot, how
ever. be located. a few years ago
Treasury Department officials invcsti-
gated the bequest. hoping to find out
what became OF the money. The oHiy
conclusion that could bo reached was
that tho money was never turned over
10 the government. and that it lapsed
back into the estate.
COST OF THE PROJECT
This means that to- establish ma
tional university now there must be
an appropriation from congress. prop,
ably amounting to several hundred
thousand dollars a year. Therefore the
national university project continues to
hang fire.
Washlngtou's idea was that the uni
vorslty would servo an important pur-
pose in that IL would cement tho sec
tions of the country together. Students
would hoar congress debate. They
would meet the representatives from
different states and grow to under
stand tho viewpoints OF the different
parts OF the country.
Tho further advantage OF a national
institution OF learning in Washington
is that II could make use Of the vari-
GUS branches of the government ser
l. .
brary with It's 100000 books and tho
Smithsonian institution, tho National
Museum. laval Observatory. Bureau
of Standards. and tho Department OF
Agriculture. In fact. every government
bureau and commission could coop
crate to advantage with a national uni
vcrsity.
Such an institution. OF course. IS not
for the college student fresh from n
preparatory school. 1t was planned as
laboratory for scholars who should
havo at least "A master of arts or mas
ter OF science degree, and with the idea
that tho National Capital would offer
Gtudents resources not availa bic I'm
any other city.
That n national university would be-
como a powerful factor in education *
apparent. Yet such an institution is
not a necessity to tho existence Of tho
nation, and congress of late years Is
chary Of donations for worthy luxurics.
SO Washington's dream, that seemed
go near realization In his lifetime. is
still an air castle.
The other two bills are more utili-
tartan. They concern the mass of the
people more directly. The bill for n
department of education, in particular,
Is wide-reaching in Its plans for n
more educated and healthy population.
But these practical bills too are lind
ing it more and moro difficult to get
| a hearing in congress.
Tho domestic science bill made n
strong appeal to women when 1T was
| discussed at committee hearings last
winter. 1t provides an appropriation
! to be spent i'm the states to promote O
| the study of home-making. Tho pro-
| portion OF women who cook, scw, and
shop by instinct is said to be appall-
ing. We go along following the old
| theory that mother learned to make
| ynpd broad to it-tIttv,,t.i