Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

Continued from First Page.)
tors file with the recorder of deeds
statement of their intentions, the
name of the institution, and the num-
Der and designation of the professor
ships. Then they are empowered to
confer such accidents or honorary
degrees as are usually conferred by
similar institutions.
There is no property qualification.
The professors need not be men of
learning because it would be ex-
tremely difficult to prove in court that
man or woman with the barest
smattering of knowledge of astron-
omy, for instance, wasn't qualified to
teach it. Testimony of reputable as
tronomers that the teacher was a fake
probably would only serve to make a
martyr out of him in the eyes of a
considerable part of the public and
could be rebutted without much
trouble.
Prosecutions Not Easy.
The founders of universities. it is
explained, usually are men and women
OF considerable learning who can de-
fend themselves in court. Some of
them may have held positions in col
leges.
Maryland, Maine. Massachusetts and
Vermont, 1t is shown by the Bureau
of Education survey. require special
acts Of the legislature chartering an
institution before it is allowed TO
grant academic degrees of any sort.
In New York State charters for de-
gree-granting colleges can be granted
only by the regents Of the State uni
versity who are bound by rigid re-
10 ga
grant an absolute charter only to in
situations with resources of $500, 900
or more, there must be at least six
full-time professors. four full years
work Of college grade must be offered,
and there must be four years of prep
aratory school preparation. The au-
thorized deg><es are specified.
Ohio requires that a degree era mt =
ing college have the Endorsement of
the superintendent of public instruc =
ton and that it presents a. property
I qualification of at least $4,000. In
Pennsylvania il is necessary to have
the approval of the State council of
education. the college must have an
endowment of at least 100000 in
addition to buildings and equipment
unless it is supported by public
taxes or is maintained by a religious
services: there must be eight full
time professors. and no baccalaureate
degree can be conferred in less than
four years
Some State Requirements.
Arkansas, Kansas, New Jersey,
North Carolina and Maryland require
that the proposed degree granting uni
versity have the approval of the State
! Board OF Education before charter Is
issued In Virginia the prospectus
must be approved by the State Cor
poration Commission. Florida, Mis-
souri, and Nebraska require the APP
/ prevail Of a judge of the Circuit Court
The approval OF the secretary of state
is required in Connecticut, Idaho
Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
sissippi and South Carolina. Some OF
these States also demand property
qualifications. Some of the other
States have provisions whereby the
! charter can be repealed at any time
/ by the State Legislature.
a not very successful effort to root
low quality universities out of the
District has been under way for the
! past eight years. 1t was started in
1918 by DR. Samuel =. Capen, now
chancellor Of the University Of
! ttOCnSStef, VIM tiSH Was CoIliAcCtSN
with the Bureau OF Education. DR..
Capen started action against Orienta
| University, then established at New
Hampshire and Oregon avenues, but
due TO the broadnesS of the law he
was unsuccessful, Later the wori
was taken up by the Office of United
States Attorney Peyton Gordon where
the low grade colleges still are being
investigated.
Thus far only one success has beer
scored. The Oriental University
finally was run out of business and
it's president sent to Jail upon eonvic
ton of conspiracy to use the mails tc
defraud 1t was explained BY Miss
Pearl Mccall assistant United
states attorney, that apparently the