Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-23
COMMITTEE FINDS 9
LAX UNIVERSITIES
D. c. Chamber Group to Ask
Congress to Block Worth
less Schools.

After an extensive investigation of
colleges and universities chartered un
der the lax District of Columbia cor
poration law, the committee on uni
versities and colleges of the Wash
ington Chamber of Commerce has
recommended to that body that 1t ask
the House and Senate District com
mittees for remedial legislation.
This committee, of which William
O. Tufts is chairman, was appointed
to make a survey of the educational
institutions here outside the public
school system. Questionnaires were
sent to every college, university and
private school listed in the directory
requesting information on the number
of pupils and instructors, the nature
of the teaching and amount of prop
erty held.
Some Ignored Queries.
It was found that some OF the uni
versities" paid no attention to tins
questionable. This aroused suspicion,
because the questions were perfectly
innocent and, since the committee in
tended to publish and distribute
book listing the educational advan-
tages of Washington. the incor-
poratOrs of these institutions were
Then the committees attention was
called to various colleges and univer-
sities' which were not listed in the
city or telephone directories. These
institutions ran small, innocent-ap-
pearing ads in various magazines ana
trade papers soliciting correspondence
students The only addresses given
were Washington post office boxes.
From these it was impossible to
trace whoever was directing the bust
ness. Inquiries addressed to other
States brought rather indignant re-
plies from educational authorities.
Eliminated i'm New York.
They revealed that institutions of
learning are chartered here. and then
act in the capacity of holding COM
panies for low grade colleges and uni
versities in other States where the
laws are stricter The commissioner
of education of New York State ex-
pressed his gratitude to the committee
for taking the situation in hand and
said that ii was extremely difficult for
the standard of learned degrees
throughout the country to be kept
high when such institutions were
operating under the shadow of the
Capitol and even advertising that
they were authorized by the United
States Government His own State,
he added, had successfully eliminated
these pests.
The investigation convinced the
committee that Washington is an edu-
cationaI city Of the first rank, that its
reputable colleges and universities are
high grade, idealistic, efficient insti
tutions which should attract students
from all over the country, but that
the lowgrade establishments must be
cleared out. Their degrees. it was
said, cast suspicion on every other de
gree issued here unless the situation
happens to be we'll known.
Nine Schools Worthless.
Our investigation, said Mr.. Tufts
revealed at least nine institutions of
learning here, which were either
worthless or very suspicious, and it is
impossible to say how many more are
operating under the law here. or in
other States under District permits.
which have not been revealed"
The committee decided Mr.. Tufts
said. that the bill introduced last year
by Senator Copeland of New York
and now in the Senate District COM
mittee, would meet the situation ad-
mirably with few minor changes
This bill provides for the creation
of a council of nine members. to he
appointed by the President with the
consent of the Senate, to establish
standards for all incorporated institu-
lions in the District of Columbia
which confer academic, professional
or technical degrees. This council
would approve or disapprove of the
filing of a certificate of incorporation
and would act for the public in quo
warranto proceedings for the for
feiture of the franchise of any insti.
tuition abusing its powers.
To Bar Deceptive Titles.
The bill forbids the use in the name
OF the institution of the words ma.
tional," United States" and FED
eral," or other words which might
imply that the institution was sun.
ported by the United States Govern.
ment. The council would be directs ed
to collect information on the confer.
ring of degrees in the Distric, and
make an annual report to Congress.
II would be healthy influence. Mr..
1ults beneVes, If the whole situation
could be brought out before the two
committees of Congress and the rem
utable institutions here given a
chdnce 10 progress unhampered by the
uhsaVofX regulations of the others
Ohce the situation was taken in hand
oy the committees, they could force
the various institutions to come for.
Ward ana prove their qualifications for
granting degrees. -0'