Town Councilman Crane Claims Peace Nearing Between Cambridge, College

"The Town and Gown struggle which has existed in Cambridge since the founding of Harvard is fast coming to a solution," announced City Councilman Edward A. Crane '35 in an interview yesterday.

The most recent outbreak of the traditional quarrel occurred last Spring, when a special committee, headed by Mayor Lyons, investigated the possibility of taxing the University. The committee explained that the City of Cambridge was financially embarrassed by the fact that four large educational institutions owned considerable property in the city. Such institutions are traditionally and legally exempt from taxation.

Requested $100,000 Contribution

The municipal Committee conferred with President Conant on the subject, and suggested that the University make an annual contribution to the city of $100,000. The President felt that he was not in a position to make such payments, but was entirely agreeable to making other gifts more in keeping with the University's purpose.

"As a result of this conference," Crane said, "the University contributed a $10,000 X-ray unit to the City Hospital and denated a large number of unneeded books to libraries and schools. The President also agreed to keep the doors of University museums open to the public."

Crane explained that another service that the College is doing the city is the continuance of the Cambridge-Buckley Scholarships and aid to needy students of the vicinity. The original principal for these scholarships, however, is fast shrinking, and the University has had to make up the balance. "I sincerely here that it will make the necessary appropriations to continue this good work," he said.