Debating Council Considerations.

A meeting of the University Debating Council will be held at 4.30 o'clock this afternoon in Room 7 of the Union. The business of this meeting will be the consideration of various suggestions which have been made, from time to time, in regard to the debating system of the University. These suggestions are of two classes, the first being proposed changes in the debating regulations, the second, amendments to the constitution of the Council.

The first suggestions have been formulated into five questions, and sent to all former members of University debating teams, now in the University or resident in Boston, asking their opinion as to the advisability of adopting the proposed changes. The general opinion expressed in the replies, however, has been opposed to them.

Of these suggestions, two tend to limit the power of judges at trials, the first providing that the six best men shall be chosen instead of the final team of three; the second, that past work shall be given weight, to some degree, in the retention of men at trials, and that the coach shall be present as advisor to the judges.

The third proposal provides that the three members of the second team shall rank equally with the first, and receive medals. The fourth relates to the choice of coaches and provides that only members of winning teams shall be eligible to coach.

The fifth proposal, which relates to the intercollegiate debating rules, provides that only lawyers serve as judges at debates and that the time between the submitting of the question and the choice of side shall be twelve days instead of ten.

Suggestions relating to the amendment of the constitution of the Debating Council have been embodied in eight proposed amendments, the most important being the election of a new officer to be called the debating manager. This officer is to be elected at the beginning of the half year in which the Harvard- Yale or Harvard-Princeton debate, as the case may be, is to be held in Cambridge. It will be his duty to take charge of all arrangements for the intercollegiate debate held in Cambridge, except in regard to the submitting or choice of side of the question, and the selection of the presiding officer and the judges. The object of this amendment is to provide a responsible officer to attend to the detail involved in arranging an intercollegiate debate, this work having been done, heretofore, by any member of the Council who might happen to volunteer.

The Debating Council will consider appointing a committee, made up of the presidents of the Freshman, Sophomore, and University clubs, and two members of the Council, which will take charge of all the arrangements for interclass debates.