There is still a good deal of controversy over the University's tax exemption, which is written into the State Constitution. One influential politician, a member of the Cambridge Civic Association, explained: "I still have a feeling that some family in East Cambridge is helping pay the way of some rich young man from California through College."

But, as Mayor Crane points out, the University's tax bill (on property not classified for educational use) is topped only by the Cambridge Electric Light Company and Lever Brothers.

'Gentlemen's Agreement'

To help ease its burden on Cambridge, Harvard and the City worked out a "gentlemen's agreement" at the time of the Harkness gift for the Houses. Since the University intended to take a good deal of land off the tax rolls to build Eliot and Dunster Houses, it decided to pay a sum "in lieu of taxes" on the property. One reason for this action was the Council's threat to halt Harvard's buying of high tax rate land along the river. The agreement has carried on and was renewed when the first Plan E Council took office in 1942.

The University pays in other ways. For instance, it has used the Daniel A. Buckley scholarships to pay Cambridge men's way here since 1905. The amount of the stipend varies in each case, and can be used in graduate schools as well as the College.

On the other hand, the City, for example, supplies free police protection for all of Harvard's football and Commencement crowds, including a weekly motorcycle escort for the Band's march to Soldiers Field.

Especially since the inauguration of Plan E, the city has called on professors to serve on its boards of experts. Gordon M. Fair, master of Dunster House, for instance, is now a member of the water board, while Gordon W. Allport, professor of Psychology, works with the Civic Unity Committee, a group engaged in combatting prejudice. Dean Hudnut helped plan the Cambridge War Memorial at the Council's request, and Professor Alfred D. Simpson of the School of Education prepared the report which has been the basis for Cambridge public school reform since 1946.

City Manager Atkinson feels, "It is the small things that have helped cement relations between the town and the College." He points to the civilian defense program during the war when professors and laborers served on wardens' teams. And there is the series of annual Council University dinners, at which members of the city administration and Harvard officials, including President Conant, dine and discuss common problems. Mayor John Corcoran '18 instituted this series in 1942. There was no dinner this year because of the President's illness and absence. This liaison with Cambridge officials often carries over to city departments.

The Cambridge Police force had no direct contact with University officials until 1940. It now consults with them on all matters concerning students, such as discipline and the police's number one headache: parking. At intervals throughout the year, Police Chief John R. King confers with the deans in an attempt to formulate a policy in regard to University matters.

The use of the Business School lot for student parking was one result of these meetings. King says, however, that since this idea has not proved successful, at the next meeting he will probably ask for a new solution. He sees only two possibilities: the University should either buy a lot near the Yard for parking or else ban student cars altogether.

King expects students to "blow off steam every now and then." He has instructed policemen to "use discretion" at Harvard rallies. Even the traffic officers are picked for duty in the Square on the basis of work in other sections of the city.

This now policy toward Square rallies has prevented a recurrence of the 1928 riot, during which policemen clubbed students and a paddy wagon was overturned. Today, police attempt to calm any gathering through sheer superiority of numbers: all off-duty officers are sent to the riot scene and infiltrate the student ranks. Then by breaking up individual fights, the police try to frustrate mass battles.

Harvard Is An Asset

"The police recognize that Harvard is an asset," King states; "if it were not here, Cambridge would be merely another mediocre city."

From the actions of some local politicians, it would seem that not all agree with King. The City Council unanimously passed in September a motion of Councillor John D. Lynch that the "Reducators" list, naming 68 faculty members as "Communists, communist sympathizers, or fellow travelers," be distributed to the nine Councillors and to the Chief of Police.