The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-03
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1866.
Municipal Abuses The Necessity for n
Reformation

rally selected by individuals to reform abuses
and commence a new course of life, and there
is no good cause why city should not do
likewise. AS we stand today on the thresh-
old of another year, with new officers inaugu-
rated, with new appropriations needed, and a
new routine with each, LET us "turn over
new leat" as the old proverb says, and COM
mence with the rectifcation of such errors as
have crept into the management of municipal
affairs. Philadelphia has always prided her
self on the purity of her officers; let us see
that she does not sink to the corrupt standard
of the Metropolis. Let us continue not only
as stainless an escutcheon as heretofore, but
one on which no spot or blemlsh can be found
While we perfectly agree with any Of her
citizens who praise the honesty of her admin
istration, we have fault to find with certain
portions of the system, not as regards their
purity, but as concerns their propriety. Let
us begin with the Board of School Controllers.
The body is composed of one Controller
chosen by each Sectional Board of Directors,
who serves for one year, and who governs the
scholastic training of our city youth. 1t is
only natural to suppose that these gentlemen
should possess an education which would fit
them to Judge of the best system OF learning.
Yet we find that the Office has gradually
grown to be political one, and that party
qualification, not knowledge is the criterion
of election. Under such a system how can
we expect that the cause of learning would
advance, when men totally untitled for any
such position are placed as judges OF systems
and science, ,Iclass-books and languages, which
which they have no acquaintance
We have no personal feeling in our remarks
in regard to the members OF the presenc
Board. Their existence as officers is entirely
too short for us to Judge Of their capacity.
But from experience we cannot but conclude
that unless the Board Of Control is radically
changed since last year, its abolition would be
advantageous to the cause of education. Let
us take, for instance, the High School Com
mittee as It was formerly constituted. with a
Chairman whose personal enmity overruled
whatever ability he might have had, and who
devoted his power rather to private spleen
than to any attempt to advance the interests
of the institution of which he was supposed 20
be a watchtul guardian.
What is needed is number of educated
and impartial gentlemen who viii do all
things to forward the good OF the common
school system, and will lend every energy
only to cOnduce to the advancement of the
cause OF education. If we could secure such
an immaculate Board, then its continuance
would be Of advantage to our city; but for
one to be formed with politics as its basis, and
with politics in its organization, even down
to the selection of errand-boy, is hardly fitted
to judge OF professors, or settle abstruse ye.
important doctrines of educational theories
The exhibition of party feeling which we uu-
derstand took place in the Chamber on Mon
day in regard to the choice Of boy of fifteen
as messenger, and the elaborate Grafton from
DR.. NEBINGER in regard to the necessity Of
selecting young politician for even this post,
would have been disgraceful in coroner's
jury, much less than in body supposed to be
educated and to Judge of education and its
technicalties. We will dismiss the Board,
therefore, with the hope that all personal
feeling and political preudices will be aban-
doned, and only the good of the rising gene
ration be the governor of their actions,
There is yet another Board in our city Ad-
ministration which needs renovation. We
refer to that of the City Commissioners. TIE
charges which we openly made in regard to at
least one member of that body, and the sus-
picious, to say the least, manner in which the
gentleman holding the certificate of election
was enabled to receive it, have attracted at
tention to the laxity OF management and the
confusion OF accounts which exist in that
Office, and demand a total reformation. AS
regards who is righttully elected the Court
will decide, and, meanwhile, we cordially com
mend the parting action of Mayor HENRY
in vetoing the ordinance accepting of Mr..
GIvEN's secur ties.
Whatever may be the decision, clearing
up OF the discredit which at present attaches
itself to the Commissioner will be simply an
act of justice to the officers and tbs public.
We stand at the opening Of new era. Let
us commence it right. We are confident that
the City Treasurer and all the Heads of the
Departments will lend their aid to the purif-
cation. We expect that the Mayor win do
likewise, and that in his appointments spirit
of reformation, although not necessarily rota-
tion, will be observed. Our city it clear in
the record OF her officers. Let us CORE ct
tollies where crimes do not exist and seek to
have her as perfect as an Utopian munich
pality.