New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-01
CHARITY SCHOOLS MENACED.
IS THE APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC MONEY FOR
CHARITY SCHOOLS PROHIBITED BY THE CONSTR



CHARITY SCHOOLS PROHIBITED By THE CONSTR
TUTIoNAL AMENDMENTS
To the EdttOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: The amendments to the State Constitution
will effect many commendabe reforms. They in
tended to cure certain evils and should be construed
effect the objects for which they passed One
of the evils State and CITY legislation the giving
of money to association or corporation that could
make out a case or secure the influence of a leading
man. for any object that moved the sympathles or
benevOlence Of the Legislature Another evil was in
lending the credit of the State City to promote
mercla enterprises which could not thrive on their own
merits. Sections 10 and II aimed to prevent the
giving lending OF money credit Of State CITY,
cept certain objects But sundry curious questions
have arisen to the proper construction of these sec
tons. Section 10 Is qualified by an exception stating
that 1t does not apply to appropriated for the
blind the deaf and dumb juvenile denGuents, to the
Educational Fund. Now, can appropriations De made
for Insane Asylumsl Can the State pay for services
rendered according to contract Can the state give
money education, excus vey Of the fund Is the CITY
forbidden to appropriate any money TO support mandcs
or maintain system OF QUIT relief Is this City for
hidden TO allow any money through Is hands TO
be given FOR educational purposes societies conduct
ing charity schools
This last question has caused great uneasincss in all
OF the charitable societies They rely charitable
individuals for Of relief from iwa0;, and give
they receive. But conduct schools requires large
regular outlay. 1t is necessary 10 emri Insbees r.ut
buildings, and supply books. II part ,Icss cX sss
can be paid of the educational furI, tie remad,s
can be raised by charitable indviduals ban If they
cut of from the school money the schools will scrp
pied. great injury will be Inflicted on schools de
voted to education Of the poor. Just ct THIS time,
when the act TO 30 all children the benefits of
education Is going into, ,eraton when every available
school will be needed aud especially those schools to
and viii
specially adapted to the yOrkng aud the warrant class
II would surely be most unwise 10 impair any school
facilities, however weak or humble. think proper
construction Of those sections would II lead to such
result. That part of the amendme mt intended
prevent giving or lending ana not 10 prevent paving
for services rendered or to interfere with the schools
Their effect limited TO the money credit OF the State
Of the City IDey DO not aect any rnnd raised under
for particular purposes The school fund and
school moneys not MONEYS OF the State or OF the City
They are school moneys Ihe proceeds Oh the SAFE OF
the public lands aud the interest the United states
deposit set apart as school fund. NeW-IOrk is
authorized TO ralS an amount equ 70 that IeceNeG
from State, and also TO levy tax OF OBetWenteth
Of cent for education school money mus alsed
not City money, aud cannot legally be used iof any
other purpose than that for which II was raised Ine
CITY cannot divert 1t from It's object III Tssed Tor
charity schools as well as Tor puDc schoOls Unuef the
act OF 1895 first establishing fund for schools II
IS expressly provided that ihe chaIiy Schoos sla
share the fund Inc act OF 1877 specnes one Hl1tn as
their share. All efforts for free education have prl-
ary neen made for schools for those who cannot
Through these efforts common schoo system mas Dee1
ll,ued That now can be enjoyed by all, nch ana
1Ch nave come 10 inc Duru SET Tue poor
Now shall rich crowd out the pJOri Shall they
There Is not enough raised to support our col
ecf and public schools and she charity schools;
VIII cut of the charity schools ~ This would be the
most expensive economy ever attempted III TINS city IL
would ehecualy counterfeit tho benefit OF tue recent
law for promoting education.
There should be doubt on this subject The nero
apprehension that the Board of AppOrtlOnmcnt may
lake such a OF the amendments as to cut OF school
money from charity schools would tend 10 paralyZe
those schools IL has bad this effect partially already
Some managers that after incurrng great expense
IA supporting these schools the Board Will leave them In
the lurcl, aud therefore limiting their efforts. This
should be done l. rests with the Board o! Appor
tlJument 70 make public declaration that they VIII
not interfere with any honestly and fairly administered
charity school complying with the rules Of the Board Of
Education. II there any frauds root them out as
speedily possible but sustain all efforts for extending
the benefits OF education u every child IN the city We
hon. that the Controller viii take partial or limited
view % this matter. but s. cUnstrue the amendments
That they Will eradicate the evils which they are III
tended 10 correct aud not be used 10 nJure impair
the work Of education. There should be decision
which would lead to litigation. knowing the uucer-
tauty OF the law, many societies would not incur the
risks Of expensive lawsuits. great cyll would he in
cted by compelling them 10 go INFO court do not let
them fear, give them encOurageuent aud Dii them
godsperi ia their noble work J. W SKINNER.
Neic- York, Dec. 49, 1874.