The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-20
Relicence as to the Programme Still
Maintained.
w H AT IS WIS HE'D.
The Merging Project FaVOrably Considered by
School Commissioners.
LEGAL DIFFICULTIES AHEAD.
Views of City Superintendent Riddle and Com
missioner West-SOme Others who Have
No Views and Know Nothing.

mlsS1UuCl VcSl-SUlut VtutTS WIZ nave
No Views and Know Nothing.
The same reticeuce still continues 10 regard to
Vicar General Quinn's communication to the
Board OF Education that has characterized the
subject since 1t made Its Official appearance.
After so long a time spent in angry discussion
with the city school officials, the prefer Of ami
cable settlement coming from leading ecclesiastcs
and prominent Catholic laymen might have very
easily been presumed to be a matter which would
excite large share OF public interest. and II the
aesign in the secrecy was TO heighten the popular
anxiety the Vicar General has succeeded beyond
, doubt Both sides to the coming controversy,
which promises to he sharp and keen, still main
iain the attitude at first taken, and the public, who
awe some share OF right to know what may be i'm.
pending, must, under the circumstances, await
such developments may be made when the
Joint committee asked for shall begin TO consider
The points presented by the friends OF the paro-
'hial schools. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Lawrence
D. Herman, clerk to the Board OF Education, COM
muncated to Vicar General Quinn the informa-
ton tnat the Board had appointed Its committee,
and was now ready 10 hear who the committee
on the other side were and to appoint such .
time for conference as the gentlemen acting In
behalf OF the parochial schools might appoint.
The names Of the committee from the Board OF
Education are:-Presidenr Nelson Commissioners
Netmore, Baker. Farr. Vermilyes Kelly and
Townsend. No announcement has yet been made
N the names OF the gentlemen selected by Vicar
nenera Quinn.
SUPERINTENDENT RIDDLE INTERVIEWED.
HERALD reporter called yesterday at the hall
Il the Board Of Education. and had q conversation
with Mr.. Riddle, city superintendent OF Public
Schools. Mr.. Kiddle expressed himself as being
eDt1rplV uDQOo QuGhOP1totfVelv
ing the communication OF Vicar General Quinn.
That paper, he said, merely asked Tor joint COM
mttee Of conference, and until the friends of the
parochial schools stated what they wanred IL
would be useless TO make any surmises he did
not believe that the Commissioners mad attempted
to anticipate what might be the concessions asked
for. Probably much would have to be said about
the religious instruction In the schools, the ap-
polntment OF teachers, and an arrangement ss
70 the school buildings now owned BY tho par
shes. There could be no question about the re.
fusal of the Board to allow any form OF religious
instruction during the regular school hours desig.
mated by the Board, and the only question then
would be as to such instruction before or after
school hours. he could not anticipate maon
trouble on this point. The truth was that 1t had
been the custom OF the Board to allow any renG-
ious denomination to use the school buildings 1t
hours otner than those designated by the Board
for the regular secular education whenever re-
quested for religious instruction or exercises.
This custom was not exclusive, and she Rev. Dr.
Brann at one time availed himself OF 1t. There
used to be, however, some little trouble about the
cost OF fuel and gas on these occasions
and for this reason the Committee on Buildings
finally determined to discontinue It, But ne could
not see what objection could be raised TO allowing
religious instruction In the par0chlal school build
ings at any time and Is often as It. was deemed ad-
visa6le after the regular school hours. The Com
when thew coulG not vioats and one az ,Se moss
Important OF these was the absolute prohibition
nl denomnatlonal religious instruction during
she regular school hours As to the appointment
OF teachers there might be- he thought, some dill
guilty. but still not very serious one. The Board.
OF course, would insist that their onicers should
examine teachers as to their competency for ap-
pointment but ne did not believe. II the teachers
were found to Be comperens, that they Would. S BY
n noy means, he rejected. the trustees under me
shey were competent for the duties.
LEGAL DIFFICULTY.
Here however, arose diffculty upon which he
oint committee would be called upon to consider
When the new uptown district was admitted
whether the friends VI the parochiai SCHOOLS
would be satisfied with the trustees now in the
districts IN which parocnal schools are located Or
In regard to the parochial school buildings Mr..
Che school nails could not be leased at . rental
covering the actual time In which they would be
noo Ss AZ e: s
lime the building, ccn!d be used Tor any
IN counec1iOn With the school rooms should be IL
The books used should be those authorized by the
Commissioners. Perhaps some Of the books now
but for this purpose the express sanction OF the
Commissioners should be obtained.
ali the scheo IN the c ~ psase6 n
mucn and he thought that the desire OF the CON-
munity was that on this point there should be no
conflict or opinion. 1t was true, however, that
systems might crep up to hinder the settlement in
and the result of the exchange OF views
Sency IN his s long Experience Of sne public
school system he had never known OF
single instance In which the particular religion OF
Q teacher had been made any objection either to
appointment or promotion. He believed that the
city had never had more Tolerant Board Of Edu.
OF School Trustees, and ne was glad tnat this re.
cent proof OF faith in the public school system had
secured.
VIEWS OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
Commissioner Baker, member Of the joint
interview. conceded in the main With Mr.. Riddles
views, ana expressed himself as being in hope
that an amicabe settlement would be arrived az.
though he felt Dound as member OF the COM
mittee TO- refrain from saying much. School In
Rpector Perkins, OF the Twelfth ward, who was
also In the Clerks room at the time, said ne was
anxious that perfect harmony should be now
inauRuI ated and that all connict with the public
school system OF the city should disappear.
Commissioner West, who happened to step in
~ the close OF the conversation, was asked his
views on the proposed amalRamatlon; and alter
the usual explanation that in the absence OF any
thing definite from the lriends OF the parochial
schools, he could not we'll see what TO talk about,
he said 1t WAS his opinion, however that In order
to make any change 1t would be necessary TO
have special legislation at Albany on the subject.
IL should be remembered that there were no funds
10 effect this merging OF the two systems, and,
besides the Board was hampered by special pro.
visions which would prevent the acceptance OF