The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-20
How Much Longer Must We stand 1t

After rcitcrating In his last message his
sound arguments against tho taxation of
all the people Of the State for the higher ed
ucation Of few mems children, Gov. ROB
INsoN says: These views are so mani
testify just that | have no doubt they will
ultimately prevail"
We hope the Governor will not be dsap-
pointed, and that though the Legislature at
present SO elegantly quartered at Albany
shall fail 10 give heed 10 his recommended
tons, one will hereafter assemble there
which will better represent the opinions OF
the people and more carefully guard their
interests. The difficulty Of ellcctng any
reform such as that advocated by the Gov
ernor, however, is that it strikes at vested
interests, for the defence of which loud
voiced lobby at once gathers when the mo-
ment Of danger comes. Their bread and
butter depend on the continued mi-use of
tho public funds, and they will fight dcs-
peratcly against any measure which pro-
poses TO sacrifice them to the common good.
Take the case Of the College of the City Of
New York, which furnishes the worst ex-
ample OF the injustice Of taxing the people
for the teaching OF few boys Greek and
Latin, the calculus, and the fine arts. When
the humbug OF the concern was exposed,
and there was some chance Of getting rid
Of it by wise legislation, the faculty Of the
institution called to their aid all its students
and graduates to scour the city with petit
tiOns against the passage OF such a measure
Even children IN the subordinate common
schools were pressed into the service, and
the canvass was almost as thorough as that
Tor city directory. Their efforts were sup
plementcd by an urgent lobby at Albany,
and the College Of the City Of New York
was let alone.
Yet that college affords a most striking
confirmation of the truth Of the Governors
assertion that the children Of the poor man
generally are obliged TO content themselves
with n rudimcntary education, and then 20
to work for their living, while his httle
home is taxed 10 give to the children of
others a collegiate education. Nine in ten
of those educated in the so-oallcd high
schools at the public expense would far
better pay their own bills than to have them
paid by the people Of the State"
At this protontiuus college there Is an in
troductory or high school class II always
numbers several hundred boys. AT the end
Of the year the great part Of them drop of
lhey can anuld To give any more time 10
study When tho freshman year is over,
"A still larger percentage Of the students
are forced to leave; and SO 1t goes ON, until
thore are graduated only u tenth part, per
haps, OF the number who entered.
For tho collegiate training Of these fifty
or sixty boys, SONS Of the comparatively
small number Of parents who can afford TO
keep their SONS at study for five years after
they have left the common school, this in
stitution is kept up Mt a yearly cost to
tho taxpayers, including the Interest
ON the value OF its property, Of about
i2Joo0O. Thus 1t costs the people of New
York three or four thousand dollars year
for each boy who is graduated; and all of
thom must be the sons of parents SO well TO
do that they can support them while the
city Ia paying lor their instruction la Crock