The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-11-08
HOUGHTON'S APPOINTMENT.
HOW THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCA-
r. TON CAME TO SELECT HAM.


Details of the Meeting ut which the Rector
of Trinity Clutch, HOboken, was made
County school Superinte ndent.-Princi-
pal Kelly divides the Board evenly Once.
The politicians are deeply interested, as
they were greatly surprised, by the selection
of Rev. George G. Houghton, the Rector of
Trinity Episcopal church, Hoboken, to the
position of Superintendent of Schools for
Hudson County The facts of the contest
between City School Superintendent Edison
and Principal Kelly of this city, and
Principal Campbell Of Hoboken, for the
position, have already been published in the
SUNDAY TATTLER. When the State Board
of Education met last Wednesday. the
Hudson County School Superintendency
was preached. No one nominated Super
intendent Edison, but communication
from the Jersey City Board of Education
put his name before the Board. Mr.. Winn
of Camden, nominated Principal Campbell
of Hoboken Attorney-Gen Stockton
nominated Rev. George G.. Houghton.
Senator Schenck nomi mated Rev. II.
w. F. Jones, of Bergen Point, and
finally Principal Edward Kelly was put for
ward by ex-Judge Randolph. Edison
received no votes Campbell
only one, and that only on the first ballot !;
and the contest from the start was between
Principal Kelly and Rev. Dr. Houghton.
The Attorney-Gen pushed the Hoboken
clergyman with all the vigor at his COM
mand. Principal Kelly made an elegant
showing against him, and at one time had
nine votes-within one of an election. The
Acknowledgement said that Mr.. Kelly. as
principal of O school in JERSEY CITY, would
not find time to attend to the business of
County Superintendent, and that, even if
he could he might be called to act as
Judge upon himself at some time during
the course of his service. This argument
had it's effect Mr.. Kelly's strength fell
away from him, and Rev. Mr.. Houghton
came to the front, and finally captured the
prize.
There was not full Board preseAt, or
the chances are that Mr. Kelly would have
secured the appointment, for while, had
Speaker Armstrong been present. he would
no doubt followed his Republican col
leagues and voted for Mr.. Houghton, it is
safe to assume that had Ex-Chancellor
Williamson and Senator Lawrence been
present they would have voted for Mr..
Kelly. While all the Republican members
present voted for Mr.. HonghtoD, 1t is
curious fact that his name was presented
by ATTORNEY General Stockton. Governor
Albeit voted for Mr.. Kelly on every ballot.
In fact. Colonel Charles W. Fuller IS said
to have been the only member of the Board
from Hudson who voted against him. AS
persistently as the Governor voted for
Kelly Colonel Fuller voted for aoughton.
ssThe appointment" said a well-known
public man to the TATTIER yesterday, = is
in its personal aspect unexceptlonal. Inere
is no more competent or accomplished man
in the County than Rev. MIR. Houghton,
but for political reasons the selection is a
bad one. What right has the State Board
to mt the leader of a religious sect al the
head of the schools of the County. 1t is
union of church and State at that point
where it b 9comes most obnoxious to the
popular sentiment. Suppose the State
Board had appointed Rev. Father Corrigan
There would have been a loud howl over 1t
from one pait of the County to the other
.Rey. Mr.. Houghton" said Col. Charles
w. Fuller rlember of the State Board,
on the other baud, sis man who Is
largely interested in educational matters
He is an especial champion OF the new In
dustrial Schools, and it is not an unusual
thing to select minister of the Gospei TOT
such positions. At the same meeung ol
the Board at which Rev. Mr.. Houghton
was ap pointed A minister named wills
was made Superintendent of Schools IN
Middlesex County. He had already peen
designated by the State Board for the posi-,
ton. but the County Freeholders did not
confirm him. At our last meeting a COM
munication for the Freeholders announced
that the Board was ready to confirm Mr..
Wills if he were renominated, and SO we
renominated him. This is only one instance
of the selection Of dominic. There are
other clerical County School Superintend-
ents in the State.
The selection of Rev. Mr.. Houghton by
the State School Board is only, in effect
nomination to the County Board Of Free
holders whose sanction the appointment
must have to be effective. The matter Will
probably evoke warm discussion at the
next meeting of the County Board.