New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-29
INTERESTED IN BOY SAILORS
THEY WANT THE CONTROL OF THE SCHOOL
SHIP
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SEEKING TO GET

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEEKING TO GET
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ST. MARY's.
The preliminary steps toward the transfer OF the
control OF the nautical schoosp, the ST. Mary's rom
the Board OF Education to the Chamber OF Commerce.
have been taken already Probably In less than one
week Thomas P Ball, J. H. Winchester and f. spicer'
Of the Chamber Of Commerce, Will confer with +. W.
Devoe and his colleagues the Nautical Committee OF
the Board OF Education to decide upon the plan. IL
is proposed to introduce bill in the Legislature
authorizing committee OF the Chamber OF Commerce TO
take charge Of the school under the supervision OF the
state Superintendent The expenses are to be born
by the State, and boys In all parts OF the state are 10
have an opportunity to become pupils In the SCHOOL
At present they are confined to the residents OF New
York.
The idea Is not new one. 1t has long been tine
wish of certain members OF the Chamber OF Commerce
to get the Nautical School under their direct control
and supervision. Nothing was done toward this end
in recent years, however The question came up
again when the annua appropriation was made 1oi
the schools few weeks ago. Commissioner Devoe
asked for the usual sum OF $4,000 for the school,
maintaining that the ships expenses could not De met
with any less amount OF money. Mayor Grant said
that II the law bearing upon the case was not
compulsory he would refuse grant that sum, believ-
ing that 1t not merlted by the results. The ap-
as usual on November l. with ninety pupils Since
then a number OF the members Of the Board OF Educa-
ton and Of the Chamber Of Commerce have expressed
willingness to change the management OF the school,
The law giving the charge Of the Nautical School 10
the Board of Education passed by the Legislature
in 1873 The object Of the school was to be the
education and training Of pupils In the science and
practice Of navigation" The law also authorized the
appointment Of advisory committee from the Cham
ham f (npm AnnJi ia fnrp In
must be Of good moral character Of sound physical
condition, fifteen years old and DESTROYS of following
the career Of seaman. fee Of $50 is paid upon
entering the school. The boys receive instruction,
boarding and clothing free They entitled, how
ever, to no wages salary The vessel is in command
Of naval officer, who, in addition to his naval pay,
receives $1,000 from the city. His assistants re-
ceive 81 200, 81 900, $500 and $500 respectively.
The pay roll Of the vessel Is about 81 0O0 while about
during the year. The school had 100 pupils in 1874.
In 1873 it had 70 pupils and 81 graduates in 1870,
100 pupils and SO graduates; in 1880. 1O2 pupils and
40 graduates in 1884, 100 pupils and As graduates in
1852, 100 pupils and 45 graduates; In 1853, 124
pupils and 10 graduates in 1884, 1913 pupils and %
graduates 1855. 142 pupils and 80 graduates 1886,
100 pupils and 40 graduates 1887 90 graduates 1885,
100 pupils and 20 graduates 1885, 95 pupils and 90
graduates, and In 1880 SO graduates This record,
however, Is not considered good as 1t might be.
Thomas p. Ball, when yesterday by a Tribune
reporter, said that he greatly in favor Of the
proposed change with all due respect to the Board
Of Education" he added, eve feel that the Chamber
Of Commerce could bring about better results The Com
misSoners naturally devoted to the interests Of the
school children Of Newly York City. They cannot de-
vote much time to the training Of seamen. II is In
our interest to do so. We shall send the ship
for nine ten months in the year instead of
three months, now. Seamen cannot be made in
that short time, with nine months of shore duty.
The added expense would be small, and it might be
Offset by reduction In other ways. We can have q
headquarters, then, In this part Of town, where
lind places for the boys
Mr.. Bell thought that with proper care excellent
seamen can be made in the Tautical school.
Secretary Wilson, Of the Chamber Of Commerce, was
also much interested In the proposed change f, w.
Dcvoe, chairman of the Nautical school Committee of
the Board Of Education is not opposed to this change
lie said, however, that the published report con
corning the bad condition and results of the school
untrue Other members of the Board of Educa-
ton seemed also happy over the possibility of be-
ing relieved from the care of the school.