The sun., 1893-07-02

In few quarters bitter complaint OF
Mayor GILRoY is made because he objects
to an extra appropriation of the public
money to enable the schoolship ST. Mary's
to take q summer cruise. the sum regularly
appropriated last December for expenses Of
the vessel having been used for repairs.
The Mayor is right. He is proceeding in
accordance with sound principle, and II his
course results in the cutting Of the nautical
ship apart from our school system. SO much
the better. 1t is a ship Of the United States
navy and is manned by naval officers de-
tailed for the purpose. but the school fund
Of the city Is charged with the expense Of
Of its pupils. it is by far the most extrava-
giant part Of the school system. to which it
has no natural belonging.
II the people Of New York can properly
be taxed to make seamen Of boys. they can
Just as reasonably be taxed to make them
carpenters. machinists. telegraphers. bicy-
clists, captains OF baseball mines. jockeys.
or to fit them for any other trade or en-
ployment by which they can got their liv-
Ing. On no sound principle can an excep-
tion In favor OF school Of seamanshlp be
Justified. The boys on the ST. Mary's are
supported at tho public cost during their
r two years on the ship. They are lodged and
boarded; but all other schoolboys must be
supported by their parents.
Tho training Of boys as seamen Is un-
qucstionably desirable both for them and
for the merchant and naval service; but so
far ns 1t Is q public requirement., 1t Is
function to be discharged by the Govern
ment Of the United States. not by the city
OF New York This city might as reasona-
bly, bear the expense Of the Naval Acad-
envy for the instruction OF naval officers.
Tho Federal scholarships should perform
that public duty under the naval appren-
ticeslip system. and we do not doubt that
they would be glad to discharge 1t without
State or municipal aid. The Board Of Edu-
cation OF New York was not established to
promote the special interests OF the Ameri-
can marine. 1t is for the purpose OF fur
pishing general elementary education OF
the kind required by the children OF the
city generally.
Hence when 1t diverts part OF the money
obtained by taxing tho people OF New York
In order TO maintain q schoolship for O few
lads, 1t proceeds on u vicious principle. and
Mayor GILRoY has rendered the public q
servicr In calling their attention to tho mis-
chief 1t Is thus encouraging by establishing
bad precedent.
Whether the st. Mary's is practically Of
any great service to the merchant marine.
is doubted by very many shippers. We are
told that a certificate or diploma of gradua-
tion from 1t Is not usually held in high es-
TEEN by shipmasters: but whether that be
30 or not makes no difference with the
principle involved, the principle of taxing
the many for the benefit OF the few. and
giving to u small number Of favored boys
privileges denied to the great. multitude.
Secretary WILSON OF the Chamber OF
Commerce is one Of the severest critics OF
Mayor GILRoY because of his course to-
ward the schoolship. He says that the in
stitution ought to be kept up. Why. then.
does not the Chamber OF Commerce foot
the bills9 1t is special enterprise. wholly
foi eign to the general school system. and
ifit is continued. 1t should be at private and
not at public cost
~The maintenance OF a school OF nautical
instruction Is congruous with the purposes
" the Chamber OF Commerce. 1t Is alto