The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-24
PUBLIC MONEY FOR
PARISH SCHOOLS.
Catholic Priests Said to Be
Planning to Rush a Bill
Through the Legis-
1ature.
DOES SAToLLI APPROVE?
The Movement Said to Be Con-
eealed From the Bishops
Much Lay Opposition.
Twenty Dollars a Head Sought
From the State for Every
Catholic Child.
DOES SAT0LLI APPROVE?


rush through the Legislature. at its clos
ing session, bill providing that the
State shall annually appropriate GER
tain amount per year from the State
School fund tor the support and mainte-
nance of the Roman Catholic parochial
schools throughout the State. The Rev.
John A. O'Grady. pastor of St. Peters
Church, New Brunswick, is said to be az
y the head of the movement, and there are
interested some of the leading parish
priestE both in The Trenton and Newark
dioceses.
The bill as prepared aud submitted TO
eminent counsel throughout the State
provides as follows:
First. That the State shall annually appropr-
etc for each child between tbs ages of fiye and
eighteen years certain sum.
Second. The schools shall be in charge of
Parsih Trustees, appointed by the Pastor, who
shall appoint the teachers and decide the cur
rculum of studies.
Tnird. The teachers must possess a normal
school certificate, and in every other manner
comply with the laws governing teachers OF the
public schools.
Fourth. The County Superintendent shall have
supervisor OF the schools and conduct the ex-
Gm.nations and other appropriation will be
based on his report.
These are the main principles of the
bill as at present proposed.
a SECRET MOVE.
The greatest secrecy has been observed
in this matter by the priests interested,
aud it is asserted that neither Bishop
Nigger nor Bishop O'Farrell has been
consulted. These priests feel confident
that even if The Bishops object, Mgr.
Satolli will endorse their action. as they
contend it is in line with the policy
prop9gated by him in the name of
Inn hnr cir uad fop
the movement is the heavy burden parish
priests find it to be to support the paro-
chial schools. They have no revenue but
that given By the parisniouers, ana this
often does not amount TO Sufficient 10 pay
the expenses. In Father O'Grady's
parish in New Brunswick. for instance.
tire psruchiat school attendance is at
least LOCO. and to properly educate
these children, as they would
be educate in tine public schools, would
cost about $50 per year for each child, or
some $50, 900. This is a large sum to ex-
pecu poor people to contribute every year,
besides contributing for other church
purposes, aud also for The buildings to ac-
commodate these children. In the diocese
of Newark there are eighty psrocbial
schools, with an attendance of 26,692
pupils, and in the diocese of Trenton
there are thirty-one parochial schools,
with an attendance of .230, thus making
throughout the State an average attend
apce at the parochial schools of some
SO. g33 children.
WHAT IT, WOULD COST.
In 1891 the State Board of Education
Ela, ed the average COST per pupil per
year. based on the average attendance,
a 5000.
On this allowance the parochsal schools
would be entitled to at least $6S1 $685. SO.
or course, in granting this allowance
the State would be saved the cost of the
,r1.yr Ar1s1 II
idea of the priests TO keep control OF their
property.
The attention of Father OGrady has
been called TO the fact that Sections 19
and 90 of ArUlcle [, and Section z, Sub
divis.on 6, of Article Nv, of the State
Constitution provide against the grant
ing of State funds to religious bodies, but
he feels confident that the bill
as drawn overco1hes these obstacles.
Eminent counsel, he says. advise him
to this effect. Equally as eminent
counsel have advised him otherwise. and
assert positively that even if passed and
signed by the Governor it would not stand
test in court.
THE MOVE CONDEMNED.
Speaking of the proposed bill, promi-
nent Catholic iayman said this morning:
1.-THE fact that the priests have observed
such secrecy in the matter thus far will
hurt the movement very much. Public
sentiment will obviously be against the
movement, and more especially since SO
much secrecy has been manifested.
The first to raise their voices
against the bill will be the
Catholic lay people. They are opposed to
the measure, and as citizens of the State
will enneavor To prevent its adoption. In
their profess oal capacity, the in work
shops III the stores they uaily come in
contact with their fellow men
Of different religious belief, and
it is thus commingling that
make, positive the American character
They contend that this proposed move
ment will array Catholics against others
and revive the old Know Nothing move
ment This they deplore and will do all
10 their power to prevent.
Many believe that 1t is possible to rush
thu bill through the H ouse and Senate
agine Governor Werts will sign it, at least
without giving a public hearing in the
matter.
WORSE THAN CAHENsLYIsM.
The strongest thing connected with
SatolIi will uphold them 1t either
Bishop Wigger or Bishop O'FarrelI
objects. This of itself leads to the con-
clusion that this Is only the forerunner
of what will be ATTEMPTED in other States.
Tn his address to the Arch bishops of the
COlLeu So1aLtS Nv bucit NOolClChOC
held in New York last Noveu. Der, Mgr.
Satolli said:-'.We know by experience
that not all our Catholic chill
dren are found in Catholic school,
Statistics show that hundreds of tious-
ands of Catholic children in the United
Etates of America attend schools under
the control of State Boards, and in which,
for that reason, teachers OF every de-
nomination are engaged. Beyond all
doubt the one thing necessary is religious
aud moral education according to Catho-
lie principles. and not 10 be treated
either lightly or with delay. but
on the contrary, with all earnestness and
energy The adoption of Que OF three
plans is recommended, the choice to be
made according to local circumstances in
The different states and various personal
relations.
"The first exists In an agreement be-