New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-19
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
NEEDS OF THE SCIICOLSHIP ST. MARY'S.
SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS FOR THE EOARD
OF ESTIMATE TO CONSIDER.

NEEDS OF THE SCHCOLSHIP ST MARY'S.
SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS FOR THE EOARD
OF ESTIMATE TO CONSIDER.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The nautical schoolship ST. Mary's Is now
lying at her wharf at the foot Of East Twenty eighth
St. In dismantlcd condition. undergoing repairs.
but the future OF the school is far from being assured
By the time the repairs finished, the money
appropriated for the support Of the school will b.
about expended and Mayor Gilroy stated at a meet
ing OF the Board OF Estimate the other day that he
would not give another dollar to the school while he
was In Office. The act OF the Legislature OF April
a. 1873, says the school shall be supported from
the school fund for the City and County Of New
York. Mayor Gilroy says II shall not be- Let him
read the oath OF Office over again that he took on
entering upon his high Office and see II 1t says the
Mayor Is above all law. The Board OF Estimate
have for the last three years perssteny refused to
allow sufficient Of money to put the ship In
proper repair In fact, they went far that they cut
the estimates down so low that the ship was forced
to cruise I'm crippled condition. Are the members
OF the Board OF Estimate ready and willing to take
the responsibility for sending the ship to sea in
unseaworthy condition Should disaster through
Their unwiingness to appropriate money for repairs,
would they be ready TO to the parents OF the
boys when news Of the loss OF the ship, and many
OF the boys, was announced! Do they, alone. have
Il monopoly OF the reasons why they will not give
sufficient money to properly support the school? 1t
cannot be that they are acting without having well
defined reasons why they will not give the money.
and surely the taxpayers OF the City and County OF
ew-York have a right to know the reasons. Will
they explain why they are unwilling that the boys
OF New York should have the opportunity to qualify
for the positions of officers in the merchant MARINE
when everything Is favorable for their employ
ment and advancement. but pIefer that Massachu-
setts and Pennsylvania should carry off, through their
nautical schools. the positions that rightly belong TO
boys. but which they unable to obtain from
lack OF means to III themselves for!
The nautical school Is a technical school
than many Others In the city, and the people have "A
right to demand that 1t be- properly supported. The
Chamber OF Commerce. Maritime Exchange. shpn as
terS' Association, and all the shipping interests OF
New.lork largely Interested in the successful
operation Of the school and have several occasions
put themselves record In It's behalf. over fifty
boys turned adrift hy this action Of the Mayor
after having begun the course, and way is left
Tor them to complete II.
The bylaws. general rules and regulations of the
Beard OF Education provide that. after passing the
requisite ply steal and mental examinations and being
accepted and admitted Ia the school the boy 30
admitted shall dcIcsit the sum of go to provide Tor
his necessary uniform. bedding. etc. In addition,
each boy must provide himself with such under
clothing. shoes etc. rs has been established rs the
proper amount for him to have" ms outht VIII cost
from So 10 $50 hat II costs the parent III each
case from so $50 10 enter boy IN the school:
Wonld any parent 20 10 the trouble and expense Of
entering II boy II he knew his boy would be- turned
adrft the pleasure or whim of the Board OF rs
innate! When the deposit IS made. II Is not a con
tract that the 10y shall bc Instructed aic graduated
unless expelled for cause: surely III" parents oi
the boy have a ri:ht Ia expect the city OF New York
TO keep faith with them. II will interest the tax.
payers Of this city 10 hear from Mayor Gilroy ana
controller Myers why they considered II necessary
TO guarantee ~ 900 to bring the Massachusetts
Naval Reserve from Boston 10 New-vork to tax:
mart I'm IN. late Naval Review. when money was not
forthcoming put the schoolship st. Mnry's IN con- m
diIon TO take her place I'm line. II surely cannot Do
,ha, they thougit Massach sctts too poor TO
furnish the money for that vcr state approprlatss
$50 600 each year for tho support OF nautical school
with 5000 additional for Office expenses. and The
Massachusetts sohooshp was present and took the
nlacn I'm line that properly belonged TO own
schooshf brt which II debarrtd from taking
through the action Of the Ioard Of Estimate
~" Snr'yorL Nnv L. 1909 NEW NAVY.