New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-19
AND THE SCHOOLS
A GREAT SYSTEM USED TO SUPPLY PAT
RONAGE AND SPOILS.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION no LONGER hHrI
CLEAR OF pOLITICs-MADE TO SERVE
,,,Iu- ,,rrcIvAvc vI'pPOSE

THE wIGwAM's PURPOSE
II has long been regarded as great honor by
the citizens Of this city be Commssion er OF
the Board of Education. The Office is one OF great
power for good, and as the service rendered ny
the Commissioners is entirely gratuOus. the WoiH
Is purely Of patriotism To be president OF the
Board Of Education long considered high
honor because 1t was purely labor Of love anu
entirely removed from politics or reiiGon
Such was the high level which the Conmis-
sloners OF the Board of Education stood un'u "lin
a year or two ago. when Tamnany Iial. becoming
holder and bolder its power increased began I"
look about to enlarge field OF patronage ana IN
ncoence" and began displaying its fine hand IN me
Board Of Education which resulted In the e!"ctloh
OF Adoph J.. Sanger In January, lsH. as preSlicht
of the board. Down to this time the board nae
been kept out of politics and presidents had beeh
selected purely on their merits and in the interests
OF the public schools. John L. y. Hunt may he con-
sldered the last long line Of able and scholar
" men who have graca1 the presidents char IN Inc
Board Of Education. After November . 1%2' TAM
many Hall came 10 the conclusion that i,S sphere
OF pa tronage too narrow. and the control OF the
annual expenditure of over $tOo0n the bulK OF II
being in salaries was too tempting prize TO be
loft alone and forthwith orders were issued from
the Wigwam. ara the pull" began to be felt.
The election of president 10 the Board or huu-
cation was 70 be held on the second wednesday IN
January, 1898 In orle' to understand the sig
nifcance of the election of president of the Board
Of Education It be understood that this OFFICER
has the power of appointing all the standing com
mt.ees on this board through which all the I'M
portant work of the public school system, such as
the appointment of school trustees Of the different
wards (yho in turn nominate all the teachers below
the grade Of principal and principals. ana the pur-
chasing Of school sites and erecting buildings In
fact the president of the Board of Education can
Elk his committees to have almost absolute
control OF the 100000 or 100000 year patronage
no TamUanN
long ago but there had been understanding be-
tween all political parties that the public schools
should be kept out of politics. ana the NiSwam
wanted to be sure OF the other departments OF the
city government before ii essayed 10 absorb me
public schools So that it not until after cleo
ton in November. 1892 that it felt strong enough
10 reach out to the public schools.
Since that time 1t been steadily and s'ealthiy
working out its ends in the Board OF Education
until now it has the whole system absolutely in It's
power After filing most honorably and ably the
office OF president Of the Board of Education for
nearly three years. Commissioner Hunt declined
10 run again. His natural successor was either
Charles b. IIubbell Robert Maciay both men OF
high standing and Of more than usual aoliV. AS
an evidence of the character Of these men ana the
total absence OF political motives in their minds IN
seot,rg the office IL may be said that each stood
ready to resign his candidacy in favor OF the oh'r
b,. Commissioner IIubbeI insisted on giving
Mace 10 Commissioner Maclay. and the latter Wouii
III
Hall included politics In the board Recognizing
tho sunerior fitness OF Commissioner Maclay the
men who worked the tools of Tammany han on
the board approached Mr.. Maclay ana hnn'A''u
that they would give him their support y re Woo'i
follow their advice in the matter Of appointing COM
mittees This Mr.. Mlclay promptly Reused 10 49,
vbereunon they cast about for another candidate
and chose Mr. Sanger. Mr. Sanger was Tammany
Hall man and was elected. The committees for that
year were all arranged to suit Tammany Han ana
everything went TO the satisfaction Oh tha' ois""'
cation during the year.
n, tho sudden death OF Mr. Sanger a few weeks
ago Mr. Maclay was again the choice of many OF
the members of the board, but he was opposed by
the men who do Tammany's work because OF MS
religion Mr. Macay being Protestant. They
then pu. IN nomination r. Duncan Harris. Cath
olic but word was received from headquarters 'hat
the time had not We. come to nominate Catholic
as president OF the Board Of Education ana IL
would he better TO put up Protestant VINO wouid
do the bidding of Tammany Hall. and for that rea-
son Commissioner Charles II. Knox was appointed
and was elected by a vote Of II 10 g.
Mr. Knox is q member Of The Tammany Hall Law
Committee whose business IL IS TO defend all cases
OF violation of election laws. II had been the pohcy
OF Tammany Hall during the last year to I'LL va
cancles among the commissioners on the Board or
Education so that II would stand apparently with
a Protestant majority in the board. In the last
year however the Protestants who were appointed
evidently had been selected with a view of their
ticuiarly shown in the case OF Mr. Livingston, who
openly announced that he favored Mr.. N9rmseTT
that he had been called down" in favor OF the
Tammany candidate for the Place. Michael Gala
The makeup Of the standing committees of the
Board Of Education for 1891 plainly shows how sub
servieatly President Knox has followed out the
wishes Of Tammany Hall. and has given over the
rnercies OF the Wgwam in Fourtsenth-st. One of
the most important committees IN the board o IS
that Of Committee on Trustees, which has the po"
OF nominating the trustees in all the wards ana
these In q F f Of prncpa In %
TO have the power of n0uinatns teachers FOR N.
public school system. Tammany Han hrst must
have this committee on the nomination of trustees
in its power. How completely Mr. Knox has done
OF '' this his comnpittee Randolph C;uggenhemcr Is
chairman He is Hebrew. and has always worke,,
M oBrsn are hG d5 OF Ie
OF the committee are Mr.. Moriart,, Catholic, and
avce-presdent of Tammany Hall Mr. McHarron,
Gouiden. a catholic and member Of Tamman,
Hall; Mr.. O'Brien. Catholic; Mr. Bell secretary OF
other members of the nmittec Mr.. Iiubben
Mr. Rogers and Mr.. Wehrum. Pro'es,anis and ne, me-
who are associated with the ring IN power. This
gives Tammany Hail six men sunseryicnt 10 rs
wishes and those opposed to Tammary Han only
The result of this complexion OF the Committee
the Twelfth Ward On which there something
like 30 schools and 7o) teachers). TarImany Hal
wanted a majority OF the trustees In this ward. anc
in order TO have il II necessary II Turn out Mr.
Wormser a most excellent man who has serve
faithfully for many years and 10 put In his place
Michael Callahan. This was done, and now Tam
many Hall has control OF the schools OF the Twyftf
Ward II has of almOs: every other ward IN IT,
city. The trustees at present Thomas Whllcn
Catholic; William Il. S;illings Tammany lcade
OF the XXNIIIth Assembly District; Robert !.
Steel Michael Callahan. Catholics and business as
sociates of the Tammany leader in his district an'
Antonio Rasines 1t Is no unusual sight 10 fni
number OF Tammany men sitting in the antc-rOOn
waiting for the trustees 10 get through their meet
ing. when they have some favorite person to ap
point.
All the other committees appointed by Presiden
Knox have been arranged the Tamman,
Hall basis, and the Wigwam now can boast of hav
ing absolute control Of the public school system
OF the fifteen standing committees, Catholics Of
Tammany Hall men have ten chairmanshps Mr.
O'Brien Is chairman of two important committee
and is member Of six committees. Mr. Harris i
chairman OF two committees and a member Of four
Mr.. Guggenheimer Is chairman Of two and a membe
of four. Mr.. Hubbell. although Of the oldcs
members OF the board. Mr. Gerard and Mr.. Rogers
all PrOtcstants. have chairman sniD a all bu
Mr Mr. Rel Mr. Nv