New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-11
SUIT OYER FRANKLIN'S WILL.
THAT SEEMS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE
COMPLICATIONS
BOSTON is TO ESTABLISH A TRADE SCHOOL WITH
HIS REQUEST WHICH NOW AMOUNTS TO

BOSTON is TO ESTABLISH A TRADE SCHOOL WITH
| HIS REQUEST WHICH NOW AMOUNTS TO
| s45cOoo-QU EsTIoNs WHICH HAVE ARISEN
Boston, Nov 10 (speclaD-Benjamin Franklin.
with all his wisdom. lacked that worldly knowledge
requisite to the drawing up of will so carefully
that the intent of the legatee could not be misur-
| derstooi or his purpose thwarted. one hundred
years ago he bequeathed thousand pounds ster-
| ling to the of Boston In trust, the income of
| which to accumulate for one hundred years,
! and was then be used for the benefit of the
young mechanics of the town. Portions OF MS VIII
| follows:
I The said of thousand pounds sterling, If
accepted by the nha bitants of the town of Boston.
shall be managed under direction of the Select
copalian Congregational and Presbyterian cnuIch i
in that town, who are 10 let out the same upon III
terest. at per cent per annum. TO such young mar
riel artficers. under the OF twenty-five years
as have served an apprenticeship IN the sala '1wh.
and faithfully fulfilled the duties required In their
indenures so as to obtain good moral character
willing to become their sureties in bond with the
with interest. according TO the terms hereinafter
prescribed; all which bonds are to be tah e, LOT
| rent gold coin and the managers shall keep
| bound book books. wherein shall be entered the
the benefits Of This institution. and Of their suretes
together with the sums lent the dates. and other
| ness and concerns of this institution. And, as
| these loans intended to assist young married
be- proportioned by the discretion of the managers.
not to exceed sixty pounds sterling 10 one
| the number of appliers so entitled shouId De 80
large as that the sum VIII not su o b 10 mproper
the proportion 10 each shall be diminsinM so as 70
may. therefore be small at first. but the capital
Increases by the accumulated interest they VIII De
possible in their turn as we'll as to make the re-
| payment OF the principal borrowed more easy. each
interest one-tenh part of the principal. which sums
of principal and interest. so paid in shall be again
And. as it is presumed that there will always be
found in Boston vrtuous ana m Gor gan
to the rising generation by snperihden nd ana
| part Of the money will at any time be dead, or be
diverted to other purposes but be continually aug
| in time be than the occasions In Boston shall
require. and then some may be spared TO me negh-
chusetts who may desire, to have it., such towns
engaging to pay punctIaiy the interest ana the
ttants Of the town of Boston; uo,oo,o,
II this plan is executed. ana shGrd az the
sum WIN then be 1900 pounds ,S of which S6ba.
! ton to the town of Boston then lay out. at their
| discretion one hundred thousand pounds In public
to the inhabitants such fortincations. bridges.
aqueducts. public buildings, baths. pavements or
venient its people and render more Agreeable
to stransers resorns ththeT tor or ho
sand pounds would have continued to be let out on
|
! hundred years. as / hope 1t will have been found
/ that the institution has good effect on the con-
| characters and useful citizens At the end OF TINS
| second term. If unfortunate accident mas pre-
vented the operatiOn. the sum VIII be four millions
! and sxtyone thousand pounds sterling. OF which
leave million and sxty,Sne housant pGn a 20
| Boston, and three millions TO the disposition OF me
! views farther
Several months ago steps taken to carry out
| the provisions of the will. The investment had &C
| cumulated until IL had reached nearly s4JoOOD The
| trustees of this fund at present the following
| clergymen who represent the Oldest churches In
| their respective denomna tons: The Rev Stopford
Brooke of the First Unitarian Church. the Rev
Charles W. Duane. Of Christ Church Ghe one idenn-
fed with Paul Revere's famous ride and the pastor
! OF the Presbyterian Church at Warren-ave. and
Berkeley-st. The Seectmen OF the town OF Boston
were TO cooperate with the clergymen OF the de-
| nominations named. Boston has since become
CITY and instead Of Selecimen she has a Board OF
| Aldermen 1t at first supposed that the Al
dermen were the legal of the Selectmen.
| and that they with the clergymen named would
| constitute the trustees. Consequently committee
| from the Aldermen appointed TO act with the
clergymen. After mature consideration 1t was con-
sidered best to erect trade school somewhat after
the manner Of those in New-York Philadelphia. and
other cities. and the committee made trip TO in
vestigate the working OF these schools.
1t was. after their return. decided TO purchase a
b Gi o we're nna W o R the TIN
Walker OF the Institute OF Technology, proposed
should be used in connection with his
school and presented some strong arguments In
support OF his proposition. Public sentiment, how
ever to be in favor Of the trade school idea.
nearly meeting the intent or the VIII or
Franklin.
Now doubts have arisen to how this school can
be maintained II IL IS established. The conclusion
first reached that. inasmuch az the SeectInen
longer in existence. the Aldermen were
their SUCCESSORS But the Selectmcn were the exec
utve OF the town. while the Aldermen are the leg
islaors Now the Mayor is the executive. ne is by
city on that Board Of Trustees. The Board Of AL
dermen is shifting body. and its members could
not always be relied upon for Intelligent discreet
action in matters Of this sort
And the Corporation Counsel gives " az MS
opinion that the trustees could not legally establish
endowment fund to carry on the school with
what Is left after erecting the building ana equip
ping IL with machinery, etc. His advice. however
is not regarded much consequence. and II Is al
together probable that friendly suit VIII be
brought TO determine the exact status or the trus
tees and determine their duties and prerogatlvcs.
Boston has trade school. A system OF manual
training has been introduced into the public schools
but this Of course merely gives the pupils hint
what certain tools are made for, and Is not
intended 10 educate them as mechanics. The North
End Union through the indomitable energy OF Its
superintendent. Samue! r. Hubbard. has added TO
its philanthrOpic work plumbing school. which has
proved highly successful in the short period 1t has
been in operation This is really beginning on the
trade school idea. but there not sufficient funds