New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-12
BOARD EDUCATION REFORM
BETTER MEN AND BETTER METHODS
NEEDED.
A REPREHENsrBLE CUSTOM OF APPOINTMENT
NEED or DEFEATING PRESIDENT KNoA

NEED or DEFEATING PRESIDENT hNoA
FOR RE ELECTION
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: While acting under assignment, OF DUTY from
Good Government club f. have been looking into
the work and methods OF the Board Of Education,
and although my report is not yet ready for publ
cation. may state some things which should nave
IA public interest.
From the twenty one commissioners (unpaiD APP
pointed by the Mayor one IL chosen annually 10y
his associates to be president During the DONNA
ton OF Tammany Hall the one chosen Is wholly
under Tammany control in making up the several
conmit.ces Of th@ board and in naming the sew
erai chairm.n. The majority OF the board are Of
the same political school with President Charles
II. Enox who is candidate for reelection three
weeks hence. NJ Knox was formerly ft'pubh-
can. ! am informed. but since he united with Tam
many Hail he IS recognized one Of its most de
voted adhcrofs. Iiis reelection IS certain. unless
the pressure ~ pubic sentiment can make Itself
felt in promoting the election Of one more in har-
mony with the reform administration. This
board appoints each year school uuEt'e in each
ward who serves for five years. f!'' trustees IL
each ward constitute It's Board OF Trustees.
\ reprehe nSlhe custom has long prevailed Of re
appointing each trustee a. the expiration 81 his
term un.css charges have been preferred and proved
against him. - tie exclusion OF better men. VINO
might he found FOR the place. Many things may
happen to a TRUSTEE IN five years to dsGuaiify him
from further service IN respect which charges
may have been brought such as old age. insolvency.
disrepute from any cause prolonged invahiisn'.
removal OF residence from the ward and other mat
ters. The given for this custom IS that fall
ure to relpponi such trustee may hurt his feel
ings or be- used 10 his lscrcdlt. and that Il may
deprive the service OF expert Of Ave years
experience My point Is that the eligibility ~ me
trustee Tor reelection should b. mos. carefully az
certa!ned that unworthy man should be re-
appointed through Senatorial courtesy" to the
~. eftrh fIl
scrutiny Is had appears from the alleged iact that
several OF the trustees jiniiors. some have
changed their residence. ana one man some time
was thus reapIcinted weeks after his death.
Twenty trustees out OF the twenty-four were thus
reappoinicl last week. and the other four have
been referred hack t. the Committee Nomnl-
tons Among these Is John J.. Fapre. OF the Ninth
Ward. who is secretary OF -. Johns Gui.i and Of
the Committee Of Seventy.
on November e / addressed lette- to Prcs
dent Knox and t. Randolph Ouggenhcimer. chair
OF the Committee Oh Nominations. urging That
the Good Government clubs be allowed 10 submit
lis, OF eligible names FOR consideration IN The
appointments to be made on the 5th Inst Of Trus
tees in each Of the twenty four wards, and sub
mittei several namcs among which WAS that II
James H. Reynolds. heal worker Of the University
settlement in DelAnccy-st. and member of the
Committee o., seventy President Knox personally
assured me that there was hardly time for a change
In CUSTOMARY routine. ami mat II would De I trihc
difficult 70 change the llst - contemplated ap-
pointTcnts as only week remained for cons.i
Grafton u the nominations already ma 90. but under
other circumstances AMI next year the boarl wouiI
thank the clubs ;or IT, proposed cooperation H
selecting good mon ~ truftoes ns g. was cx-
trcmey G.lcGlt - ana men IN the Tower wards
properly qualified f1r the office. Mr. Guc;cnhcimcr
replied that nominations hil already t'en made
except In tho Ninth Sixteenth AMI Twentieth warls.
and that my ,ot,er would pc referred {, TIE com
the following letter from the clerk o. iac Board ~
Education.
Confclera,ei Coo G,1ornmca, Clut.
Dear Sir. Ai -. gaostus u the C1m~ttcc on
yo1T -, y"ytnr rcrc,y
ready made to you b Chairman Gugscnhe'mer.
am drec'"1 10y thc eoinnt'"' 10 - thnt %" h'tl'
two weeks ago and that the law requires no ap-
pontmen,s by The board on the first "Wednesday in
December / am further instructed b express 70
you and your associates the thanks OF the COM
miitee f1r the Interest y0ur Rss citations display
IN the welfare AMI good managcmcnt ~ The schools
The Board - Education Will be pleased - receive
communications in reference 90 future appoint
menis Of school officers Hery fesp.c 'fniy yours.
Ccrk Board u Education
attended the public meeting u the Board q Flu
cation on the 9TH inst. az whch the appointments
were rnnd" and read 10 President Knox th~
following resolution adopted by The Council ~ the
Confederatcd Good Government clubs the an
inst
Ees2ved Tina, the ae,9n Of Of s s gF' ,4 *
fes.Il 20 w "iI'.i'".'i',, - -,
his prompt action IN this matter.
Mr. Knox assured h. would hring ,he matter
before the board 40 reference was made To- the
subject Of appointments during ia. two ani hail
hours was In ATTENDANCE before the board but
was Informed that later on Ia The session the Gus
tomary nominations for reapIontnent to the office
Of ward trustees Of schools were considered. and