New-York tribune., 1895-02-14
THE SCHOOL BILLS

The worst feature Of the school bill intro
duccd by Assemblyman Bell IS the provision
creating 4 Board of Education OF five members
to serve for ten years at an annual salary of
81 600 apiece And This is not only It's worst
bur If, most prominent feature 1t also becomes
more evident every day that the mischevous
principle Of u salaricd Board of Education Is
particularly attractive To the supporters Of the
bill Mr. Bell. lis SponSor at the hearing on
TUESDAY at Albany took pains 10 declare his
approval Of this new departure in public-school
administration. and his views are shared by the
busiest advocates Of the measure. The cost OF
such system is serious consideration. ~ we
have already said. especially al time when
public oxtravaeanrc NEEDS 10 be rcbukcd and
rcirenchmcnl j. the obvious wish Of the people.
Hut. Is We have also said. this is not the strong
est argument against the payment of salaries 10
School Commissioners. If there is one branch
~ the public service which, more than another.
ought 20 bc kept absolutely free from political
maninulaiion au1 lifted above the level of the
spo,mcn II is the department Of education.
There j. not the slightest reason 10 doubt that
ih. city will br able TO secure In the future. ~
10 has secured IN the past. the services Of faith
ful disiniercSicd. broad-mindcd men and women
as school Commissioners. without Offering ihcm
pocunlarv rcrompcnsc for their labors. But
ther, il grave reason to apprrhcnd that IN"
con,cuucnccs Of making this great trust profit
able would be- disastrous The scramble Tor
lucrative offices j. never IN "difying spectacl''
but II would be peculiarly odious and ominous
II appointments to the Board ~ Education were
added 10 The long list of good things
We suggested day or TWO ago that the school
hin introduced by Mr.. Pavcy in behalf OF the
Committee of Seventy might be- ignoranty or
disngenuoli-ly aniagonizc1 In some quarters be-
cause II il commonly called 10y thc name OF that
organization 1t now appears that this argn'
monr Il being used in opposition TO the meas
urc. H. If If cmanatcl only from The Commltle"
= Seventy. and had been huTirdy drafted
after q slight investigation II the subject. The
fic, Is. us We have pointed ont anI apparently
need 10 point out again. that the hill introduced
by Mr.. pav,y. and opposed 10y Mr. Holl and the
bcnrnclarics of the present system. Is in al
essential particulars The hill recommended hy
fhr excellent commission appointed 10y Mayor
Gilroy. and represents ,hc deliberate convictions
II a large number Of specially competent cti-
zcn.. whose experience has been consulted AMI
whose cxpr.ss appreciation has been received.
are finding their WAY into circulation; ~. fer
example. that under the plan proposed IN THIS
measure the superintendent of School buildings
and supplies will be- required Ia select rs well
rs purchase text books. and that the Board "f
school SupcrntcndrniS will have final power 10
appoint All teachers Instead OF the power 10
certify suitahr candidates from an eligible list
10 The Board Of Educaion. These seem to uN
fair indications of The Influences which are being
invoked to defeat ~ excellent measure and cs-
tablish more firmly than ever the evils from
which This community demands dclivcrancc.
We do not charge or suspect that all the op-
p,ncnts Of the psvcy hill are nSinccrc or gen
crnlly III informed. Indeed we know the con
trory to be- truc Nor do we insist that the bill
cannot be- improved by amendments in harmony
with its spirit and purposes Bur we are con
WINGED that il is sound In principle and that IL
is substantially adapted To accomplish the salu-
tary reform M which il aims