New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-09
HOW THEY OPPOSE THE BILL.
TEACHERS ARE CIRCULATING PETITIONS

AN EFFORT TO SECURE THE MAYORS VETO TO
THE COMPROMISE SCHOOL BILL.
The passage of the Compromise School bill by the
LEGISLATURE on Tuesday caused the ward trustees
ara certain school principals to bestir themselves for
another OF their displays of opposition to the apo-
ton of the trustee system-efforts which hitherto
have proved unavailing stop the tide OF reform
that bids fair sweep the trustees from the pubic
school system they have been absolutely without
meaning to the thinking public. The facts OF the
that all of these movements in favor OF the
retention Of the ward trustees Rave emanated from
the trustees themselves helped on by certain school
principals and certain teachers who apparently have
been forced into the hairless in the fear that their
positions would be endangered and the patronage OF
the forfeited by their refusals to obey the
mandates of the trustees should the Compromise bill
fail to pass
That the opposition comes largely from these
amply Illustrated in the so-caed cit-
Gems mass-meetng held in the Grand Central Palace
weeks ago oppose the measure. Now that
the bin has passed both branches of the Legislature
by almost complete Republican majority and is
in the hands of Mayor Strong for his Endorsement
the trustees making final effort to perpetuate
their office They erdeavorng to secure through
the principals of the schools their thousands of
Signatures petition denouncing the measure. by
which they hope 10 nfut nee the Mayor 10 veto me
bill
SENDING OUT PETITIONS.
The methods adopted by the trustees and principals
10 secure these signatures were learned yesterday
b. Tribune reporter from School Commissioner H.
a Rogers. Mr.. Rogers handed the reporter the fol-
Lowing papers which being sent out by the So
called Citizens Committee:
10 the Principal of
VIII you kindly distribute the blanks advan-
ssm % rs Sta as the s viii
probably occur on Saturday. so that the papers
,han Friday night. For each set OF papers one slip
''' THE COMMITTEE.
The petition reads
We. the undersigned residents of the city Of New
WRo are acquaintsd With the same leaning that
an effort Is being made to abolish the office of school
actment Of such a law
o %dSs 9s
ton has ever been considered OF great honor
official and prof. the school system; In proof Of
This We point with pride 10 our magnificent sihoSs
gent and faithful teachers
of sr the ssneS Sons s to the @
intelligent service OF our school trustees serving
abolition Of the office.
An accompanying blank reads:
but only by citizens~rnen and women. Guard
Maan sd 70
Pa1s ty a c fri sSs9MMTrEE
MISLEADING SIGNATURE.
Said Mr. Rogers. speaking OF the papers
s'The signature Of The Citizens Committee is
most misleading one. SO far as am able TO learn.
Matthew J. Elgas. principal of Grammar School NO
Co. practically constitutes the committee assisted
by a few of the other principals. 1t was Mr.
Elgas who sent the papers have in my possession
had the papers all ready and began to distribute
esnn as that ns ns S had passed
I'm the case Of the teachers meeting at the Grand
tcay ordered their pupils to distribute the tickets
OF invitation, and / doubt not that the same
ma me
the teachers in securing signatures TO the Present
n Violation ~ sS Se ed wishes and
Of the Board Of Educaton The Board ID has ms
10 use the sehoos for purposes adyertsns and
ss, ssn ae Reds of s
trustees TO perpeiuate their own ONCE ,o,,,,ors
h not Bill be for sa ose and a@
the trustees are to be assessed for the full amount
school eommissioner John L. =, Hunt who sds,d ha.
all aiTms ,rses s ,re said The teachers are
employed mpart knoTedge to their ss nne
aHs Se a"o work
ps com Sr Charles Buckley Hubbell said when
10 and whSl said being distribute SdI S%rb by
the sSos sfS hours Is certainly an with
school work that is not in accord with the duties ars
sure that when sufficient time has elapsed to give
the biz chance Of being put mo mo complies
Trejudices of the teachers have been entirely IN
fonnded and that merltorious teachers and candi,
dates will find profession elevated ana dlgnineo
as n never has before in this city,
NEW ERA FOR THE SCHOOLS.
II was suggested that Mr.. Hubbel must naturally
feel greatly e.aed the passage OF the bill by
the Legislature.
mo / consider" said he. that 1t is too serious
matter to call for any great harity, but cannot no.
helm feeling that day il about TO dawn In our
metropolitan school world If the bill becomes
law shall feel that the time and labor have de-
voted TO furthering the interests OF the schools IN
with
Satisfactory results. shall be glad to have me
matter disposed Of II has nterfered greatly with
the administration of school affairs and has created
n condition Of unrest most unfortunate
MANY people who have definite knowledge OF
scnool affairs and the movements of those opposed
10 the C.ompromise bill, are wondering how Matthew
j Eigas can take such leading part In promoting
The Interests Of the opposition and at the same time
carry on his work successfully as the principal OF
Grammar School No C9.
of Committee OF seventy sent a
,etter to Mayor Strong yesterday urging MN 10
give his approval to the bill, which was In SUD-
Stance approved last year by that committee. The
shoii,ion Of the Anticipated ward trustee system was
urged as the chief merit OF the bill The letter was
signed by Charles Stewart Smith. Joseph Larocque,