New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-16

Compromise bill II affected appointments was In
manifest opposition to all sound principles OF civil
Service
Mfr. Maclay's speech elaborated these three OBJ
jcctons The lodging Of the power TO appoint In
the Board OF superintendent would enable Mayor
under the power OF removal bill 10 bring the whole
school system under political domination MT.
Maclay complained that the request for n referen-
made to the Legislature to enable the people OF
New-York to determine for themselves whether or
not they wanted TO abolish n system which had
been In existence for nifty years had been refused
The Governor" said Mr. Maclay. told the Leg
islature in his message how It should vote before
the bill reached you. Mr. Mayor. The Board OF
Educa ton is In a position 10 know best the needs or
this city II prepared bill designed to better the
present system. That failed. Now we have this
so-callcd Compromise bill that Is almost entirely
opposed 10 our bill believe that the present school
system I'm this State Is the best ever devised. II
will stand Improvement. and our bill was carefully
framed so as TO secure that Improvement No dollar
OF tho public money has been Incorporated by a
commissioner. trustee or an Inspector In half a
century"
Mr.. Macay said that he dlsliked to touch on the
subject. but that no executive whether President
OF the United States the Democratic or Repub-
lican Governor OF New-York. had the right to In
terfere with the legislative branch OF the govern
ment. 1t a usurpation OF power and destructive
OF free institutions.
| School Commissioner Charles Strauss. the author
| OF the Strauss School bill. so-called. made a long
and speech following out exclusively Presi
dent Maclays views. lie showed the steps by which
the Board OF Educaton's tStrauss's) bill had been
| prepared and had been finally adopted by vote
| OF fifteen to Ave by the Board. He said that only
| one Commissioner OF the five who opposed the bill
| Mr. Mack, favored the abolition OF the trustees
| Mrs Morton. Mr.. Strauss said. made 1t her bust
| ness to hold a pink tea" In tho Senate Chambe,
| when the Compromise bill was introduced and he
| said he was an eyewitness to the Governors wife
| importuning the Senators and Assemblymen to vote
| for the measure
| He said that the Governors message was really
| that OF his wife, who Mt the point OF the social
| bayonet compelled the passage OF the bill. Mr.
| Strauss then took the Governors message on the
bill showed that IT, in It's essential features. fol-
lowed word word the brie: submitted to the Gov
ernor by the body OF women busy-bodies." who call
| themselves the Public Education Society," OF which
Mrs Morton is n member. 1.-THE legislators were too
gallant to not vote for the backed by the
ladies'" said Mr. Strauss, land they voted for 1t at
the expense of the educational system OF this city,
Mr. Strauss then took up the charges made against
the schools by the Rev. Dr. Macarthur.
| Mr.. Strauss declared that public-spirited citizen.
such DR.. Macarthur pretended to be. owed 1t to
! the people of the city. to the teachers and to the
children. that his charges be either proved or re-
tracted. and falling to avail himself OF the privileges
extended to him. he must be considered by all In
| telgent men as "ether a coward or a liar"
| In closing he told OF the duties OF the trustees
under the present school system and the benefits OF
1t. He said that to disturb the present system would
make political football Of tho principles that have
made the public schools the basis OF the citys gov
eminent and institutions.
CAREFUL STUDY ADVOCATED
Commissioner Holt the next speaker lie
dealt with the legal aspect ofipubc school legisa-
tion. and declared that the matter was one to be
studied carefully and then 10 be acted upon slowly
Alonzo Bell then presented petition of protest
signed by GOO business north OF the Harlem.
against the proposed blu. Mr.. Bell said that the
new system would cost the city than a million
dollars year in excess Of the present expenditures
| for school purposes f, ia, -.tt. tsA
cer~missiouss Little followed With brief a1gu-