The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-05
Rev. Moses H. BiXby Tells
Why He Resigned.
Desires to Have More Time
for Pastoral Duties.
Is Not Dissatisfied With HiS Assign
menI to Committees.

Rev. Moses II. Bixby was interviewed
his forenoon by representative OF THE
NEWS relative of his resig nation from the
school committee. II was stated IN The
NEWS yesterday that DR.. Bixpy had re-
signed In order TO have more time for his
duties as pastor OF the Cranston street
Baptist Church. In this mornings
Journal it was intimated that he mad re-
tired because OF dissatisfaction with his
treat eDt at the hands of President Bar
ney In the matter of committee appoint
ments.
DIR. Bixby himself says that the former
reason is the correct one, and there Is no
dissatisfaction.
~ have so many duties" continued
the clergyman, "that 1t seems best for
me to give up something. In addition tn
my church and parish work am asso-
| ciated with a great many or the charit-
able and missionary institutions OF this
city and 1 am q trustee of Brown Univer-
sity, Newton Theological Seminary, Harts-
horn Memorial College at Richmond,
Virgins Union University. and Derby
Academy OF Vermont. i am trustee and
also a mem ber of the executive com mmittee
of Worcester Academy and secretary OF
the Board OF Managers of the American
Baptist Missionary u nien. -
The newspaper hint OF dissatisfaction
was based on the fact that DR.. Bixny was
not reappoipted 10 the committee on
grammar ana primary schools on which
he had formerly served.
''The membership of this committee"
Or. Bixby said, "vas reduced from ten
| to fve, and, of course, five of us had 20
GO. In leaving me off, however, Presi-
dent Barney was actueted by no ill-wili
| and his course indicated no lack of con-
Hdence in my efficiency. On the contrary
1 think that he was thoughtful ano con-
| siderate and did not care to add to my
duties. received my share when i was
made chairman OF the committees on
music and annual report and given
place on the committee on text books
and domestic science.
"This reduction of the comm ittee from
ten to five, which has been adversely
criticised in some quarters, is, in my
opinion q wise move. Ii substitutes the
TulS OI uNe iOI iuAos Nith s~h
members, one from each ward, each one
of the ten had the control OF sppoint-
monts and all other matters in his par
ticuiar ward. That IL, it was an unwritten
law that such should be method and in
any given case nine men were controlled
by one. Uncer the new regime five men.
appointed without regard to ward divi-
sions, will give their attention to oil
matters which may come under the juris-
diction Of the committee"
In speaking OF the school committee
as a whole DIR. Bixby said tnat it was an
organization maze up of honest, we'll ed
ucated and discreet men and women
working together for the best interests
of the public educational system. He
| does not believe that IL is dominated by
| pofIrics nor by sectarIanism. III have
been elected TO the school comm Ittee' he
| said, "for eighteen years, always as a
| Repu blican but my political belief has
| never been considered by myself or by
| nv associates in the committee. as a rea-
| son TO- doing or not doing anything rela-
| tive to our schools. 10 illlustra 9, Mr..
| Van Slyke was sent year after year as
| Democrat We were on many sub-com-
| mittees together aud j don't believe that
IN dozen years we ever voted against
each other on school questions.
Mr.. Bixby was asked how he would
| classify Committeeman Thomas W. Bick
| nell of the second ward. the leader OF
| the minority"
| "Dr. Bicknell." he said is o man OF
| culture and education and he is honest.
! On the other hand / have been surprised
| by mis- course since he was elected wear
ago. 1 had anticipated that he would be
q conservative but on the contrary be has
many rad cal views and for the sake OF
haeing them adopted bas attempted to
! override members who have served 10 and
Is years. tie Is pugnacious and impul-
sive and apt TO imagine OWLS which arc
I not at ali liable to materialize. However,
he has many sound ideas and I enoorse
the tenure OF office proposition the credit
OF which belongs TO him so far as this
CITY is concerned"
To illustrate what no meant by Mr..
| Bicknelps impulsiveness Dr. Blxby cited
the resolution introduced by the former
at the last meeting, which was In effect
to ask the Legislature to abolish the
school committee and substitute q board
OF education.
Dr. Bixby has now served on the school
4 ccmrnftteu- III yrHrs Huu rhrre Hrb TWO
years left of his present term. lie made
the interesting statement that while he
had bcon voted for by Republicans, and
Democrats, Protestanis and Catholics in
his ward whenever he nad been candi-
date. he has been, as rule. opposed by
| Pronibit Ionists, not because they were
| saf tofn nd "a A IN n n N
| temperance. but simply because he II
not a partisan temperance man, that Is, q