New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BOARD
SPECULATION AS TO WHO MAY BE
ELECTED DELEGATES.

ERONS THAN IN BRoOhLi N-NAMES
FAvoRABLY Observation-Disclosures
OF THE BoARD-THE CITY
SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS
While nothing in the way Of formal action has
been taken by the Board of Education in this city
which, after the beginning of next February, will
be the School Board for the Boroughs of Manhat-
tan and the BronX-n reference to the representa-
lion OF these boroughs In the central Board OF
Education for the enlarged city, the question Is
being discussed privately by the members. and In
school circles "A good deal OF interest is felt In It,
The president Of the School Board is to be an ex
ofcio member Of the Greater New-York Board Of
Education. and ten other delegates. or exactly one
half Of the membership Of the School Board out
side OF the president, are to be elected. 1t Is easy
to see that under some circumstances there might
be a combination whereby ten selected delegates
might be chosen by their own votes, plus that OF
the president But no such combination Is probable
with the makeup of the Board 1t Is at present or
as 1t probably will be after seven appointments
made by Mayor Strong next November.
1t is the opinion Of the progressive element In the
Board that leaving out OF the account four or hve
members who not in sympathy with liberal
and reform ideas, all of the remaining fifteen or
sixteen well fitted to serve as the representa-
tives of the present city in the new Board. That
there will be strong rivalry among them to Sc
cure election to the central governing body of the
school system is improbable. conscientious
member OF the Board of Education, who does his
duty and accepts every burden laid upon him. is
required to give good deal Of time to school
matters-more than the public at large has
any conception of. These duties will
main substantially the same when he be-
comes member of the Borough School
Board. and. in addition those members elected
delegates to the central Board will have double
duty to perform and the drafts on their time
will be considerably larger than ct present. Not
few of the School Commissioners feel that they
are already devoting much time and effort to
school affairs as they should be called to give.
and it is natural that those Of this way of think
Ing should shrink from the assumption OF addi-
tional duties.
THE MAJORITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY.
The Neutrality-suspicious. representatives In the fu-
ture Board Of Education will form majority of
the membership. and will accordingly awe 10 as
sumo the responsibility for any act, n taken BY
the logic OF circumstances II is probable that the
president of the ManhattanBronx School Board
will be made the president OF the Board OF Edu-
cation; at any rate. he will be the leading candi-
date for that Office
As originally planned, Manhattan would have
been In a minority in the central Board In the
first draft the chapter education In the
charter provided a School Board for the Bronx.
borough was to have three delegates to the Board
OF Education. while Manhattan to have eight.
II was feared. however, that with Manhattan in
the minority there might be a combination of all
the other delegates against its representatives
which might draw on the large resources Of the
present New-York for the advantage of the other
boroughs. while leaving Manhattan itself in the
lurch, The suggestion was then offered that for
school purposes it would be wise to leave Manhat-
tan and the Bronx together. and continue the
present Board of Education the School Board
for the entire district which It has juris-
diction. and this accepted with the further
provision that Manhattan Bronx should control
the central Board.
As far as names of members of the existing Board
have been mentioned in connection with the cleo
ton of delegates to the central Board. II Is as
sumed that President Hubbell will be reelected to
his present office and so be the first president Of
the Borough School Board-an ex-offic.o member
OF the Board Of Education for the city at large
As respects delegates be elected is pointed out
that several of the School Commissioners including
some OF those who were appointed comparatively
recently, have given ample proof OF their efficiency
and may properly be elected to the central Board
Among those thus named may be mentioned Henry
w. Taft. Jacob w Mack, DR.. Edward H. Peaslee
John c. Agar, Nathaniel A. Prentiss and John f.
Eusus. The terms of three of these end with this
year. but no question of their reappontment IL en-
tertdined. provided they willing II serve the
public in this capacity again
The question OF eecting delegates to the Board OF
Education for Manhattan and Bronx is not free
from difficulties. especially in view of the extra
time and labor which the delegates will be REQUIRED
10 give To the public but there doubt that in
tcllgent and able will he selected for this i'm
portant duty. In the other boroughs the question
is far simpler As respects Richmond and Queens
indeed no delegates to he chosen for they will
be represented simply by the presidents of the Bor
ough School Boards
FIVE DELEGATES TO BE ELECTED IN BROOK
LYN.
In Brooklyn five delegates will be chosen. in add
tion TO the president OF the Borough Board No Of
hclal action has been taken there but the subject
was presented at the recent annual meeting of thu
present Board OF Education, when J. Edward Swan
srom was reelected president. In his speech ac-
cepting the Office Mr.. Swanstrom said the most
important duty that would devove on the BOARD
AFTER II becomes a Borough School Board next
FEBRUARY, would be the election OF delerates IN
the central Board and emphasized the necessity If
sending delegation composed of members whose
influence force OF character and ability would at
once command respect and recognition He also
SAID that the selection OF FIVE out OF the forty-fve
members would require the exercise of consdcra
BILE self-sacrihce the part OF some
1t IS taken for granted that none OF the five women
who are members of the Brooklyn Board will ba
elected delegates. As a matter of fac. ,hir
terms Of office expire at the middle of next year
Among the thirty members potentially eligible
FOR election AS delegates there are several whose
abilities have commanded general recognition and
VINO may be regarded as leaders Of the Board One
OF these Is Henry W. Maxwell. who has taken
most active part In school affairs during his three
years connection with the Board. Another f. Colo
mel John Y. Culyer, since the death of Edward
Rowe the senior member OF the Board having
served on II more than twenty years. There would
be special propriety in making Charles ~ Chad
WICK one OF the delegates. not only because OF his
long and close study OF educational subjects but
because he was the originator OF the plan whereby
each of the boroughs is retain autonomy in school
matters. while at the same time having repre-
sentaives in IA central governing body. Professor
Franklin W. Hooper widely known from his work
in the Brooklyn Institute OF Arts and Sciences has