The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-04

conservative action on the two vital is
sues.
STATE
LEGISL LATIVE
TOPICS.
Senator Gibson, of Erie, will introduce
bill providing radical reform in the
present method of school government in
Pennsylvania. The main feature of his
measure is that if passed it will remove
from school boards the power to employ
teachers and vest it in the school prnci-
pals or superintendents themselves. While
the boards of control will, as heretofore,
elect superintendents and chief teachers
in district or ward schools, all subordi-
mates will be under the fun control of these
principals and the public will hold the lat
ter directly responsible for the quality of
instruction in the schools. EX-Mayor
Pearson, of Allegheny, in discussing the
Gibson BILL which he helped to frame, re-
Gently said: The greatest evil today in
connection with our public schools is the
prominent part that politics plays in them.
In many wards of Allegheny, for instance,
the fact is frequently clearly demonstrate
od mat comnetent teachers are removad
only because they lack political power.
director, in order to be reelected, Is com
PEELED to satisfy his constituents. If he
fails to secure position for q certain
popular young lady, or a lady who is
es for winning are iessened This trouble
could all he overcome r. the mower of
electing teachers was taken from the di-
roctors Tba nri,cinol who should no the
yoyarnor nf tba snhooi would tben he
entiralv resnonsibla for tba nanayemen+
of tho ,rstitutio, in aIi of Ire details He
cn,ld no beld occountnbla mic reelit
of s,,cb q cbange would r,aan mat tho
nrincina1 ,,nlese be ,nada a ,rood showing
would no coIIa5 10 +i,,,a b,, +bo diroctors
t,o,, his own nart hn would do his host to
surround himself with tha most CONNIE
| font inetrurtors and where a taa aobnr was
| not satisfactorv ba ,vouId trv to seru,e one
| tbat vas" Irnfort,nata1v for mis- hin
| tba objac+ior l,s baan raised that &c 4.
were passed II would sin,nlv transfer the
| loco+ion of no1itiroI interferenae from
school boards to nrincina,s The boards
| ,vouId nor elect nrincinals without n nrior
| understanding as to natrnnaga and the
| latter ,vben e1ected IyouId he comnelled
| to do nc tba e1actino. mower wished or ,ln
| tho hazard Of subseouent dafeat .As tho
Washinpton Post nartinenrlv observes
| ..Inetead Of c-atting +ba snboolc or+ of poli
| tics or nolitics out of the schools IL would
simnlv create a now set of bosses or sub
| bosses in tbe nersons Of the nrincinals and
| tho chronic aviI would evnerience no abatn-
| mont Rut tbare &c one yiav to hrino ahout
| tho dasirad refor,n trbe votars alar+ dirar
| tors If they will turn down selfish political
| schemers and elect only the hest ayaila bl4
mon ana women tho work. viii he accom-
| nIished" =" There is no other wav
| -.Il.-,
| Discussing the nronosed new libel Law,
the AItoona Tribnne commends jts nrin-
| cinal featnras, hnt adds. "Wn nave no
desire TO see the restraints that guard tho
| movements of a private citizen removed
or i'm any way weakened A candidate for
| office or an office holder may he n Iegiti-
mnte. subject of criticism. When a man
asks the n1IhIic to honor him with its conti-
| denre he must NOT comnlsin if thc news.
nanars which are advorating the claims
| nf his onnonent hrine out anv weak enots
| In his record make nuch of his rra,Itfes
| critirise his character and even caIpnni
ate him If III. he nuhIic servant and
| stand i'm lhe white LIGHT of nuhliritv he
| must avnert misrenresentotiGn ana ma
licious criticism almost every day of nil,
life, If a citizen ydolate tbe law If he
| bccome n danger and n menace If he on
gage in a business that Is a peril ia tha
peace of the community. he is n legiti-
mate subject of criticism Indeed tbo
uewspaper fails i'm its dutv as n guardian
| of the interests Of the community unless
il makes yigorous warfare upon ..-t,oe
and criminals Rut the man who is nat
| in politics or in office or nosing in any