The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-22

mitting those two cities to issue bonds
for school purposes after measures passed
purposely for their benefit failed Them
House Bill No. 1872 in the last Legis-
lature Ga Democratic measure), which re-
quired all cities to furnish ample school
accommodation for their children, a
measure approved Of by nearly all the
City Superintendents of Schools in the
State-not one disapproved of it-advo-
Gated by the State superintendent with
might and main, endorsed by practically
the whole press and by persons interested
in the public schools. everywhere, was
attacked by the Republican leader of the
delegation from Essex county, in the As
sembly. and by a trick almost defeated.
1t finally passed the House with four
dissenting votes--all Republican-and was
referred by a Republican President of the
Senate to the committee presided over by
the Republican Senator from Essex. who
refused even a hearing upon it, declined
to report the bill to the Senate, kept 1t
in comatose condition in his desk until
the last night of the session, and reported
it then under pressure, only to have it
Killed by the Republican President re-
fusing to allow it to go before the Senate
for vote
And now to show that your Republican
party had reason for opposing all school
measures: that the opposition was with
malice aforethought," comes your can
didate for Governor. declaring in his
speech at Boonton, reported in your issue
of the 18th inst.:-
They (he Democrats) favor the
public school system, more room and
better facilities for the education of
the children Every child of school
age must have a seat is their cry
Why don't they make demand on the
people who have to do with the
schools? Do they not know that the
ScnOOl question Is Ilol d StdtS ildtlci,
but that it is controlled by the local
authorities appointed or elected for
that purpose.
Your candidate, the Governor, knows
and you, Mr. Editor, are aware that Jer-
sey City, Newark. Bayonne and almost
every other city in the State is powerless
to issue a dollars worth of bonds for
school purposes and utterly unable TO
build a school house until the State, by
its Legislature and Governor, gives the
necessary permission, though all the
authorities and all the inhabitants of
those cities may be willing and anxious
to do it. And that statement was made
by your candidate in face of the pro-
vision of the Constitution Cart. ", Sec.
VII, paragraph s. which says
The Legislature shall provide for
the maintenance and support of
thorough ana eiIiclent system OF free
public schools for the instruction of
all the children in this State between
the ages of five and eighteen years.
And in face of the declaration Of the
Republican platform that We have
doubled the annual appropriation for the
support of our free public school system"
After your candidates statement above
referred to, what hope is there for either
the public school or the Teachers Fund
at the hands of the Republican party?
You say the Teachers Fund has been
made an issue. If 50, there must be two
sides. The Democratic party has de-
clared in favor. Has the Republican party
taken the opposite side and thereby made
the issue?
ALLAN BENNY.
Bayonne. ". j., Oct. Is, 1sss