The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-05
The Next Board Of Control.

AS may have been seen in the pub
1shed call. delegate elections viii be
held on next Saturday afternoon for
the choice of men to represent the diff
forent election districts OF the city IN
the Republican city convention which
has been summoned to assemble in
Music hall next Tuesday forenoon. Ia
place in nomination candidates for the
following offices to be voted for AT the
next municipal election. on Tuesday,
February l5 namely: Two school di-
rectors to serve one year; two to serve
two years. and two to serve three
years. Important as these nominations
are likely. to be in view of the probable
ousting of the present board Of twen-
tY-oue. and Vital as are the interests
thus affected. the curious spectacle is
presented nf almost utter public indif-
ference. 1t is time tins We're pune
tured.
Under the laws of PENNSYLVANIA a
school board in a city like Scranton is
more nearly an omuipotent body than
any other governmental organization in
existence. IT is absolutely the master
of the people in the matter of finances,
being authorized to appropriate funds
Ivy simple resolution which can it de-
sired he passed at the drop of "A hat.
The taxpayers II is important to bear
in mind. are almost wholly at it's mer-
cy. While wilful fraud can be pun
ished in the courts if detected and
prosecuted for the considerable extrav-
agance which is the result of inno-
Cerce, ignorance or log groling on the
board there is no redress whatever,
and to it there is almost no limit.
There has been grave complaint on this
score already. justly or unJustly; but
let the board of twenty-one give place
to a board of six and unless those
six or working majority of them are
men of exceptional honor, sagacity and
iirmnesg. this complaint will inevitably
grow in emphasis as the public learns
10 comprehend the greater possibilities
for manipulation in a board Of de-
creased membership.
Ii is easy to define theoretically the
kind of men who ought to be noininat-
" ed next Tuesday and IN whose interest
delegates ought to be elected at Sat
urdays primaries. These six candi-
dates should first of all be absolutely
honest and incorruptible. If concern
ing any candidate there is a doubt on
this point, he ought promptly TO be
turned down. The six men entrusted
with wall-nigh omnipotent control ovel
the 100000 annually required to oper.
ate the city's educational system ought
certainly to lie men whom the taXpay.
ers would I've willing to trust wher
tEeir own backs are turned. Next
they should be intelligent. preferably
parents of children who now attend tn,
public schools, and owners of sutfic
icnt property to appreciate the neces
sity FOR prudent economy; and lastly
if among the candidates Offering them
selves for selection are any who hav,
had honorable and extended familiar
ity with the workings of the old board
these. other things being equal, shoult
be preferred.
1t is to lie expected. of course, tha
the Republican convention will desir
to nominate men who have been loya
Republicans but emphasis need not b.
put on party lines unduly. The boar
of control has had in the past rathe
too much partisan and factional polite
Of the picayune kind; it ought TO b
within the wish and within the powe
of the governing forces of this grea
and growing city 10 secure at the com
ing reorganization of the board a elias
of servants who to the limit of thei
ability VIII place the welfare of tn
school system above all other consid
erations, private or partisan. and VIII
will possess the back bone to hew t
the line, letting the chips fall wher
they may.