New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-15
VIEWS OF THE REGENTS.
ur,ox TAKEN BY THE SPECIAL CON-
MTTEE OF THE BOARD.
r-rs OF TWO BILLS RECOMMENDED TO
THE COMMISSION ON EDUCATIONAL
,->-rrrC ALTON.
t.y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1

UNIFICATIoN
INV TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE1
,rhanv. Dec IA speclsl Coiiiiiii''eo ny
-,,,ad nv the Board OF Regents 10 consiuer
- uniAcation Of the school, systems Vi the
60 met here to-day and drew up statement
:. .be views Of the Regents upon ms SUBJECT
-, was afterward presented to the members
o-...~,or Roosevelt's Educational Commits
~ Since the appointment by the Governor OF
-. Commission named there has been no au-
INV - ov,,rasson Of the opinions held by the
a-+s concerning this subject until the meet
- +o-aav Of their special committee.
60 we're present as members Of the COM
- conservative portion OF the Board Of
-+s including Chancellor Epson. Vice
r,e-.e,or Doane, Regent Whitelaw Reid in
~ and as delegated proxy for Regent
rra,ncev NJ Depew; Regent St Clair Nickel
-. and Regent Pliny T. Sexton When the
,,,,ae met AT the Capitol the following teie-
s-.us were read by Mr. Reid:
Washington. D. c.. December - 1899.
n Hon Whitelaw kelo Mau'soh-aNe anu ~
~ +iath-st Newly ork. .
~ 49, vou can attend the Regents Commit
.aletire or the unihcatiOn of the educational
- in nv place on Thursday. VIII be much
g''-"'' CHAUNCEY DEPEW.
1.-asbi,rton. d. c.. December 13 1899
- nv Whitelaw Reid, Madson-ave. and
Fiftieth-st, New-fork
80 as nv substitute I want, Of course,
. III 80. sbould not feel bound by my views l
.i,Ioo-o5,gblv approve Of unfcation under the he-
llo. Ter tbe Chancellor as chief executive
genus VIZ" CHAUNCEY NJ. DEPEW
Regents present came to Albany, as was
.,,e-uard stated fully acquainted with the opin-
,o,s held by their fellow Regents elsewhere IN
+bs state regarding the various propositions
-,sda 70 bring about unity Of management Oh
the schools Of the State.
The several propositions were carefuNy con-
sdered for several hours. In the course OF t'e
discussion about uniting the educational de-
nartroept administered by the Regents and oy
the Superintendent Of Public Instruction MeIVH
Dewey. the secretary OF the Board Of Regents
and member Of the Educational Commission.
stated that he must not be considered in any
decision made by the committee. He was willing
% surrender his office if such action was neces-
sary in order 10 consolidate the school systems
AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.
The committee decided to recommend to the
Commissioners on Educational Unihcation the
massage OF an amendment TO the Consolidated
School law providing that the Chancellor Of the
University shall be ex-oficio State Superin-
tendent Of Public Instruction and shall execute
the powers Of that Office conformably 70 law and
the ordinances Of the Regents of the Univer-
sity" and. second, that the Regents be author
tied 20 elect by ballot directors Of such school
Departments ''as in the judgment OF the Regents
the needs Of the service and its proper ciassihc-
ton shall require''-the directors to be "assis-
tants OF and subject to the direction or the
Superintendent"
Lastly the committee decided 70 recommend
10 the Commission on Educational Unifcation
an amendment to the university law providing
that the elective officers shall be a chancellor
vice-chancelIor. a secretary and such other Of
fcers as sire deemen necessary by the Regents
all OF whom shall be chosen by ballot by and
hold office by and during the pleasure OF the
Regents Of the University, who conform
ably TO the law may prescribe the duties
and fix the compensation of such officers
but no election. removal change of salary
OF an elective ofdcer shall be made by less
than ten affirmative votes and only at meeting
for which the call gave notice that such action
would be proposed"
II is the plan Of the Board that the Chancellor
should be the chief educational officer Of the
State and should be a paid official. giving his
whole time 10 the active work Of the Board as
the executive head OF the States educational
system He need not be necessarily member
Of the Board Of Regents until elected.
THE COMMITTEES STATEMENT.
The committee then drew up a statement IN
support Of these suggested changes in the edu-
cational laws. This statement was submitted
by Regent McKelway and Regent Sexton TO the
commissioners on educational unifcauon at the
Hotel Ten Eyck tonight The commissioners
present were Frederick W. Hollis, Of Yonkers'
Dov 81
Buffalo; Melvn Dewey, secretary Of the Board OF
Regents: Danforth f. Ainsworth, Deputy super
intendent OF Public Instruction; ex-Judge Joseph
F. DAILY. OF New-York. and Robert F. WILKINSON
os Poughkeepsie. One commissioner William
Herman. was absent. Regent Mchelway READ
the statement and the legislative enactments
rra-ore5 nv the special committee. The state
ment was as follows;
To the Commissioners on Educational Unlnca-
Gentlemen. We the undersigned, as members
Of the special committee OF the Regents OF tae
University upon educational unlncaton' respect
fully state: -. ,o,sraI ,,,r-
nose attributed by published reports 10 the COM
mission 10 place the whole educatlohdI systcIn %
the state under the supervision OF the 10
sr5 -bat uye snecially commend their proposition
10 make the Chancellor OF the University tne
chief executive educational otncer OF the
We fully believe that with sultaple enlai -, -
Of It's powers and adequate compensation that I
Office would invite to its duties the greatest OF
educators and promote the development IN TINS
State u system Of public educatoh Oh sur
passing excellence. 49,. N
We deprecate however, as impoiuc ana prop
ably baneful any needless changes IN the con
stitutiou Of the Board Of Regents or III the pow
ers ~ the Department Of Public instruction.
There is now clearly manifested substantial al
unaulmitv Of sentiment Throughout the STATE
in favor Of such uniflcatlon under the Hese'i -
as js Indicated above II considered simply by
itself il doubtless would easily obtain legislative
sanction. -,
Az the first meeting Of your honoIapie pouS
Sentative Of the Department Of Public InstruG-
ton. was reported as voting in favor OF such
unifcation II would likewise receive the uh man
lmOus approval of the Regents. Ihus the Two
educational departments Of the state Wouid De
IN accord .,