The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-02
Hollis BOOKS CHUCKED OUT
SCHOOL BOARD PUSIsHEs PUBLISuEB
POR CRITICISfN0 IT.

Tsmmsny Commissioners stand by Prc.i.
dent Little and Refuse to Buy ANY More
Books of tho Man whose Paper called
Him s"Eine old Educational hastodon."
The great Educational msstoion" issue
between President J. j. Little and Holt & Co.,
publishers. and Nicholas Murray Butler. their
editor. was fought out again at yesterdays
meeting OF the Board OF Education. Mr. Butler.
II will be rememb ered. was indicted for libel for
speaking OF President Little MS "a fine old
educational mastodon." hut the indictmen,
was afterward Iunshed. The matter came up
yesterday. when a report was brought In from
the High School Committee advising that The
text books published by Holt < Co. be stricken
from the list OF books to be used In the schools.
After heated controversy majority Of the
board rallied to the support Of their president
and punished his salumniators." as they
called them. by approving tho report whereby
Holt Co.'S books wero dropped from the list.
The case OF the text books first came into
public notice at tho meeting Of the School
Board two weeks ago. when Commissioner
birmingham. a survivor OF Mayor strong's
board. inquired why the High School Com
mittee had stricken ak text books published
by Holt q Co.. from a list Of text books
submitted to them ns approved by the Board
OF Superintendents Mr. Burlngham's in
quiry was not satisfactorily answered Ia his
opinion and by a close vote a resolution was
passed directing the committee TO report tbs
reasons for their action at the next meeting
OF the board This committee met before the
regular session OF the board yesterday. and =
report was prepared signed by Commissioners
@. VI. Van Hoesen. Vernon VI. Davis and j. II.
Harrison. Commissoners Lee aud Taft re-
fused TO sign II for reasons which they eN-
planned later before the board The report
said
company which had in = periodical thar It
issued m nde the charge that certain members
OF this board were enshy influenced Nv, the
| cohesive power o. public plunGsy. and which,
| when the attention OF its managers was ca'I.d
20 the damaging character u the accusation.
| replied that u was no worse than one must
| expect. no matter how pure his motives wh"n
he goes into politics. thu, assuming 'that
that IL IS PROPER ,Sere,nre ' To- soc "Ss
them Of unworthy and d,shonsT, motives.
mittee most unfair. un-Amsrican. and one ot
| actual hostility TO the schoo! syntem. Under
| proper not TO buy from that company when
| books that could meet the want. ~ IN" schools
| :n.t as vel! could be obtained from other ruD-
The y.ppSS.. vent on to state that the chair:
ss q when ne tbs ACTON 2 wa. VA
the committee that he could not say whether
the books IL question were snr"ri9r or not %
sur.rInien tents stated tha; other books could
| be- obtained az well adapted 70 tho schools Us
| "rIt 'hp7s llOLu bHe 4lHN lc lclOIb
The committee feels that its action is en-:
| TREY within the lines that bound the duties ~
trustees and that i hal and has a discretion
| in selecting those from whom purchases shall
70 see tina, Ii" Dependencies q is trust. he
| pubic and the pupils. sustain no dstrlp1"rt
Bnys that sS G res rssf
proved ,Commissionsr birmingham moved a.
c eel d' and priu,ei CommIssion.r Lee dy.
! planned his refusal 20 sign the report. He SAID
he resarhed the s,atements which hat ssY,Sa
same time. he said 1t had always been the
POLICY Of III. board net TO- dt-GTim Nh, gain:
! the board would allow the refusal oi It's ucm-
be[s to follow hi ,%Iicy in III. ga cas-
seem to me sNil Mr TAT that the sriest on %,
tiusncs "; 4 ". HHiSr, hi, report W. A..
/ engaging in the proper administration OF tho
! Commissioner o Brien forth Tammanv s!!s
contenIcd that the whole board hal b.en in.
suited suite AMI tnht al other tn.nSs Ge e sGHm
pr's,den, Little gave " n. chair to read
l"ns statement wh,sn h" hal prepared
suggested 10 the committee that those books
not essential 70 the welfare OF the schools should
state thate IN. gsntlem-n appointed to control
! the schools are easily Impressed hy the CO.
| u ofTar proof W that fact The member -;
| this board serve III" city without COMPENSATION
and should not lie subject 20 vi.iHratton from
| people who claim responsibility"
Mr.. Little went on 70 state that as far as no
drawn. bu, theystll stooiagaInst some Others,
They are our colleagues" he declared. Il,
| they are influenced by the cohesive power "
| public plumber they must he public thieves
| Who are they; II the accusation Is true We
| want them exposed II. however. the stat--
| mcnt is IA se. should not ;hair calumnisturs Us
recognized as unfair mem
| The vote was taken on the amenirl-7'.
| which was lost by n vote Of II 70 T. al! a. tho
/ Tammany members voting against IL with
| President Little Mr. pavi-'s motion 10 accept
| the report was then adopted