The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-20
NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION
Newark Will Ask the Legis-
lature to Change Pres
ent System.
TOO MANY COMMISSIONERS NOW
Various Plans Discussed But
Al Agree Upon a Small
er Body.
TOO MANY COMMISSIONERS NOW
Especial to e.The Jersey city News."1

NEWARK, Jan. 20, 1S9s.-Senator Allan
McDermott will be likely to encounter
opposition to his new Freebooter bill FROM
Essex county. His measure, up TO the
present time, has not been discussed mere
to anything like h its Importance de-
serves. In the city one hears only little
concerning it, but out in the townships
there is some discussion. Whatever IS
said about it, however, is in opposition to
the measure.
The Essex Board of Freeholders are
controlled by the Republicans and every
one connected Herewith is just now CIV
ing complete satisfaction to the leaders
of that party and it will be hard work 10
convince them that they can derive any
benefit by surrendering a certainty for an
uncertainty. Unless Mr.. McDermott can
succeed before the session is over III
winning the Essex men over to his way
of thinking the chances of making MS
bill a law are very slim.
What all Newark is talking about just
now Is a bill to abolish its present Board
of Education. On this point the people
seem to be almost unanimous and all
other legislation is just now in the shade.
Newark's Board of Education consists of
two members from each ward, elected by
the people. The city has at present fifteen
wards and the Board consists of fifteen
Republicans and fifteen Democrats. The
citizens bring a long array of charges
against the members, some more or less
serious and others more trivial. They are
charged mainly with incompetency, mis-
management and with subordinating the
city's good to party advancement. Just
n the Rnar5 &c doa11ociad Oypr f1a an
pointment of a janitor for the new High
School and has been so for some time. AT
a recent meeting one member accused
another of the same political faith of hav-
ing voted to appoint to an office one of
the other party. The accused Indignantly
denied the charge and discussion be-
came warm. When the meeting adjourned
and the members were on the street the
accused pitched into the accuser and they
had a lively fracas on the public street,
much to the disgust of all decent citizens.
So determined are the citizens in this
matter that they have held public meet
ings which were addressed by some of the
leading citizens of the city These meet
ings were largely attended and the pro-
ceedings were earnest and serious. Sew
eral schemes of reform were suggested
but none was agreed upon. The general
sentiment seemed to be for a Board TO
consist of not less han five or more than
fifteen members, to be appointed by the
Mayor 10 serve without compensation.
1t was also suggested that there be a
Board of ten or twelve members appointed
by the Mayor and a director or president
of the Board elected by the people at
large.
The Newark Board of Trade recently
took the matter up and committees were
appointed>to consider the subject. Thurs
day night this committee made two re-
ports, a minority and a majority report.
The majority recommended a board OF
not less than nine members, to be ap-
pointed by the Mayor, to serve fve years,
without compensation. The report laid
much stress upon the term of service,
claiming that two years was too snort
altogether. It took a mar at least that
time to become acquainted with the du-
of the schools, and to allow him to
step down and out just as he became
familiar with what was required OF him
was considered the heighth of folly. The
minority report declared for a much
smaller board than the present one,
which, it declared, was too cumbersome,
of the board properly and economically.
The actual work was really done by
from five to seven members of the board.
1t favored the election of the members
by the city at large. without regard to
sectional or ward lines, and that the
appointment should not be left to any
one man. 1t also advocated a fair COM
pensation for the members. as no busi-
ness man could afford to give his time
.fo4 nothing. The most novel
dalton made was that there be a separate
tax levy for school purposes, the Board
of Education making up its budget and
the Common Council passing it as a sep
arate tax levy and having the same plac-
ed on the tax bills as an item, so that
the people may know how much they are
paying for the education of their chill
dren. To sum it all UT the report rec
commended a board of seven "a members:
to be elected at large by the people; term
of office, four ~ years; compensation.
81 1000 per year; school tax separate from
city tax.
The reports were referred to the Legis-
lative Committee.
Another suggestion made is that seven
men be appointed by the Mayor, who
shall be required to devote all their time
to the work of the Board and receive
for their services 5000. per annum. 1t is
argued in favor of this plan that the
s14,0O it would cost could be easily saved
if the commissioners devoted their entire
time to the work. besides which the
affairs of the department would be bet
ter administered as a whole.
These various schemes are all of in
terest to Jersey CITY because if any of
them becomes a law it will apply to
that city as well as Newark This city
will make. a determined effort to have
some change made. A committee of the
Board of Trade was appointed to con-
fer with the people of Jersey City for
the purpose of coming to some agreement
upon retaining the present system the
Newark people will endeavor to pass a
bill with a referendum clause making the
act effective in only such cities as ac-
cept it by a vote of the people.