New-York tribune., 1899-02-09
ROBERTSON IS PRESIDENT.
BOROUGH SCHOOL BOARD ELECTS A sue
CEssOR TO ]. EDWARD swANsTROM.
HE is A DEMOCRAT OPPOSES CAPITALIZATION
WANTS MANY MORE SCHOOLS. AND SAYS
BROOKLYN HAS ALREADY GIVEN Up
TOO MUCH TO MANHATTAN

TOO MUCH TO MANHATTAN.
Charles Edmeston Robertson. the candidate OF
the Willoughby-st. Democracy. was elected presi-
dent OF tho local Board OF Education the regular
annual meeting yesterday afternoon. over j. Ed
ward Swanstrom. by a vote Of - 70 10. OF the
forty-fve members Of the Board only TWO we're all
sent George II. Fisher and J. X. Powell n his
speech thanking the Board Cor eectlng him, Mr.
Robertson said that autonomy would be demanded
for the local Board. more schools would be built
ard that the surface ralroa ds which occupied the
streets without charge should carry the school
children night and morning at greatly reduced
rates. He wants greater refdom In admitting
candidates 70 the TTa.nlng School for Teachers.
and thinks the Brooklyn school teachers should be
pad with regularity.
Mr.. Swanstrom presided ~ the meeting. and one
Of the first items OF business was the report OF
John McNanee. OF the Committee on Buildings.
lie announced that the committee had decided 20
build A rev school In East New-York and another
al Buter-st and sxth-ave. besides repairing
number of old buildings.
AR McNamee introduced a resolution. which was
passed asking for appropriation Of sl0)ooo0
under the act OF 1896 which appropriated 81 5oD0OO
for the Brooklyn schools for the immediate build
ing of new schools and the repairing Of old ones.
re said that he had ten drauehtsmen at work on
plans for the new buildings. ard some Of them he
hoped to have opened by Saptcmbcr next.
Routine business being out Of tie way. Richard
Young. II Fla,bush. nominal ted Edward Swan
strom FOR presrent Of the local Board for another
term. lie said that Mr swanstrom had made
an admirable record which should be sufficient 70
insure his reelection. The nomination was sec
ondcd by Henry W. Maxwell who also eulogzed
Mr. swanstrom.
Colonel George p Clark said that Mr.. Swan
strom had made good record but that 4 was
time for change. and that II would be good
thing for young blood to have chance. He closed
his speech BY nominating MI Robertson. Nj
Green follow cd by seconGlng the nomination
Henry ?. Schmidt. Republican. supported Mr. Rob
ertson. Charles y Chadwick spoke in favor OF
Mr. Swanstrom
Dr. Griffin and Jemes F. Bendernagel were ap-
20 nted teers.
The vote resulted as announced-swanstrom. TO-
Robertson. ~ Mr.. Robertson made vigorous
speech. the outlines Of which given. He said
It was the intention Of the charter makers that
each borough should control It's own system and
Brooklyn had already given up too much 10 Man
haitian. He said he was against Capitalization OF
power. tie wanted lots Of new schools, but he
believed IN having smaller buildings. 50 that tie
prirc pals would not have much responsibility
He also wanted summer schools so that IN the
poorer districts in the city the children could be
kept off the streets
Elwn S Piper nominated James F. Bendernagel
superintendent OF the American Sugar Refining
Company. for vce-president. He received 33 votes
Somers 3. and Fisher =.
For delegates 70 the Central Board the foHow'ng
were elected: DR. John Griffin. Horace L. Dresser.
John T.. Thompson. Henry W. Maxwell and j. Ed
ward Swanstrom. The latter beat Arthur 5. SOM
els by one vote President Robertson IS d delegate
Charles Z. Robertson was born in Albany on
August H. 1SC3. and ls Of Scottish ancestry on
both sides Ills father is Alexander Robertson OF
Albany. who was Tor many years a member or the
LEGISLATURE j his intention that his son
should be q lawyer. but financial reveIses made II
necessary for the young man to earn his own "
ing For TWO years after leaving the Albany HIgh
School he attended the business college In Albany.
and al the same time served as a messenger in the
State Senate. When he was nineteen years old ne
came 10 New-NOrk and became clerk IL the
controllers office of the West shore Railroad TWO
years later ne appointed assistant paymasler.
lie resigned his railroad position 20 eule: the lumber
business. took active part IN Organizing the
Brooklyn Lumber Company and Is at present It's
Vice-president He is a trustee OF the Cumming
estate in Albany. is married and lives at No. Is
South Port rtland-ave.