New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-09
STATE SCHOOL CHANGES.
JUDGE LINCOLN'S PLAN FOR UNIFYING
THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
BOARD OF REGENTS TO BE REDUCED TO
NINE MEMBERSHIP GOVERNORS
POWER OF APPOINTMENT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


POWER OF APPOINTMENT
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrEuxEl
Albany. Dec. s.-The Governors law adviser,
Charles H. Lincoln. has been at work for
time putting in statute form the plan bring about
the unihcaton OF the States educational system
suggested by the Commissioners at their last meet
Ing
MI Lincoln has completed his work and has Just
written letter to the various Commissioners con-
cerned telling them what he has done In regard TO
certain suggestions made to him and inclosing to
each Commissioner copy OF the proposed amend
ments to the educational laws OF the State. Mr..
Lincoln discloses interesting fact in his letter
hitherto unknown-namely. that the suggestion has
been made that Governor Roosevelt. and not the
Regents, shall appoint to Charles r.
Skinner os Superintendent Of Public instruction.
and that the term Of this Superintendent of Public
instruction should be for six years. The beginning
OF the proposed system Of having the Regents elect
Superintendent Of Public instruction would thus
be postponed for six years
Governor Roosevelt is authorized by the suggested
amendment to the educational law within twenty
Gays AFTER II becomes a law. TO appoint, with the
ADVICE and consent OF the Senate" successor to
superintendent Skinner. whose term does not ex-
p're under existing laws TIL April. 1901.
NUMBER OF REGENTS REDUCED.
Mr.. Lincoln also discloses the fact In his letter
hitherto unknown. that OF the Unifcation
commissioners have proposed that the number
OF Regents be reduced to nine but that
the present Regents shall be retained I'm office
Under this plan no vacancies which may
by death or resignation in the Board OF Regents
would be hlled until the Regents have been reduced
TO nine In number Thereafter the Legislature
would elect Regents to MI vacancies at present:
guided by limitation that vacancies must be filled
from the judicial districts. There are eight judicial
districts. There would be one Regent accordingly
as the representative OF each judicial district. The
ninth regent according this plan. will be elected
by the Legislature from the State at large.
The alternative plan provides that each OF the
present Regents except the ofiicio Regents
shall become honorary Regents II seventy years OF
age or on becoming seventy years of age. The ex-
offcio Regents are dropped Further II Is provided
that within twenty days after this act becomes
law, Governor Roosevelt, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate. shall appoint nine Re
gents" This infusion OF such large new element
in the Board OF Regents and exclusion from voting
rights OF five veteran members OF that Board has
already been severely criticised by many persons
interested in the welfare OF the schools OF the State
JUDGE LINcoLN's LETTER.
Following is a copy OF Judge Lincolns interesting
letter:
Albany. N. Y. December 8, 1899.
OF Educational Unifcation.
a. to 0Gr mage last at
have the honor to transmit herewith several F Sec
lions intended 10 De ncluOed IN the prOposeu
cation law. and in which I have tried to express
the views Of the Commission az embodied In the
tnE that the p Plan rs proposed BY the Commits
sion be readily adjusted to the pending bill
with some notifications, which II Is probably not
necessary to call attention to at this time
| also nclose alternative Section 49, and and an
lection OF n superintendent and the other to the
constitution OF the Board OF hesen tho, STe y
be well authorize the Governor to appoint me
first Superintendent This can be accomplished; II
tha m desires by the alternative section
The alternative Section eos also meets the views
OF some persons who are in favor OF reducing the
number OF Regents 10 nine, and without cnan ti
the present Board except by emitting the ex oihcio
Regents.
THE FOUR DEPARTMENTS.
n the commission nnaly concludes TO adopt
simpler plan OF unihcation than that proposed al
creation of four departments and for supervision OF
the entire system by the Chancellor can De 'Iansser
of all the public schools the Department OF PUB
s q b R 2pd the eaSnS Sf
Public Instruction with its statutory powers with
0J # win be noted that the section the supern
Verv truly, yours, CHARLES H. LINCOLN.
The first section proposed by Judge Lincoln In
regard 10 the Regents reads as follows;
ali It's corporate powers exercised by the Board OF
Regents The elective Regent n Ssn IN daWs after
this chapter takes effect shall. by ana WI" nine
/ AZ
Regents Each Regent who is more than seventy
years OF when this chapter takes serted shall
after the last day Of December next after ne sha!l
be seventy years OF age. be an honorary nesenn
subject to all the duties and responsibilities hereby
dev0lved on or vested in the Regents except that
he shall have vote in the Board
II the Chancellor Is not Regent he shall be
ex-of1cIo a member OF the Board Of Regents, but
bo cannot vote except on appointments by the
Board.
FUTURE APPOINTMENTS.
All Regents heretofore or hereafter chosen shall
ho,5 office during good behavior. After the APP
ot,,r,ents are made by the Governor herein
nro,,,ded a Regent shall be chosen until the
ahoIe number OF Regents in office is less than mr.
teen Thereafter as vacancies occur Regents must
he chosen by the Legislature at such time ms IL
may determine in the same manner as senator
In Congress.
4 president principal instructor. trustee or other
officer or employe OF institution In the university
IL not eligible TO the Office OF elective Regent.
ia Regent fails 70 attend three consecutive meet
inss without a written excuse accepted as salts
factory by the Regents not later than the third
| consecutive meeting from which he is absent his
Office shall be deemed vacant and snail be hed by
the Legislature herein provided
AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSED.
As an alternative to this Judge Lincoln proposes
the following:
Reqents-The University shall be governed and
ali lie corporate pOwets exercised by Board OF
Regents The elective Regents now In office are
continued Regent snail not 3e heT T CHOSEN
vacancies occur Regents must be CHOSEN ny Inc
legislature at such time as It may determine In the
ca ne manner as "A Senator In Congress but vacan-
ctes shall be filed from the judicial districts which