New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-06
"UNIEICATIONn


In the current number of "Harper's Weekly
Mr.. Frederick w. Hollis has an article which
he might possibly have preferred to withdraw
for repairs If its publication had been delayed
only a little while. 1t relates to educational
matters, and more particularly to the scheme of
unifcaton which the Governors Special Com
mission recently recommended for adoption by
the Legislature, three Of the seven members
concurrently declaring that they heartily dsap-
proved of its most conspicuous feature. Our
reason for thinking that Mr.. Hollis who 1t may
be remembered was chairman of the Commits
sion, might have been glad OF chance to re-
wise his tribute to the manner in which diff
cult task had been performed is found in the
fact that his article had scarcely appeared in
print when the results of a conference in the
Governors room at the Capitol rudely contra
dicted the sangune conclusions which he had
just proclaimed.
This conference was attended by the Gov
ernor and Mr.. Hollis. their professional expert,
Mr.. Nicholas Murray Butler, Superintendent
Skinner and his deputy, MIR. 0dell and several
members of the Legislature, including Senator
White and Assemblyman Lewis, who intro
duced the Commissions bill "by request" as
they were careful TO explain at the time. Rep
! resentatives of the University would probably
have been present also, If the existence of the
| Board Of Regents had not been inadvertently
| overlooked when the invitations TO the confer
| ence were issued. We do not know, however
| that their absence made any difference, for Mr.
| Nicholas Murray Butler is said to have decided
that he needs no further advice from that quar-
ter. The discussion related chiefly to vari-
| Gus methods of getting the new Chancellor
| created by the bill into office In the first in
] stance. Mr.. Hollis and Mr.. Nicholas Murray But
in nd IN
schools entirely out of politics, the politician
who happens to be Governor just now ought to
have the power of appointment and the poti-
clans who compose the Senate the power of
confirmation, though Mr.. Hollis is not radically
opposed to letting the Regents exercise the lat
ter function, by way, perhaps, of preparation
for the time when he hopes they can be trusted
TO exercise the former also
Mr.. Hollis has understood and told the readers
of "Harper's Weekly as much that the scheme
which he and Mr. Nicholas Murray Butler
thought out sis absolutely free from partisan
politics In its inception and tendency" and that
While diHerences as TO minor details of the
plan may very probably exist it is believed as
"a whole that it solves the problem Immediately
. before the Legislature in a fairly satisfactory
, | manner" We do not know how Senator
White and Assembyman Lewis and Speaker
Nixon and Chairman Odell and other gentlemen
who ought to comprehend the situation can have
the temerity to encourage a contrary belief
But the part they took in the recent conference
leaves no room to doubt that in their opiniou
, the bill, while it hasn't the ghost of a chance
. OF passing IN It's present FORM is exactly such
measure as politicians who know their bnsi
ness love to get hold of and manipulate for
personal and party purposes. making it the
basis of a pleasant dicker if they can. and
finally tossing it into the waste basket If they
can't. That this is the destiny of a scheme on
which the authors of its being have inSelby
stamped their image parental tenderness NAV
forbid them TO concede or even imagine. But
If Mr.. Odell, Speaker Nixon eft al. foresee that
fate for it, that is the fate which in all human
probability it will be required to suffer And
our impression is that, whoever may be left ont
In case the politicians succeed in making a
feast the chief mourners IL a funeral is an
pointed, will be Mr.. Hollis and Mr.. Nicholas
| Murray Butler.