New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-02
POLITICS AND SCHOOLS
ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE FOR STATE CON
troll OF SCHOOLS
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Education Greatly to the surprise of most
members or the Legislature, that committee
gave a hearing yesterday on the bill of the
IJnifcation Commission providing for the crea
zion OF a State Department CT Education with
a chancellor at its head named by the Governor
and confirmed by the Senate The hill uas
believed to be dead, and hence the surnr,se
that any hearing was granted upon It. It was
stated to-day by Assemblyman Merten E Lewis
the chairman or the Committee on Education
that the bill was still dead, and that he had
suggested TO the members of the committee in
executive session that a bill be substituted for
81. providing for the election of Commissioner
OF Education by the Legislature This state
ment by Mr.. Lewis also naturally caused sir
prise. Why should a hearing be given on ,
bill which has no life; which the members of a
committee do not intend to report?
At the conclusion Of yesterdays hearing CT
Clair Mckelway. of the Borough of BROOKLYN
one of the Regents of the University asked
that the Regents should have an opportunity
TO speak upon the bill on Wednesday next and
Mr.. Lewis named that day for a hearing Rut
II would appear that the Regents are TO come
to Albany to express their sentiments upon q
bill which is already rejected The bill which
is rejected, 1t may be added. is that of a ma
Jorfty Of Governor Roosevelts Unifcation Com
mission. The members of this majority were
Frederick ". Hollis. ex-senator Daniel H Nc
MILAN. Robert F. Wilkinson and Danforth f.
Ainsworth. Mr. Lewis said to-day:
ARGUMENT FOR \ COMMISSIONERS.
AT the conference in Governor Roosevelts
room three weeks ago l urged the election of
Commissioner OF Education by the Legislature
Tor a period OF fourteen years. l have sounded
the members of my committee as to their views
upon this suggestion. and l think they agree
with me. l shall listen TO the Regents upon
the Unification bill next Wednesday and then
l think, We shall adopt d bill providing for the
election of a Commissioner of Fdncat7on as a
We shall
10 give hearings upon this substitute bill pro
Eiding for the election by the Legislature of
Commissioner of Education and test the senti-
1nent of the State upon il.
VIII there not be danger if the Legislature
elects a Commissioner OF Education to have
charge Of all the schools high schools and coll
leges in the State, that political considerations
will govern the Legislature in making this
selection"
No, I do not think So" answered Mr. Lewis
He continued:
do not believe any Legislature would dare
TO be governed by political thought in making
such selection. The term of Commissioner of
Educatlon would naturally be for about four
teen years. That is the same term as a Judge
OF the Court of Appeals. Then with salary of
$1,000 we could command the services of the
greatest educator in the United States for
Commissioner Of Education
1t has ali along been believed by those aware
Of the characteristics of the leading Platt Sena-
tors and Plat Assemblymen that they would
eventually tear into ShredS any Dll Which gave
10 Governor Roosevelt any share in the naming
OF the head of q new State Department OF Edu-
cation and attempt to seize this power, if pos
sible, for themselves. The schools of the State
are supported at an expense to the taxpayers OF
100000 yearly. II is a tempting booty to the
average politician. No surprise. therefore, need
be felt that 1t should be reported that major
ity Of the members of the Assembly Committee
on Education believe that the bill of Governor
ei1Kipe m
him authority to nominate Chancellor to be
the head Of a State Department of Education,
ought to be rejected and the Legislature clothed
with authority TO name a Commissioner Of Edu-
cation.
SUBSTITUTE BILL DRAFTED.
It was plain from the talk Of member of
the Assembly Committee Cities tonight
that the substitute bill has already been draft
ed. He stated that ii would provide for the
election of a Commissioner Of Education for
the same term and compensation a judge of
the Court of Appeas-S10,Go0 salary and $1,000
fog expenses. for 2 period of fourteen years.
The bill provides also for five administrative
divisions. at the head Of each Of which is to
be q director. The Commissioner Of Education
IS to fix the salaries OF these directors The
Commissioner Of Education thus TO be appointed
IS TO have charge Of all the schools high schools
and colleges in the State.
The University is continued part Of the
State Department of Education, and is to con-
Est of those institutions Of secondary, higher
and home education. including libraries and
museums, which meet the conditions established
by the Regents for admission to the University.
II is 10 be governed and its corporate powers
exercised by nire Regents All applications for
charters are to be submitted 70 the Commits
sioner. and 10 be by him submitted TO the
Regents at their next meeting. together with
his recommendation thereon.
Mr. Lewis denied tonight that he acquiesced
sn certain reported parts of the bill which pro-
rided for a change in the composition of the
Board Of Regents He said:
do not approve Of any changes suggested in
the Board Of Regents in alleged draft Of
substitute bill.
The draft Of the bill referred to provided that
ss Regents died their places should not be filled
until their number should be reduced TO eight.
Then the Board Of Regents should be one Of
nine members, the Governor being the ninth
member
PLAN FOR AN ELECTIVE OFFICE
member Of the Assembly Committee on
Education said tonight:
We shall provide that the voters of the State
shall substantially the Commissioner OF
Education, for he is not TO be elected till next
year, by the Legislature Of 1901 1t will thus
be a political question this fall. The voters Will
determine by the political character of the Leg
islature selected this fall therefore, the kind of
man they want for Commissioner Of Education.
The bill says that the term Of the Commits
sioner Of Education shall begin with the fiscal
year, October /, 1901.
The Commissioner OF Education is authorized
and directed TO continue the distribution OF pub
lie funds TO institutions of secondary grade sub
sect To visitation by the university, in an
amount No o exceed that provided by law,