New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-08
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
GEARING BEFORE ASSEMBLY COMMIT
rFE-PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN POLITICS"
IHr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

.rs.,r March especially .-wfllia.ll Barnes
- chairman Of the Executive Committee of the
r,,rblican State Committee with that candor
--,eb always distinguishes him. printed an edi-
e in his newspaper. The Albany Evening
-,,-,sl ' tonight in which he says: Our pub
.. school system IS Iegitimately a part OF poll
tics"
IRE editorial was in relation 10 the proposal
- unity the school systems Of the State, and
,ontains also the following interesting SEN
tence:
?. rn3ecation IS impossible then let the whole
ruriic school system be placed IN the care OF
- STATE Department OF Public Instruction.
cries az alarm at the possible mingling Of par
rsssn politics with educational interests, 10 the
se--i-aeut az the latter VIII not receive the at
.ention q thinking persons. nor excuse failure
q set
NJ Barnes thus prods up the Legislature 10
mass a bin creating a State Department OF Edu-
cation with g fourteen years term as Com
missioner Of Education for some favorite of the
plat organization. The schools Of the State
would accordingly be made part Of the machin-
sry q a political organization and be put into
psli,ics" and subject 10 the changes and cor
rupfion Of political management
ABSTRACT DISCUSSIONS
Il IS likely that the editorial in The Journal
was partly printed in view Of a meeting this
cation. al which it was anticipated there might
BE- some discussion Of the bill OF the political
majority Of the Urification Commission giving
The Governor and Senate a right 70 name the
head Y a school system. But this bill being by
general consent dead, those who came before
ne committee on education talked either on the
abstract wants Of untfcation in favor Of the
BIZ believed 70 be in preparation in the room
Il the Assembly Committee on Education, pro-
viding for the election Of a Commissioner Of
Education by the Legislature. The election Of
Commissioner Of Education would substan-
italy b. eIecring q superintendent Of Public
instruction under another name, but clothed
with AL the powers now held by the Board Of
Regents and the Department Of Public Jnstruc-
tiol. and Il would precipitate both departments
--ur0 politics the day Il should become law.
some Of the speakers before the Assembly
Committee On Education today were presented
IT Charles 2 skinner superintendent OF Fubl4c
Instruction. and undoubtedly all Of them share
lis convictions regarding the proper method OF
uElfyiDE the school systems OF the State MI
Skinner was accompanied by his deputy, Dan
forth Z Ainsworth. Speeches were made by Dr.
David z Smith. principal of the Brockport Nor
raI School. by James 8 Cooley. School Com
missioner II Nassau County; by J. Irving Cor
rou. n Sing Sing, by c. Edward Jones, School
Commissioner Of csWegc County: BY r; : HaT-
rs, Superintendent u Schools Of Poughkeepslei
ny Charles u. Cole. Superintendent Of Schools
a Albany, by T F. Mckinley and by MI. Aims
worth. Most II those who spoke argued that
there was q duplication OF work caused by two
systems Of education and therefore there should
b only one department
METHOD OF ELECTION.
through most Of the speeches one could see
hope that a bin would be passed giving the
Legislature q chance 10 elect a Commissioner Of
Education.
The COMMITTEES on Education did not act upon
anv uniflcation bill when il held its executive
session. but will meet tomorrow afternoon 10
consider this subject again. M AllSEOrt0. the
Deputy SUPERINTENDENT Of Public Instruction,
urged he committee today 10 submit some
unt6CaIi0u bill the Assembly Il can reason
ably be thought that Nj. AinswOT1h believes
that 4 he can ger 2 bill before the Assembly
giving The Legislature power 10 appoint a Com
missioner Of Education he viii be able 10 per-
saade that BODY 10 pass II. Assenablvran Lewis
me chairman Of the Committee on Education,
has frankly saiC that he was considering a bill
which provides for the election Of d Commits
si0ner Of Education for q term Of fourteen years,
ard Il Is nnssible BE nav submit some such