New-York tribune., 1901-04-08
FUNDS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
WHY SENATOR sTRANAHAN HAD CHARTER
REVISION AMENDED IN THIS RESPECT.

REVISION AMENDED IN THIS RESPECT
Albany. April I (SpeciaD.-Senator Stranahan,
Of Fulton the chairman OF the Senate Commit
tee on Cities. was the author of the amendment
TO Section 1,152 of the charter Of New-York City.
giving authority to the Board Of Education 10
grant money from the common school fund 10
private schools. which is now exciting consider
able comment in that city. Senator Stranahan
frankly acknowledged on Friday that he framed
this amendment TO the Charter Revision bill.
He said:
The reason why I did so TO bring about
thorough consideration of the requests of pri-
vate schools for these funds by the Board OF
Education. A legislative committee has so
much work upon its hands that it cannot give
that attention to the requests for public funds
for the support Of private schools that is need
full The members Of the Board of Education
in NeW-York and have the private schools
Immediately under their observation, and there
fore are in a far better position 20 judge OF the
justice OF any petition for aid from the common
school fund than here
For several years | noticed. member of
the Committee on Cities. that we had a large
number of bills here asking the legislature 10
authorize the granting Of the money Of New
York City 10 charitable institutions and I came
the opinion that the legislature ought not TO be
asked to decide upon the merits of these various
applications l therefore drew up a bill. which
became a law. authorizing the Controller Of the
city Of New-York to decide in regard to the
charitable institutions. when they applied fer
public funds. That law has worked well, and
no longer troubled by such bills.
/ thought that the same plan would wOrl: we'll
with private schools-that the Board of Eduoa-
tion in better position to pass judgment
upon these requests for school funds than we
were here.
Senator Stranahan then alluded to the danger
Of common school funds being diverted 10 the
use of sectarian private schools in This manner:
The constitution prevents the diversion Of the
common school fund 10 the support of any sec
tartan school,"
Section 1.152, drawn up by the Charter
Revision Commission and submitted to the legis-
lature, read as follows:
1852. The school established and maintained
by the Five Points House OF Industry, in the
City Of New-YOrk. the school established and
maintained by the Ladies' Home Missionary So
cety Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the
institution in Park-st. near the place usually
called the Five Points in the said city ara the
industrial schools established and maintained
under the charge of the Childrens Aid Society
in the City OF New-York shall participate
through the Board of Education in tne distri-
button Of the common school fund in the same
manner and degree as the common schCCi; in
the city Of NewYork and shall be subject 10
the same regulations and restrictions as are now
by law imposed on the common schools of New
York
Senator Stranahan amended this section so
that it reads follows:
The school established and maintained by the
Five Points House of Industry, in the CITY Of
New YORK, the ScnOOI established and main
tanned by the Ladies' Home Missionary Society
of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the in
stitutiOn in Park-st, the place usually
called the Five Points, in the said city and the
industrial schools established and maintained
under the charge OF the Children's Aid Society
I'm the city OF New-York, any other private
school in the said city. in the discretion of the
Board Of Education, Shall participate. through
the Board Of Education, in the distribution of
the common school fund in the same manner
and degree as the common schools in the city of
New-York. and shall be subject to the same
regulations and restrictions are now by law
imposed on the common schools Of New York
The Charter Revision Commission in Section
230 Of the Revision bill had the following pro-
vision. which was retained by the Senate Com
mittee Cities, and is now before Mayor Van
Wyck for his approval:
The Board of Estimate and Apportionment
shall. in addition to such other amounts as may
in its discretion provide for public purposes In
the city of NeW-Y York and the several counties
wholly contained within its territorial limits
annually include in its final estimate the fol-
lowing sums, which shall annually be raised
and appropriated
Such other sum or sums NAV be by
law directed authorized be raised and paid
for charitable purposes. to private or incor-
rorated societies, associations. asylums hospi-
tails. corporations, institutions, protectories
homes schools.