The sun., 1901-02-18
THE HIGH SCHOOL BILL.

The defeat Of the bill for the relief of |
the Board of Public Education, in the |
House at Dover, is matter of regret |
in which we think all good citizens join.
There have been no good reasons given
for its defeat. There We're certainly no
good reasons for making the defeat of
the bill Il party measure However, If
the Democrats who lined up solidly
TO make party issue On the question of
public schools, then Republicans can well
afford TO take up the challenge and meet
the Democrats upon the ground they
have chosen.
The question ut issue in the defeat of
this bill is not one OF economy in public
expenditures. 1t has gotten beyond that,
and has come TO be simply u question of
providing for an expense already in
CURED, and which must be paid; an ex-
penditure made by public officers in the
discharge of their duty. The questions
OF advisability for such an expenditure,
and the necessity for it, at this time,
We're clearly within the decisive juris-
diction of the Board of Public Education
The authority to do and the duty to do
was laid upon them, and what to do was
is) made to rest upon their Judgment
They have obeyed the law, ut least the
spirit of it, Us was admirably shown by
Chief Justice Lore, in his speech ut the
Ioppning OF the school, if not the letter.
There is not the slightest suspicion of
anything wrong i'll the contracting for,
the erection Of the building, or the pay
ing for it. 1t was needed-urgently
nceded-and has been erected to supply
that need, and has been done literally
as becomes the people of this city. There
are small schools enough. The need was
ior large, well appointed school house
III which there should be every needed
appliance which modern pedagogy has
invented and supplied, and to which a.
many of the pupils of the public schools
us was possible, could be admitted
Such il school house has been erected
II is i'll possession Of the city, and in us,
as school building. The sequel proves
that financially the Board of Publ,
Education made good bargain. Ant
further that their financing Of the projec
! has the approval of the Chief Justice o
the State, who liberally put his hand il
his pocket to aid them in its completion
Moreover, the bill before the Legisla
ture is not one asking for an appropria
| tion. The bill simply asks authority t
, issue certificates of indebtedness for
specified sum, TO be due and payable q
specified times, and to be met by none
accruing regularly, at the times specified
! to the Board of Public Education, unde
the law and for the purpose specified
the erection of new school houses.
> There can be no economic reasons 70
, voting against this bill. There seems t
be but two causes that can be assigne
d for the opposition. First, political piqu
: over some legislative disappointment, q
q perhaps, Us was intimated in one of til
speeches in opposition, resentment fo
l. the rejection Of advice proffered to th
i Board Of Public Education during til
! time the building was being erected o
a again, opposition to the Public School
Y ana to public education. We subm
y that these are not sufficient reasons fl
n the defeat of this bill, and that its d
% feat for the reasons assigned will NJ
be crcditable to the opposition. 1t wi
Y make situation difficult of explanation
and in addition will be an injustice
~ chief Justice Lore and William
y Bancroft, who 50 literally aided tn
= greatest Of all the projects for hetterir
~ public educational facilities.