The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-29
PASS MITIGATION BILL NOV.
THE REGENTS. BEL THE ONLY
ONE THAT HAS 4 SHOW. -

Danger That n II Il Not. Passed the
Democrats VIII Control the Legislature
Next Year and Give Control o. the
Public Schools 10 Tammany Hall.
ALBANY, March 2s.-The recent develop
ments In the educational unihcation fight
In the Legislature indicate that unless the
present Legislature passes the bill intro
duced by Senator Stevens this year the con-
troll OF the elementary and secondary schools
In the State are likely next year TO 60 under
the control Of State Superintendent Of
Public Instruction to be chosen by Tam
many Hall. II is the general opinion among
. majority OF the members OF the Legis-
lature that the passage Of the Barge Canal
bill will result In the election Of a Demo-
cratic Assembly next fall and the control
OF the Legislature on joint ballot by tho
Democrats. as the Republicans have a ma
jority Of only six In the Senate. ON.
The Democrats this year have sixty-one
members Of Assembly, and II they should
elect seventy-nine Democratic Assembly
men next fall they would control the Leg
islature on joint ballot and could elect a
State Superintendent OF Public Instruction
to succeed Charles r. Skinner for term Of
three years. ..
The supervision OF the common school
system, used politically, would prove .
powerful factor in q State election. and
next year there is to be a President OF the
United States and q whole State ticket TO
elect.
There is a general demand for educa-
tional unifcation, and disposition has been
manifested recently not to permit the
personal desires Of the politicians In the
Department OF Public Instruction to inter-
fere with the accomplishment Of this end
unless they can have it as they want II.
1t Is apparent that Of the three educa-
tional unification bills In the Legislature
the only one that has any chance Of passing
Is the one introduced by Senator Frederick
G. Stevens, Republican, Of Attica, Wyom.
ing county. This bill reads:
he 9ffices Of state superintendent Of
and the powers, functions and duties OF such
of1ces are hereby continued and vested
and n: shall S.:4 8. s s q N .Sd fs
.h. S ssTs a. .ppon nss ' and
psEints.n.dsI,s,: sRd 81. sId sEpcintss. shsil.
Sre Of the d continue sns
present positions and receive their present
compensation, The present State Supern-
tendent OF Public Instruction and his deputies
salaries until the expiration Of the term FOL
which the said superintendent was elected,
but they shall hereafter have. exercise and
the sud REGENTS shall expressly direct,
Those who unselfishly devote their en-
tire time to education In this State advocate
the Stevens bill. 1hoee who are in educa.
uonal work for the financial and political
ends to be eubeerved are opposed TO II.
The bill will make II impossible to inject
politics In the schools under the admins
tration Of the Regents. 1t remains for the
Republican leaders In the State organize
ton to determine whether the present
Legislature shall pass the Stevens unifcs-
ton bill or whether the common schools
OF the State shall possibly 60 under the
control OF Tammany next year and be.
come an adjunct OF the Democratic State
organization.