New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-07
THE EDUCATION BILL.
CHANGES SUGGESTED.
Secretary Parsons Sends Open Let
ter to Assemblyman Wan1cright.
fnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Albany, Feb. Elm reply to the assertion that
the present scheme Of uniflcation reported by
the Joint legislative commission and known as
the Lewis BILL is the best possible uni1cation
measure James Russell Parsons jr.. secretary
to the Board OF Regents, to-day addressed an
open letter to Assemblyman J. 81. Wainwright
in which he suggested changes in the Lewis
measure, and at the same time pledges himself
not to accept the position of Commissioner, IL
such pledge will reduce opposition Mr.. Par
sons's plan aims to meet several OF the diffi-
culties which are regarded by many interested
in educational affairs as serious. The changes
which he proposes may be briefly summarized
thus:
The Lewis bill contemplates the abolition or
the present Board of Regents. to be followed by
en- election Of eleven of the present number,
to constitute a new Board Of Education MT.
Parsons favors the modification Of this plan SO
that the Board of Regents as now constituted
shall remain unchanged, save that there shall
be no election of a regent until the board Is
reduced by natural causes to ten. when the leg
isature at a time II shall determine shall choose
q new regent to serve a term of fourteen years.
and that thereafter regents shall be elected for
that period of time. He would also leave on
the board the ex officio members-that is. the
OF State. who are legisated out by the Lewis
bill This plan would wipe out the part Of the
Lewis bill which provides for immediate assem-
bling OF the legislature to choose eleven new re-
gents TO serve periods OF from one TO eleven
years.
The portion Of the Lewis bill providing that
within ten days after the passage OF the act
the legislature should meet and choose Com
missioner Of Education, to serve for six years
Mr.. Parsons would amend that the Board
Of Regents would perform this duty I'm the man.
ner prescribed. The Commissioner thus elected
would serve for six years. unless removed by
two-thirds vote Of the Regents. and his term
OF service would begin. as the Lewis bill pro-
vides. on April l. 1904.
The section Of the Lewis bill which prescribes
the powers Of the Commissioner OF Education
Mr. Parsons would not amend. save in
particular Under the Lewis bill the Commits
sioner has the power to create such depart
ments as in his judgment shall be necessary.
and to appoint deputies and heads Of depart
rnents subject to the approval OF the Board OF
Regents. and these heads OF departments are
in turn to appoint. subject to the approval OF
the Commissioner. such subordinates as they
deem necessary. Mr.. Parsons suggests the fol-
lowing amendment. defining more clearly the re-
lation OF the Commissioner and these deputies
to the Regents:
The exercise Of their powers and the per-
Torrance of their duties by the said Commits
sioner. heads OF departments and subordnates
shall be subject to the approval. supervision and
control OF the State Board OF Regents"
Accompanying these suggested changes. Mr..
Parsons sent the following letter to Assembly
man Wainwright
February s. 1904
Hon. J. NJ. Wainwright, Assembly Chamber
SAY n Is easy 10 critclse the uniacation bill but
that you would like to see some better plan PRO
lnents that would in the main / think. meet the
objections Of the school men throughout the State
euSato2al interests Of the state under the con-
troll OF board Of eleven The majority sepo ST
that this bill places the educational affairs OF the
shaii have as advisers Board OF eleven members
You yourself object the provision that the com
time In fact the bin with suggested amendments
expresses am sure the general opinion of sne
been raised to the proposition that the Regents
might elect me TO that office. / cannot believe.
however. that those who offer this suggestion
sincere IL Il would help matters am quite ready.
as / have been since this controversy began.
give solemn pledge that will not accept this
JAMES RUSSELL PARSONS. Jr.
Until the public hearing on the Lewis bill.
which will take place on February 0, in the Sem
ate Chamber. there can be no Clear statement
OF the Importance OF the protests that have
been made against the measure. II IL. however,
certain that a number of the members of both
branches OF the legislature have been urged by
their constituents TO withhold their approval OF
the measure. on the other hand. the present
temper Of those Interested in the measure, as
well as the party leaders. seems TO be that
either the Lewis bill. with possibly few unim-
portant changes. not in any material degree
corresponding with those suggested by Mr. Par
sons, will be pas sed, else that the legislature
Will elect a new Superintendent of the Depart
ment OF Public Instruction and the uniication
plans will go over for at least another year.
In the last few days there have been repeated
prophecies that unification measure will be-
come a law this session 1t is similarly asserted,
as has been recorded in these dispatches al
ready, that the number and the nature Of the
protests made against the present bill by those
interested I'm the cause OF education have In
sured a full measure Of publicity and considera-
ton for the matter