New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-20
SAYS he Is CONSISTENT
Secretary Parsons of the Board Of
Regents Replies to Criticisms.

ALBANY Jan. Ie-Hhen the attention Of Secre-
tary Parsons os the Board of Regents was called
This afternoon 10 Albany dispatch printed IN
yesterdays Evening Post" Of New-York. re-
latiag TO the school controversy, Mr.. Parsons
said:
Gas Regents have not shifted base A majority
are net opposed either unifcation a reduc-
don Ia lie size Of the board. OF 10 surrender Of
Lie tenure II these changes are consttutionaly
mains The same Last year supp6rted the stevens
hill Tor unihcauion because ] believed ii would
party politics. In $50 opposed the White bin for
plan. its tendency was 20 transfer 10 a political
officer that portion OF the State superNi OF the
educational system which IS now entirely out OF
th@ domain Of party politics. While neither the
any othor measure likely 70 be enacted at the
present session Of he Legislature will bring about
thc desired non-partisan unitcatton Of cur educa-
Loaai system yet his proposition TO define more
toward 10 the desired end.
PLAN PLAUSIBLE ON THE SURFACE"
On the surface, air. SINNERS plan is plausible
OF Education could be assured 20 the proposed
State Board OF Education, and II such CoinmlS.
the REGENTS could eonsututi onally delegate their
powers TO ths board, Il might De excellent IN
fortunately the provision which would il al prob
ability lie ADOPTED is the one giving the appoint
ment OF the Commissioner 20 the legislature This
means thst the new Commissioner would DC a
political ofcer. IS the Superintendent OF Public
plan OF selecting by lot State Board OF Education
'aThe Post" says Mr.. SINNERS plan has been in
oorsed by prominent educators; How easy IL Is TO
standing letter before me from one OF me most
sfves evidence He writes me that he was misled
and is opposed 10 the plan. President bdt!er
IS consistent, IN 1880 be supported the White oii
which had essentially the same defect The sta to-
ment as TO my inability TO make clear my Ilg uT res,
following. received on October i. 1903 from the
chief auditor in the Controllers Office, who. as
usual, had examined the figures 10 which The
II have gone over the Enclosed papers quite
carefully and with much inteFeS , e Ied' ,b be
tables so complete that. after rackiEg my brains
considerably. ] forced 10 confess that can
not where they can be improved 10y any sus-
gestion OF mine. The results which are shown must
be very gratifying TO YOU
FURNISHED ANALYSIS TO THE GOVERNOR
The statement that every department Of the
State sends its figures here 10 be analyzed Is
probably the outcome OF the fact that bg IequesL
have analysed the approprlatlons LOT al Gels a
1890 and furnished this analysis 10 the Governor
ana TO the finance committees Of the legislature
'.e Pos4 saws: At one Of the legislative hear
sngs last spring Mr. Parsons did not deny that the
printing presses OF the Regents office were used
MI Parsons frequently issued TO support the Re
gents campaigns" ind on the turning ni 70 a
stenographic report Of the hearing OF March q
.sOs on the merit bill that said: 49, .,,. ,,r-
Il want 10 say rght mere mar , SrIIe 'i Of snv
description been issued by the Regents once
ment that has been issued by the Regents once
was that formal announcement The apPP sah
sent as an official communication TO each mem
her of the legislature"
To this explicit denial might be added the state
ment that the printing presses in the Regents OF
flee are used exclusively FOR printing examination
papers and that they have never been used Tor
any other purpose.
THE Post" answers its own charges in the mat
ter OF allowances to secterlan schools TO meet 10
cal expenses OF examination ana inspection under
the constitution and laws OF the State, inter
preted by the Attorney General The Post says;
There Is. perhaps. doubt that the clause in
zone nlsg conclude that the accusation that Mr.
Parsons has been paying money wrongfully TO
tartan schools is that for the other side
TO charge him with the responsibility for such
payments Is unfair"
The damning statement repeated twice in the dis
patch in this connection that for whole years
private secretary to Bishop Williams. OF Con-
necticut, would. therefore SupeTfiuous
After all. the only charge Of any real Importance
in this article is that which maintains that my
present attitude in the educational controversy is
controlled by the wish TO hold Office and be the
whole thing" To such charge the only answer
OF value is a mans reputation based his
past record.