New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-28
REGENTS CONV0CATTON.
FIRST OF NEW SYSTEM.
Speeches by WhiteIa1c Reid and
Henri u. MGcCrachten.
tsY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUHE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNEl
Albany June 27.-The forty-second annual
oonvocation Of the University Of the State OF
New York opened IA this city tonight The
opening session, which was held in the Senate
Chamber. was attended by a large number Of
Prominent educators from all parts Of the State
relresenting the institutions associated In the
university. The convocatIon is regarded as Of
unusual importance. as It is the first held since
the uniGcaton Of the educational system Of tho
state.
N-b:telaw Reid, Of Nev7-York cay. Chancellor
Of the reorganized Board Of Regents, delivered
the ChanceIIor's address, in which among other
things, he called attention 10 the great sums
n money paid 10 maintain the schools Of New
York State, and urged that the fundamental
principles Of education. "the three Rs should
Re taught with thoroughness as basis for all
subsequent work.
Afr. Reid said:
II has been made ny duty End It is certainly
privilege and personal pleasure. to call 20 order
ne forty-seoond University convOcation CT the
state Of Newly ork-forty-second on the list but
Grst in significance in the whole history or your
..anual meetings
FOR this convocation follows Immediately upon
- ratification q the States educational system
,fe end Of strife between wrangling departments
I'd OF controversy over divided powers. II assem-
5 IS on the call Of the constitutional body under
whose supervisory care TIE STATE mas HOW pl'i-S1
ne whole work: and signalizes the operation Of
the States decree for the coordination. or all
efforts public and private tax supported or not
primary secondary or collegiate. for the proper
training Of The Young in the greatest community
on this continent. one free commonwealth az eight
million souls
Who can overrate, who can even estimate such
a responsibility IT is a commonwealth besids
which Athens when Pericles ruled II and 1t ruled
Greece seems petty; wealth greater IMAM
hen no
orb: greater than Venice when she held the
gorgeous East in fee and the safeguard OF
the West; greater threefold thnn this whos nation
when II achieved its Independence; greater than
half the nations of America to-day or many among
those OF Europe. Nay, this is measuring greatness
merely by numbers. When you measure by ma
terial prosperity by intellectual leadership, by po
litical weight or moral worth where the wide
world round IS this comm ealth surpassed? Does
4 not in fact grow in minds We regard
with flial pride and its imperial proportions
TO something of the image formed by the Old Home
in the seerlke eyes OF John OF Gaunt: this earth
Of majesty. this other Eden, this happy breed OF
men, this little world this blessed spot this earth
This realm-this New-York'
This is the commonwealth that now summons
you all cooperate, in your respective places. III
advancing its highest purpose for the care Of its
dearest and sacred interests. The dignity
the value the moral grandeur of such work and
such responsibility beggar expression.
WHAT NETWORK PAYS FOR SCHOOLS.
What the State itself thinks this work is worth
may be partly in what il pays for it The
States solicitude for various objects may
lines be gagged in the appropriations. Well. the
State OF New-York pays more money for its schools
than for any other thing; five times much
for schools as for legislation; five times much
rs for the courts and all the machinery for the
administration of justice: five times much
for the Improvement and repairs of highways
rivers bridges and the like; nearly three times
much as Tor the Governor and all the executive
officers and departments that crowd the State
House and all the commissions that roam the
State. In fact. you cannot find account the
books Of your State Treasurer that equals his pay
ments for educational purposes. without adding
together the whole OF the States charities, along
with its additions to the permanent investments for
the insane. With all talk about canals. the
State spent last year less than two-thirds much
for them for schools-even when you count in
the purchase OF nearly million and a half bonds
for the Sinking Fund. Out Of a total expenditure
OF twenty-four millions last year for ali purposes
the State spent FIVE and a half millions, or
nearly one-fourth of all its money for education.
That IS far from telling approa ching the whole
truth. I have been speaking only OF those ex-
penditures derived from State taxation. But the
report Of the late Superintendent Of Public Educa-
ton. M Skinner, gives also the local expendi-
lures for the same purpose, and the grand total is
thus swollen to proportions whose impressiveness
cannot he heightened by words The State Of
New-YoIk spent il 1893 in all its multiform activ-
tiles outside of schools. only $lS757 $50. It spent
On schools including local with State expenditure.
between two and three as much for their