New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-03
THE EDUCATION BILL.
SLIGHT CHANGES MADE.
To BE Introduced in Legislature To-
day-A Hearing Likely.
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Albany Feb. AFTER brief session TINS
afternoon the joint legislative commission
charged with the duty of providing new unlh-
cation plan for the school system Of the state
decided 10 report the plan already printed IN
The Tribune. making only two unimportihI
changes and leaving untouched the two points
in the scheme which have been criticised. The
bill which forms the report of the commission
will be introduced in the Senate by Merton f.
Lewis. chairman OF the commission. tomorrow
morning. Assemblyman Wainwright viii pre-
sent II in the other brancf.
But despite the introduction without material
change. the bill will not be passed with the
haste already limited at. 1t IS the present in
tention to give hearing on the bill, and Speaker
Nixon said tonight that he did not expect its
passage before the end of next week This
brings IL outside OF the time earlier set-that Is.
before February 10-when successor to Su-
perintendent Skinner in the Department OF Pub
lie instruction must be named under the present
law.
The matter came up in the Senate this MORN
ing when Senators Grady and Foley. from the
Democratic side asked for hearings before the
commission, declaring that the Democratic mem
hers had been expecting that the committee
would report a measure providing for three
headed commission. bipartisan I'm character, and
that the new plan came to them without warn
ing. Senator Raines made the point that as
the report not in there could he 10 action
on it. and suggested that discussion the
question OF a hearing be postponed until the
bill was introduced That there win be a hear
ing was however. the opinion of Speaker Nixon.
who in passing declared his belief that the bill
in its present condition would pass The call
made 10y Mr.. Foley for hearing before the
Joint commission was made as a result OF n
request from the Catholic Club OF New-Nork
City. which sent him a telegram urging that
there be a chance to discuss the hill
The changes made in the bill to-day were as
follows: A little clause added at the last meet
ing. but not submitted 10 the entire board. was
formally attached to the bill This clause pro-
vides that the first Commissioner OF Education
under the new bin may or may not be a resident
Of the State OF New-York a change which is
taken 20 indicate the purpose OF the Legislature
to elect Or. Andrew {. Draper. The second
change technical one about the issue OF
warrants made at the request Of the Controller
It was learned after the meeting Of the joint
commission this afternoon that the Democratic
representatives on the commission would pre-
sent minority report differing in three respects
from that Of the majority. as reported today.
The three recommendations OF the Democrats
follows:
First-That the Regents rs a whole be leEls-
lated out OF Office and the new board chosen
from other educators. Second-That OF the
eleven Regents the new plan provides for. five
should be Democrats. Third-That the Com
missioner OF Education be elected by popular
vote
This report viii he the basis 81 a party night
on the present measure. The Democrats viii
urge that IL is "A direct attempt 20 inject Repub-
lican politics and Republican control into the
educational system OF the State. They will
charge that the bin IS being damned through
by the majority. They viii also urge that since
eight Regents are TO be actually leglslated out
OF Office and eleven retained. Il would BE- better
10 cause no hard feeling by treating all alike.
ON the proposition OF dividing the hoard 90
that there VIII be six Republicans ana five Dem
ocrats. the minority VIII urge that the present
plan coutenplates giving the entire board 10 the
Republicans and leaving the Democrats entirely
out OF consideration. What the actual purpose
OF the minority is IN this plea is apparent.
lnder the present plan new Regent will be
Democrats may have over the Legislature will
enable them IN single year To- change the po-
liticsl complexion Of the board. The minority
report insures "A drawing % party lines ON the
measure and the determined fight OF the Demo-
Gratis against the present bin.
The strongest insistenCe promises 20 be made.
on the point Of the choice Of the commissioner
oy popular vote instead Of by the legislature.
Assemhlyman George ". Palmer. minority leader
on the floor ~ the Assembly has urged this
argument from the outset. supporting 81 with th.
declaration that this the only method OF ga -
surfing that the commissioner should be- man
OF proper character. and insisting that a com
missioner chosen by partisan ms ioritv I'm the
legislature was certain 10 be imbued with uo-
ltical partisanship-