New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-04
THE EDUCATIONAL BILL.
INTRODUCED IN SENATE.
Minority to Present Report Which
Ncu Become Biu.
inv -r1EsnLrn 70 -HE rRTruNE.l

fiorS4 systems OF tDe Clalt inns A4dAs VIM
AZ embodied In a bin. the text OF which has
been printed IN The Tribune, provides for the
reduction OF the number OF Regents 10 eleven
che choice from The present board OF that num-
her by the legislature. fer terms OF from one TO
eleven wears their term OF once thereafter TO
be eleven years. The election OF q Commissioners
OF Education by the legislature. to be. under the
more OF less Indefinitely outlined guidance OF
fne Regents the executive ONCE OF the new
Educstioual Department The measure further
lrovices that all except the first missioner
shan be chosen by the Regents. and that this
commissioner is 10 serve six years anc 70 TO
ueiye q salary % $500 and an additional e1-
penss allowance Of 81 500
Senator Merton f. Lewis. chairman Of the
commission. reported the bin in the Senate
this morning whore Il was received and re-
serTed 20 the committee OF the whole. on
request OF Senator Grady II subsequently
referred 20 the Senate Committee on Education
md hearing on the bin was set for next
Tucsdsy ~ 2.3o .. m. while the Democrats
announced their satisfaction with this arrange
snent Senator Grady gave notice that there
Would De q minority report from the Democrats
the commission. and that he would present
q tomorrow. II enboeies IN brief these sug-
gestions:
First-'The election OF three headed COM
mission one OF its members TO be selected by
she majority. by the minority. the third by
the Board OF Regents IS at present constituted.
Second-The present Board OF Regents 10
hol6 Office for life hut vacancies occur by
death or resignation thes are not TO be filed
mill the number u active Regents is reduced
below eleven. which shall thereafter be the
maximum number OF Regents
Third.-The Office OF Superintendent OF Public
obstruction to be abolished and the supervisor
az that department and OF present control OF
the Board OF Regents over schools OF any char
scter is transferred 10 the new Commissioner Of
Education.
Fourth.-The terms OF Office OF the commits
sioners to be years. and their salaries, $1,000
Ftfth-Tbe only power left to the Regents OF
she University. other than that OF selecting one
OF the commissioners. TO be the supervision Of
ahe State library
SECRETARY PARSONSs VIEWS.
Secretary Parsons. OF the Board Of Regents.
to-day gave out a statement in which he de-
Ulares that while II has been suggested that
those who would suffer by the passage OF the
Lewis bin should not crlticise its provisions
that is not his idea OF disinterested public ser
vice He says:
Tor more than fifteen years I have given my
best energies to the educational work OF this
State, and because some one NAV now believe
that what ] say springs from selfish motives
? does not seem to ne a sufficient reason either
Tor saying what I do not think or for refrain
ing from saying what ] do think.
The present Superintendent Of Public Tnstruc-
zion is elected b. the legislature invariably a
partisan and as reward FOR party service. II
Is proposed 10 elect the new chief executive Of
fcer Of the reorganzed system in the same way.
a well meaning legislator said the other day
that the present State Superintendent Of Public
instruction had built up such strong political
machine that the Republican party old dare
refuse to re-elect him for another term. and that
Jhe simplest way out Of the difficulty would be
20 reorEanize the entire system in a way that
would not antagonze the present Superinten6-
ent. He did not seem &c appreciate that this
would be another case OF exchanging the frying
pan for the fire Though Il is probable that
the legislature would see the wisdom of elect
ing a good school man as the first Commits
Eioner OF Education. yet the opportunity is fur
nished for the development OF a stil stronger
political machine than that which has been Gre
ated by the present Superintendent, as Il viii
embrace FAR wider field.
believe every effort should be made TO de-
feat this measure unless Il can be amended by
provisions to insure non partisan Board OF Ed
ucation. the appointment OF the chief executive
officer by this board instead OF by the legislature
nnd the responsibility OF this officer TO this
board. With such amendments the Lewis bill
woulc be good one. without such amendments
u rs a vicious measure. II we cannot secure
them Il would be far better to have no legisla-
zion at al. leaving the legislature 20 elect as
usual o Superintendent Of Public instruction. and
leaving untouched the administration Of sec
ondary snd higher education. which for more
than century under the Regents OF the uni
tisan.
! wish Il understood that these views are not
given in my official capacity as secretary OF the
Regents, but solely as a citizen OF the state
who has given the greater part OF his LIE 20 ed
'ucational work
The report OF the special 3oint committee,
which accompanied the bin. followsi
TO the Legislature:
your sPssisi joint committee spPointed pgrsgsnt;
- Isos. with full power and authority 20 inquire
its judgraen, viii be for the betterment OF the
eouoa tional Interests OF the State, begs leave
AZ TIE outset Of the Investigation & was felt by
the member 81 y91s M s e1 Sh4i esre
covering the educational interests OF the State
s $ sa % hs S fG hs use soGr
committee requested charles skinner, State Super
sntendent OF Public Instruction. and James Russell
Parsons. tr. secretary OF the Board OF REGENTS
Oogicsi and historical records Of the development
Of each department showing what institutions
institutions Of learning were subject 70 double
eEeh Sa s sRsSus 10 N. D ,a KoSsT Mntt2n
requested ~ your committee 10 prepare and sub
TENS Of other states N order tst yoar oonri
tee migh; be Informed Of the organization OF the
thereby be able 10 avail Itself OF the best thought
saoS0as s1 subjects sno ne erganza don q
your COMMITTEES r. under lasting obligations for
and submitted by them copies Of which ere euS
rltteo herewith IN the bound volume Of the pro-
men your COMMITTEES desires 10 return IS cordial
shaaks Tor their courtesy.
DUPLICATION OF SUPERVISION.
Tor. or many years. ar shown by the reports sub
re BY siperinteIloe1-t skinner en6 Secretary
ss.on and inspection OF certain Of the educational
Eianos to-day the Department OF Public Irsfr,c-
.on aas complete control OF the elementary ana
teeonoary schools q the State; the Board q Re-
ferts. onstltuting the University 81 THE STATE "a