Evening journal., 1905-03-15
School Board Charter.

Editor Of The Evening Journal:
Sir; For the purpose Of comparing
expenses and formation of the Board
of Education OF Wilmington with
Philadelphia, / called at the Office Of
Superintendent Brooks Of Philadelphia,
and obtained the following information:
The amount expended for the public
schools of Philadelphia last year was
s4.500,00O. The population Of that city
in 1900, was between sixteen and
seventeen times that of Wilmington.
lOne-siXteenth of 100000 is about
2So.OOO.
Philadelphia is asking this year for
public schools. $4,000. 600. one sixteenth
of which is S375,OO0. Wilmington re-
ceived last year from the city-in-
Guiding amount for new schools
100000; from State, s35,0OO; total
about S235,000; compared with which
Philadelphia received last year about
S2S0O00 or $4,000 more than VIII
mington for the same population. and
expects this year, $4,000. or $4,000
more than Wilmington. which, II our
new charter is passed, expects to re-
ceive this year about S23S.000.
Yet I have heard many complaints
that Philadelphia schools are over
crowded. The Wilmington schools, we
know, are IN good condition. with
ample room to accommodate all who
ATTEND.
The boards OF education of Phila-
delphia consist of one central board
of forty-two members one from each
ward-also one sectional board in each
Of the forty-two wards. of twelve mem-
bers, three Of whom are elected each
year by the voters in each ward. max
ing thirteen members in each Of the
forty-two wards: in all 546 members.
which, divided by sixteen. gives
thirty-four members 10 as many peo-
pie as reside in Wilmington. or ten
more than are now In the Board OF
Education OF Wilmington.
The New-Century Club finding its
first proposed charter very objection
able, has changed it to another nearly
as Objectionable and political. by
dividing the city into four districts,
OF which three would be almost GER
talnly Republican and one Democratic.
with four elected at large who. n
politics We're used. be Republican:
thus electing a board consisting OF ten
Republicans and two Democrats
Their charter calls for the election
Of a business manager at "A salary Of
perhaps $4,000 a year Said business
manager. to understand the wants OF
the school buildings. would naturally
be selected from our leading plumbing
or steamhttlng establishments and con-
sequently the company from which he
was chosen would naturally get all the
work In their line connected with the
schools. other work outside OF their
trade being given to friends whom the
business manager might name.
They propose TO place the business
manager under bonds for the faithful
performance OF his duties-but why so
He would simply and only have power
TO contract bills. but no power Ia
handle money. which would be IN the
hands OF the board. which would pay
IAN bills contracted by the manager.
In my judgment the next best plar
than that proposed by the present
board Of twenty-four members would
be board of twelve members. but
that would simply be giving each men,
ber twice as much to do as he has al
present which, In my Judgment. hs
could not do satisfactorily. My ex-
d. w. Lynch Company, Groceries
Raisins Currants. Pure Spices. Pur,
Olive Oil, Citron, Jordan Almonds. shell
led. Two stores, 4th and Madison. 9tf
and King SITS.