Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-04-20

There is little, if any, division among
Woodbury. people about the need of more
and better school facilities, but there is
much division of opinion as to the extent
that the city should go in meeting those
needs
A majority of the last Board Of Educa-
ton, after considering the subject in all
its phases. reached the conclusion that,
looking to the future, as we'll as the pres
ent, the wise policy was to establish a
large central school, one that should pro-
vide for present needs II rooms and leave
four rooms for future needs, which at the
normal rate of increase during the past
quarter of a century would be about eight
years
The selection OF suitable site was then
considered. Taking the present academy
as basis of comparison, it would be in
advisable to build sixteen-roomed house
on a lot even twice the size of the present
academy lot because the experience is that
one of the serious difficulties of managing
children is the narrow space for recreation
at all intermissions. A site, tnen for even
present needs would require lot several
times larger than our present school lot.
Requests were publicly made for all
persons having land for sale to make the
fact known to members of the Board. OF
the responses to this request-some were
considered favorably- notably the Wick
lot, formerly the L. M. Brown & Company
lumber yard, at $500; the Franklin and
Roe lots, combined, at $l5, 500; the Man
ley lot. $11, 900. The Star, Howell and
Cattell lots, so far as we know, were not
seriously considered. A majority of the
Board, -four of the six members), voted to
purchase the Marley lot at the price named,
and legal agreements to that end were pre-
pared and executed.
The matter was then referred to the
Beard of School Estimate, where it was
again approved, and then referred to City
Council So far as we know, and believe,
sought by personal influence to secure for
this project the endorsement of single
member Of the Board of School Estimate or
City Council--the proposition at every
point of progress standing squarely on its
own merits.
Then objection developed, and further
progress in securing needed school facilities
was stopped by Injunction proceedings.
For reasons unknown to us, the case was
not heard at the February term of the
Supreme Court.
Hon. D. 0. Watkins, the Board of Edu-
cations counsel, prepared his answer, but
the city's counsel did not.
At the election of members of the Board
~of Education last March the personnel of
the Board was materially changed, on the
distinct issue OF proceeding to build school
house on lines laid down by majority of
the Board. We assume that the voters
were fully informed of the plans Of the
Board, and just what was proposed, and
that result was their deliberate Judgment
theron.
AS one who has full faith in the people,
and who recognize their will be the SUI
preme law, we take the result of that cleo
ton as command from the highest author
ity in government against construction on
the lines that seemed wise to the former
Board, the Board of School Estimate and
City Council.
But it seems to us that those members of
the Board OF Education who voted last
week to recall from Council the recommen-
dation of the Board as to the purchase of the
Manley lot, before the Board counsel
action ascertained, were reckless of the pub
lie welfare considerable bill of costs is
involved in the questions at issue, and it
was not at all necessary for the city to as
sumo those costs if the action of the city
departments was legal which we assume
they were.
The public servant who, having ascertained
the public WILL proceeds contrary thereto,
lacks the essentials of good American citi-
zenship, and we know none such in
Woodbury.. Hence it seems to us unwise
and against the public interest to act in a
public matter on the advise of private
counsel when public counsel.s fully compe-
tent.
II newspaper reports are correct, Ocean
County Is seriously involved as result of
c,As4n rl.od or,,,r4r..n4;1r,