New-York tribune., 1907-11-01
TACKLE SCHOOL BOARD.
W4NT RADICAL CHANGES.
Suggestions Rain at Public Hearing
on Charter RerisiOn.

CITY Han yesterday afternoon spent in
ceiving suggestions regarding the Board OF Ed
ucation. 1t was suggested that the board be
abolished altogether and the supervision and
management of the schools be placed in the
charge Of a salaried and elective official It
was proposed that women have representation
on the board. also that its membership be re-
duced in number.
II developed in the course OF the discussion
that the commission was favoraby considering
proposition TO have all the purchases and dis
hursements OF the various city departments
made by one competent or board Of men.
II is also considering q change which will pre-
vent any one connected with the public schools
from selling his books to the city.
Alfred r. Conkling said he thought The Mayor
ought To have absolute power Of appointment
and removal without supervision by any man
or set Of men, except when It came 10 appoint
rents 70 the Board OF Elections
When William NJ WINS. chairman OF the com
mission at the opening OF the hearing had
seated himself comfortably in the big chair oc
c,,Died by the Mayor at meetings Of the Board
Of Estimate Controller Metz leaned over and.
IN a voice audible throughout the room. said:
Well there's Mr.. WINS in the Mayors chair
at last" President MCGOWAN Of the Board Of
Aldermen. also a member OF the commission,
added: Yes. his ambition IS realized at last"
Nj Wins Joined in the fun at his expense.
Every member OF the commission was pres
ent, Including in addition TO those mentioned,
ex-senator Nathaniel A Elsberg. ex-City
chamberlain E. R L. Gould, George L. Duval,
Charles H Strong and Alderman James c.
Meyers.
WANT WOMEN on THE BOARD.
Mrs Stanton Batch, the first speaker. urged
that Il the Board Of Education should remain
an appointive body it should be mandatory for
the Mayor TO appoint a fair proportion OF
women and that II the members of the board
should be elected it should be provided that
certain proportion Of those elected should b.
women Il am sorry TO argue that anything
ike this should be mandatory" said Mrs.
Blatch, but we have found that men. although
mayors. are not always fair and impartial.
There Is one borough in this city that is not
represented in the Board OF EduCation-it is the
children's borough"
Mrs Frederick Nathan also spoke on behalf
Of the suggestions made by Mrs. Blatch. which
were also presented in the form OF n letter
signed by a number of well known persons, in
cluding Dr. Felix Adler, Or. John P. Peters
Rnd Samuel L. Clemens
Miss Jane Z. Robbins, representing the Pub
Hc Education Association. argued that the MEM
bership Of the Board Of Education be reduced
Her association, after a study Of the problem
Sc said. felt that fifteen members We're enough
She recommended that the City College and the
Normal College be placed under one head also
that the salary schedule be eliminated from the
charter. At that point Mr. WINS interrupted to
say that one Of the points which the COM
mission was unit vas that all salaries should
be left 10 officials and not specified in The char
ter.
Questions by several members OF the board
revealed their opinion that the local school
boards es now constituted were inefficient and
useless Miss Robbins contended that some Of
these boards did good work, and that the prin-
ciDie good one.
THE MAYOR SHOULD BE A MONARCH"
u believe that the Mayor should be mon
arch. the chief despot. If you wish" said Alfred
r. Conkling. in discussing the charter proVis-
ions on that subject and the Board OF Aldermen.
7 believe the Mayor should be free as to his
power Of appointment and removal. The Board
Of Aldermen should have nothing 10 do with
appointments or removals.
Would you have the power OF removal by
the Mayor absolute over the members OF the
Board Of Elections" ?" asked Mr.. Gould
no. I should make that one exception" re-
pliei Mr.. Conkng.
How about the Mayors salary?" asked Con-
troIler Metz.
Oh, think It is about large enough" replied
The speaker
4 don't think we pay half enough salary.
declared the Controller. hotly. 1--WE have sur
fered a great deal from cheap officials"
The present officials are excepted, Of course?
remarked Mr.. Gould, with smile.
"Oh, yes" said the Controller.
Mr.. Conkng referred to the fact that when
Mayor Hewitt and Mayor Grace served the city
the salary was only $1,000. whereas it was now
$4,000. But these men would have just as
soon served for nothing. would they not?" said
President MCGOWAN. Mayor Grace. as re-
member IT, did that very thing. He directed
that his salary should go to charity"
1T has cost me more than my salary for
charity since I have been Controller" inter
jected Controller Metz.
Everybody knows that the Controller is a
charitable man." replied Mr.. Conkling, "but
that is reason why tho Controllers salary
should be increased"
TOO MANY ALDERMEN, He SAYS.
NJ. Conkling also suggested that the mem
hership Of the Board of Aldermen be decreased
He thought that twenty or twenty-five. some of
whom should be elected in the city at large.
would be enough.
How could you assure minority representa-
lion with such a small board?" said Alderman
Meyers The speaker admitted he had not
thought of that Some question az TO what
would become OF the local boards OF improve
hlent also came up.
The powers Of the aldermen Mr. ConkIinP
would have remain as they are now. He
H'ught the experiment Of having the franchise
p'Ver rest with the Board OF Estimate should
't continued Il have heard II said that the
Hidermen should serve without pay" he said
/ tIihK the salary should remain as It IS