davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

laid over until the following meeting. when
such information might be forthcoming.
This request seemed so unreasonable to
another member o. the committee on sites,
and so at variance with the prerogatives of
member, that he moved that this member be
appointed a committee OF one to investigate
and report to the board the existence of any
facts tending to justify his lack of confidence
in the committed
This leads the critics to say that in the pres
ence OF such spirit as this private member
will hardly feel inclined to question the report
of committee merely because he is not con-
WINGED by the facts, or lack of facts, presented.
by the committee. Intelligent action by the
board on its administrative business is, at least
under present methods OF procedure, out Of the
question, say these men. 1t may well be ar
gued moreover, that the number OF admins
trative items is so exceedingly large that no
matter how fully the requisite information
might be presented to the members of the
board, real consideration of them in the time
at the disposal of the average board member
would be physica, ,inpossibility.
1T seems possible to state, therefore" says
the report. that the matters OF administrs-
tive detail coming before the board so nu-
merous and, with insigniheantly few excep-
tons so petty that it is obviously utterly inn
possible for any of the members of the board
except the few having committee or personal
interest in it, to have any information upon a
particular matter.
The action of the board in all this class of
matters-constituting Overwhelmingly the
larger part of the business coming before the
board-must therefore of necessity be a purely
perfunctory and pro forma ratification of the
action OF the several standing committees"
In six consecutive meetings of the board
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
SCHOOL BOARD a
MAZE OF WHEELS
WITHIN WHEELS

That committee accordingly ordered COM
rnunication 10 be sent to the board OF super
intendents asking for the information desired
The board failed to answer this communica-
ton. and the committee consequently. several
months later addressed another communiea-
ton to il.
Eventually the committee obtained the de-
sired statement from the board OF superin-
tendents and duly transmitted it TO the printer,
not. however, before receiving letter from
him in which the inability OF the average ousi-
ness man to appreciate the niceties OF the
boards committee system is well demon
strated.
On June 81, 1919. the committee on care OF
buildings received from the Deputy Superln-
tendent Of School Buildings for The Bronx a
communication relative to the inattentlon OF
the isnitor of a school in the borough to his
instructions regarding loose glass IN certain
parts OF the building. At the meeting OF the
committee in the week following the Janitor
and principal of the school appeared and were
heard The matter was then referred to the
Bronx member OF the committee for report.
The following week that member failed to re-
port.
Then ensued the summer vacation, during
which the committee did not meet. When 1t
again convened, on September 6, the member
for The Bronx had resigned and the matter
was consequently referred to the new mem
Der, when he should be appointed, for report
That gentleman, accordingly the following
week, exactly three months after the complaint
had first been registered with the committee,
reported that he had investigated the matter
and found everything in first class condition.
1t is the opinion of the authors OF the re-
port that system OF administration under
which such methods Of investigating COM
plants of incompetency are possible can be
recommended from only one standing-that OF
of the incompetent complained OF.
It is believed by DR.. Goodnow and DR.. Howe
that the committee system OF the board stands
condemned on purely general considerations,
by its excessive cumbersomeness and unwield-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

there were reported by committees a total of
348 resolutions. OF these, all but FIVE were
unanimously adopted, without discussion, at
the meeting at which they were introduced.
similar examination OF the minutes for
five consecutive meetings yields equally de-
cisve results, the report showing that 1872 out
OF 1874 resolutions on administrative matters
reported by committee were adopted by unan-
imous vote and without discussion UPON their
first presentation. The evidence of these two
sets OF figures, chosen at random, could be
duplicated by similar figures, says the report,
from any part of the minutes.
THE Board of Education is too large. too
unwieldy body" say these authorities. And
as result of its size and internal organization,
they point out that:
D The BOARD fails to awaken a proper
sense of individual responsibility
(2) Authority is so widely distributed be-
tween the board, its committees and bureau
heads that it is difficult, often impossible, to
locate responsibility.
(0 The size of the board reduces its at
tractiveness to men sincerely DESTROYS Of pub
lie service. but deferred from accepting mem
bership on the board because of the lack of
opportunity for efficient work.
(D The board is not responsive to the pub
lie or to the elected officers who are response
bic to the public for school administration.
(0 There is inevitable conflict of jurisdic-
ton between the different committees; there
is a necessary overlapping of authority.
diplomatic courtesy has come to prevail under
which each committee defers to the action of
other committees. This has resulted in the
creation of miniature boards of education
within the Board Of Education, which, in ad-
minstrative matters, are almost autonomous.
90 There is a great waste in energy and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

ability. There is considerable waste in money
for printing, for clerical assistance, etc.
Cd Men of ability can make their influence
felt only by indrection and circumlocution
The work of the board itself becomes routine,
petty and detailed, rather than polcy-making
and legislative. In addition, much of the time
of the Superintendent of Schools is consumed
in administrative relations with the large num-
Der of committees, individual and bureau Off.
Gals.
The following paragraphs arc especially en-
phasized:
Most Of all, the size of the board seems
to have utterly defeated the main argument for
its size. Members are not familiar with the
whole school problem; they are familiar with
only fraction of the problem committed 10
the committees of which they are members.
Neither the board nor any committee of the
board is equipped to think or act as does the
individual director of city department. as,
for instance, does the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment on city problems.
Committee policies have been substituted
tor comprehensive school policy. Aside from
the instinct Of men to amplify their depart
ments and authority, the members Of the board
have no means of becoming familiar with the
school problem or with the schools as
whole
"A voluntary school board as large as the
Board of Education meeting twice month IN
short sessions, cannot, under the system
which obtains think Or act as policy-making,
education-forming agency. That is out OF the
question. The only reason which justines a
board, rather than single administrative oifi-
Ger. is destroyed by the very size OF that
board.
And this cannot be otherwise with volun-
tary, unpaid board Of forty-six members.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

mess. A few random illustrations gathered
from more or less cursory reading OF the
minutes of some of the meetings OF the COM
mittees, will, they believe, enforce this conten-
ton
We all know, for instance, that Jantor IS
an important institution. But doubt creeps IN
concerning the efficiency of a system which
permits the following:
The supervisor OF jantors, having been in
formed that the copper leader on certain
school building was continually being tam
pered with, in attempts to steal the copper, so
reported TO the committee on care OF build
ings on July {, 1912. The committee ordered
the supervisor to investigate and report to it
regarding the most practicable method OF pro-
tectng the leader. No meeting of the COM
mttee was held until two months later, Sep
TENDER 6, but on that date the supervisor re-
ported in favor Of replacing the copper leader
with one OF galvanized iron.
The committee on care of buildings, how
ever, having no power to order repairs, mere
ly submitted the supervisors report to the
committee on buildings. That committee, in
turn, referred it to the superintendent OF school
mittee reported unfavorably upon the sugges-
ton OF the supervisor of janitors. The COM
mittee approved his report, and so informed
the committee on care OF buildings.
1t needs no pointing out that what was in
volved here was merely difference of opinion
upon purely technical point, between the su-
pervisor of jantors and the superintendent of
school buildings. Unless these two officials
should ignore the existence OF the committees,
and come to an understanding privately. it
would seem to the critics that agreement be-
tween them could be reached only by process
of elimination OF the successive suggestions of
the supervisor of janitors-a process carried
on between the two committees involved by
means of formal communications.
Another case involved the same supervisor
OF jantors. who. having decided that jsnitors
ought to be supplied with certain supplies
soap. cheesecloth and chsmos-so reported to
the committee on care OF buildings. The
committee accordingly enacted resolution re-
questing the committee on supplies TO add the
items mentioned to the supply list. The COM
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
Bv EARL N. FINDLEY.

"HERE are honest differer ces OF opin-
ion among people not concerned with
theories but with everyday practical
things, as we'll as among those who
are theorists exclusively, and proud OF it, per-
tanning 70 the causes OF the growing dissat-
Isfaction with the Board OF Education. At Al
bany there is bill which many experts be-
heve contains the answer TO all questions by
the public as to what is wrong. The bill de-
mands that the board be reduced from forty
six members to nine.
II is the firm conviction Of many persons
that the City Of New York faces no more I'M
portant problem than that represented by TINS
proposed legislation. They assert that the
growing dissatisfaction with the schools as
they are is not momentsry complaint. Ihey
believe it is taking the shape OF CONVICTION
that something is radically wrong when so
much effort. so much money and so many ora
tions by the members Of the large board pro-
duce results that meet with so much adverse
criticism.
President Churchill is not OF this company
He rather doubts the existence OF many OF the
evils so glibly itemzed by critics OF the Board
of Education and has said so.
He has probably studied the points made by
two students Of conditions in our public
schools, and so the material presented IN this
article is intended more for those persons who
y ave not had the time or opportunity to pom
Sr any Of the important opinions submitted
by these qualified critics.
One OF these experts is Frank J. Goodnow,
IL. D.. professor of administrative law Co.
lumbia University; member OF President Tatt's
economy and efficiency commission and con-
stitutional adviser to the Chinese Republic
The other is Frederic c. Howe, Phi. D., OF the
Peoples Institute, formerly member OF the
= Ohio State Senate; author Of The City: Hope
OF Democracy" Wisconsin, an Experiment in
Democracy and The British Cities at Work
and at present Commissioner Of immigration
The jealousy with which each committee
guards its particular jurisdiction received sew
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

ing good citizens Of American boys, the CEN
sorship of the movies" and the theory OF
eugenics. He morazed like minister OF the
oosnel and il seemed that entire sincerity
stamped every uttersnce that bore on the bet
tering OF human conditions and the producing
of perfect race
Before I had time to open my battery OF
questions James surprised me with the follow
ing: "As far as know, you are the hrst repre-
sentative from the press OF the East who ever
came out here to interview me. OF course
some one OF your profession may have been
here under another guse, but outside OF this
possibility you are the first acknowledged
newspaper man from the Atlantic scaboard to
come here for information
ACCUSED OF CRIMES THEY COULDN'T
HAVE COMMITTED.
Upon my broaching the subject of his out
law career, Frank prefaced his remarks thus:
1T is useless for me to deny all the acts OF
crime with which and my brother, Jesse W.,
were charged during the guerilla days that
marked the history of the Central States after
the Civil War nor do / want to admit that we
were guilty OF all the holdups and robberles
laid at our door during those troublesome days
1t is a matter of fact that my brother and
were accused Of many crimes which 1t was i'm
possible for us to have committed. If we hap
pened to be five hundred miles distant from
bank at the time it was robbed the people
would say that the James Boys did it.
After Jesse was shot by Bob Ford at st.
Joseph, Mo-, on April 3, 1882, 1 surrendered to
the authorities. I was placed on trial in both
state and federal courts, but was indicated in
both. and my brother were the victims OF
war We fought in the Confederate army, and
the rough treatment accorded US by the Union
men aroused hatred which took the form OF
guerilla warfare after the war was over"
"Why did the authorities find it so difficult
to catch you during that period?" inquired.
KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY TRAIL WAS
THEIR CHIEF PROTECTION.
The man sitting beside me on the bench
under the elm tree smiled while his keen eyes
surveyed the green hills in the distance.
"I'll tell you" he broke in abruptly, making
a sweeping gesture, we were born and raised
in this country that you see before you. 1t was
mostly wooded and heavily timbered at that
time. There were no railroads passing through
this section then, and narrow trails through the
forest formed the only ways by which people
travelled. When the Pinkerton detectives
from the East were sent here to get us they
were up against it. They knew nothing at I'll
about the lay of the lard in this region. AS
soon as stranger was seen in our vicinity he
was soon spotted by the settlers, who were our
friends and neighbors. And no man who could
not give a satisfactory account Of himself was
allowed to linger arc und very long
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

eral illustrations at meetings OF the board at
tended by the investigators At one meeting
there occurred rather contentious discussion
between the chairman of the committee on
care OF buildings and the chairman Of the COM
mttee on bylaws relative to the action Of the
latter committee in giving audience to COM
: r';ttse OF ianitor engineers relative to certain
matters Of interest to that class of employees
The action OF the bylaws committee was
~ resented by the care. buildings committee,
not apparently because in itself wrong, but
because it was felt to trench on the preroga-
/ tives of the latter committee.
In point, in the same connection, is also the
protracted dispute which took place at the
board meeting between the chsrmen Of the
committees on finance and elementary schools
concerning the apparently perfectly simple and
readily answerable question whether the lists
of nominations e positions in the elementary
schools, as submitted by the committee on
those schools to the board, did or did not in
dictate TIE name of the teacher II any, whose
place the nominee was desired 10 fill.
The tenor Of the discussion, according to DR..
Toodnow and DR.. Howe. well as the heat
j with which il was conducted, conveyed the
distinct impression that the two chairmen were
considerably more interested in defending the
wisdom or practices of their several commit
tees than in getting at the correct answer to
the question involved. question so simple
that had the auditor gone with it directly TO
the committee on finance he doubtless would
have been able fully 10 settle IL with that Of
6cer in a fraction OF the time consumed by the
chsirmen OF the two committees in discussing
on the floor Of the board whether or not the
matter required settlement.
TWO CASES OF RED TAPE CARRIED
TO THE LAST DEGREE.
The board of superintendents sent to a
printer copy for high school syllabus in GER
tain subjects. After the proof had been re-
ceiyed from the printer, however, the board
apparently changed its plans and delayed in
returning the proof TO the printer. The printer
finally sent a letter OF inquiry regarding the
matter. but. according to the practice obtain
ing under which the committee on supplies has
supervision of all printing, this letter was re-
ferred 70 that committee.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

boy, and IL he reads about robberies and mur.
der he is apt to follow the same path as the
Adventures that have allurngly been woven
into fiction The yellow backed novel with It's
blood-curdlng dramas OF life has done an un-
told injustice to boys growing to manhood.
The vivid tales Of murder, robberies holdups
and other crimes found in these cheap novels
FIRE the youthful brain with desire to emulate
the deeds portrayed.
my brother Jesse and have been pictured
as committing the almost impossible and out
rageous acts imaginable. Not that wish to
say that we were angels in any way but the
crimes which in these books have been laid at
our doors are in the main creations of the wild
est imagination and absolutely without foun-
dation II is such tales as those that make
some boys think they want to be latter-dsy
Jesse and Frank Jameses, and the result is that
before long they become holdup men, bank
robbers, and even murderers.
Another factor which has ruinous effect
on the growing generation is cheap moving
picture shows, and by cheap I mean those
that portray in narrowing details various
crimes in their gruesome details. This condi-
ton calls for a strict censorship of the films,
and no plays that show the details of crime
be they robberies, holdups or murder, should
be allowed in exhibitions"
HOW HE WOULD ELIMINATE THE
WORLDS CRIMINAL ELEMENT.
Frank James was also much interested in the
theory of eugenics. To quote his own words
81 have been much interested in the theory of
eugenics ever since it became the subject OF
discussion among the learned men of our day.
Science has shown how to improve live
stock. BY select breeding we get better horses
better cattle and better sheep and hogs than
was the case when no attention was paid to the
scientific side of the subject.
THE reason we have so many criminals and
feeble minded persons is found in the fact that
the ill-ht have been allowed to mate at will.
Criminals beget criminals, and there certainly
should be laws instituted that would make it
impossible for persons who are neither morally
nor physically fit to form union"
There you have Frank James's idea of elimi-
mating the criminal element from society.
His answer to my final question, What do
you consider was your nsrrowest escape from
death during your entire career?" was entirely
unexpected. Tersely he replied, his face liz
by smile: 1T was the time when was nearly
dying of starvation in the Confederate camp
during the Civil War"
Said he: Now when you get back TO New
York and tell your friends that you trsiled
the outlaw to his den and spoke to Frank
James, they will all be wondering how in hell
you got away from here alive"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
HOME OF THE JAMES
Jesse & Frank James
Admission so Cents
Cameras Barred"

Inside the fence at a distance OF about two
CITY blocks stands an old log cabin, small and
primitive in style Of architecture. When l
went there some months ago I found Frank
lanes seated on bench near the cabin. AS
approached him to shake hands tram OF
thoughts passed through my mind-thoughts
that brought me back to the time when as a
bow had hung spellbound over a yellow
backed dime novel filled with stories OF the ex-
PLOTS and daring adventures of the James
Boys.
As greeted Frank James, the then surviv-
ing brother of the notorious duo, 1t was hard
for me to believe that l stood face to face
with the man who, as the tales OF the dime
novels run, was known as one OF the most des-
perate outlaws, bank and train robbers that
this country had ever seen. He greeted me
with ioval smile and firm grip of the hand.
Mr.. lanes at the time of his death the other
day was seventy-four years old, but age had
not marked him notccably. He was straight
as a soldier standing something like six feet
in height He walked with the buoyancy OF
youth and was not burdened with superfiuous
flesh He recalled the typical tall, lank noun
taineer Of the Ozarks. His gray eyes were
keen and alert, indicating quick action in case
of an emergency. Mr.. James was talkative as
a politician and gifted with keen sense OF
humor He might have been taken for sue
cessful merchant or building contractor. 1t
was hard as l faced him that day to conceive
him as a man who in his younger days chose
murder and robbery as career.
JAMES PROVED TO BE QUITE THE RE-
VERSE OF BOASTFUL.
Ever since the time when my imagination
was fred with wonder at the daring exploits
OF the James Boys, as chronicled in the dime
novels, / had been eager for the opportunity
to see Frank and ask him to recount some Of
the thrilling dramas of the wild and woolly
West in which he starred I believed that he
would have many story worth telling No
doubt he had but when asked to discuss the
adventures OF himself and Jesse he was reti-
cent. He was glad to talk on almost any other
subject under the sun, but on the stirring
events of his life between the years 1866 and
1882 had very little to say.
Instead OF getting blood and thunder story
from Mr.. James / obtained one the very anti
thesis Of what had expected. With the ex-
ception of giving few "reminiscences OF his
early life, he dwelt on international peace, max
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
By ERIC ADOLPHUS DIME.

~ HREE miles from the village OF Kear-
ney, Mo, there is sign on wooden
Il gate near the roadside. 1t reads:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

rHERE are honest diferer ces OF opin-
ion among people not concerned with
theories but with everyday practical
those who
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-20
Alderman Company Scores Big
with "The Battle of the
Nations. /"

"The Battle Of the Nations" an ex-
ceedingly funny musical comedy tab
lo:d being presented by the Alderman
Musical Comedy Company at the Pal
ace, is up to the high standard set by
this clever aggregation, and too much
cannot be said In praise OF its clean
ilumor and musical offerings.
George Levy, Harry Levin and Jack
Sexton are comedians of rare ability
and It is seldom that one has the
pleasure OF seeing in a tabloid COM
pany SO much talent and laugh pro-
ducing material. The Garden City
Four" show fine ability as harmontsts.
These boys are surely clever. Ndss
Mort. the popular soubrette. Is again
seen to advantage, and scores big
with her singing of you Are the Rose
of My Heart.
This company closes its successful
weeks engagement tomorrow night,
and 1t will carry with it the best
wishes Of the Palaces patrons for
they have undoubtedly enjoyed It's
stay In Clarksburg.
The photoplay Offering today is re-
markably strong, being chapter four
of .aThe Diamond from the Sky'scalled
.sThe Prodigars Progress" This IS
one of the greatest pictures Of the
series. The work of Lottie Pickford,
Irving Cummings and William Russell