New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-09
Spirit of Cooperation Will
Bring Many Benefits,
Mitchell Declares.
SAYS Cat AND DOG
Chickering'S" ENDED
Churchill Opposition to Board
Of Estimate Control Regarded
as Stumbling Block.

Mayor Mitchell Is hopeful of the new
alignment in the Board Of Education
accomplishing much in tho direction
OF the control Of its affairs by the city
government, at least indirectly. through
better spirit Of cooperation. That
has been the chief element In the May
or's contention in regard 10 local edu-
cational matters. The defeat of Thorn
as ". Churchill for president Of the
board cleared the way.
The Mayor has consistently urged.
most recently in his testimony before
the Brown Legislative Committee, that
the Board OF Estimate should have
control Of the financial policy OF the
Board Of Education. including the sal
aries Of teachers and employees, as In
the city departments. Mr.. Churchill
had most vigorously opposed such
suggestion.
As public education Is now a state
matter. the Mayors suggestion could
not be brought about without an
amendment to tho constitution. He
made a plea for such legislation 20 the
Brown Committee. The summary OF
the report of the Brown Committee
did not include any recommendations
along that line. With the majority
OF the members % the Board OF Edu-
cation now in sympathy with the May
or's ideas. no believes. much can be
accomplished without the desired legis-
lation.
Asked yesterday what he thought
could be accomplished with the new
board in regard 70 the policies he has
recommended. tho Mayer said:
There ere legislative restrictions
that stand in the way, but with the CO.
operation that IL now possible, | be-
lievc much can be done that could not
be done before
Public TO Control Schools.
The Mayor made IL clear that the
public schools would not come under
the control OF the Rockefeller inter-
ests, or any special or private inter-
ests. as long as he had q voice in the
matter. He received letter yester-
dav from Peter J. Brady, member OF
the Board OF Education and secretary
of the Conference OF Organized Labor
on Industrial Education, asking him
70 request the resignation Of Raymond
3. Fosdick and Abraham FleXner, on
the grounds that they were connected
with the Rockefeller interests. his
reply follows:
"Mr. Flexner was appointed By my
predecessor at my suggestion because
OF mis- experience IN educational mat
ters. Mr. Fosdick was appointed By
me on his record as Commissioner OF
Accounts. Both gentlemen are very
busy men, and have reluctantly re-
NAMED on the board.
81 certainly shall not ask Yer their
resignation. II you have any evidence
of improper conduct on their part, 1t
is your duty 10 present 10. Your
charges will be searchingly investl-
gated Mr.. Flexner has been active
in urging a reorganization or the
Board of Education. So have n major
itv OF the present board. which CON
sists Of the highest type OF men and
women in the community.
"You must not be misled by your
fears. The schools will not come un-
dor any special or private interest so
long a. 7 have voice In the matter.
Neither organized capital nor organized
labor will dictate school policies, but
only the general public interest"
The Mayor cleared up yesterday some
Of the other matters regarding the
overthrow OF Mr. Churchill. He denied
the rumor that MIR. Churchill had
pledged himself 70 resign at the May
or's bidding on account Of the press
urc OF private business and that he
had been ousted because no had broken
that pledge.
Misunderstanding Over Board.
The Mayor was asked II It was true
that the deposed president had broken
faith with him after promising that he
would not oppose the Mayors sugges-
ton for q smaller board
What did happen" said Mayor
Mitchell. as that | discussed the mat
ter Of smaller Board Of Education
with Mr. Churchill In the presence Of
Mr.. Bruere. and, while Mr.. Churchill
did not fatty say that ne would support
il. he gave me the impression that he
would not oppose smaller board. AZ
that time J got the impression that Nj
Churchill thought that smaller board
should be paid"
In his testimony before the Brown
legislative committee Mr.. Churchill OPP
posed both A smaller board and paid
board
The Mayor said he could enumerate
his charges OF playing politics in the
board but that ne would not do so az
this time, as he considered the incident
closed.
81 am not going into that again
said the Mayor. 81 regard the incident
as closed. The Board OF Education has
new president. for which congratu-
late IT, We want TO get something
done, and not continue the cat-and-dog
b.ckerlng that has been going on be-
tween the BOARD OF Education and the
Board Of Estimate
Questioned In regard 10 his cxacting
pledge from his appointees 20 the
board 20 support Mr.. Wilcox for prcsi-