The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-07-25
Random Remarks.


n 1t must not for moment be thougl
J, that the appointment of an outsider
7 be county superintendent of Burlingto
|. county's school system is any mo-
satisfactory than when first mad
: There is still feeling of soreness ths
: Commissioner Kendall should have d.
cided that of the four applicants vh
presented their names to him, one {
them being recommended by Senate
|, Wells, there was not one qualified TO
the office. OF course those who know
William C. Sullivan, of Mount Holly
Levi Wire, Beverly, Harry V. Holloway
Bordentown; and A. Spencer Griffith
Palmyra, will not for one moment &C
knowledge that there was not one of thu
four perfectly qualified for the position
But they are all Republicans. 1t is no
the proper thing to inject politics int
the school system. Because man is {
Democrat is 70 reason why he should bt
appointed, neither is there any reason
for giving man the place simply be
cause he is Republican, and, on the
other hand, the politics of the applicant
should not keep him from the berth
We do not say that such thing
happened in the present case, but it is
certain that out Of four capable gentle
men, all Republicans, not one was
thought qualified to look after the inter
ests of our schools, Notwithstanding
they have lived in this county long
enough to become acquainted with con-
diticns and requirements. The appoint
ment of an outsider, or rather the insult
put upon Burlington county, has left a
bad taste.
Some time ago the Board of Free
holders received bids and awarded con-
tracts for supplying and applying road
oil and for furnishing material for re-
pairing the roads. How much of this
awarding has been complied with !?
Some stone has been deposited along
roads to the discomfort and inconven-
fence of the farmers who want to cut
the weeds, but there has been very little
repairing and we do not recall where
any road oil has been applied except by
the townships. Last year this work was
delayed until it was nearly the first of
November before the oil was all applied
and cold weather set in so that
it was necessary to use extra efforts
to keep the oil warm enough to
work. Now is the time to do this and
the freeholders ought to get busy. They
are very much against the:patrol system,
but If it was in vogue there is no doubt
that the work that has been contracted
for would be done.
Since the appointment of county
superintendent the editor of THE NEWS
has been asked some questions regard
ing the state school system, one of them
being what are we getting for the large
amount expended on that line? In 1910,
when c. J. Baxter was the state superin-
tendent, as the Office was then designa-
ted, he got salary of $1,000 per year,
and had two assistants who drew $500,
making the total in that line, &c. 800
per year. Then Mr.. Woodrow Wilson
saw a great light looming in the state of
Indiana and he imported the present
state superintendent whose title is
of education. The salary
was increased to $4,000 a year, and
there were four assistants, instead of two,
as previously, each getting 4,50O year,
making the total paid for this partic
ular branch, $2S, 900 instead of $40, 800.
In addition there are building and &C
count inspectors and clerks galore and
the expense has gone up with jumps and
bounds. And what have we received in
the way of benefit? Has the efficiency
of our school system increased to any
extent? Do you know Of
any improvement except that of natural
growth2 We have a fine summer school,
but it was established by t. d. Sensor
and others during c. ]. Baxter's time.
Practically the same system of gradation
of schools was in vogue in 1910. To C..
J. Baxter and Louis Bevier, Jr., is due
the credit of establishing our modern
high school. 1t is true that Mr.. Baxter
did not lay any claim to oratory or i'm
pressive and persuasive public speaking,
but has there been $1,000 worth of i'm
provement along those lines? Our state
good history of the United States,
which is sold by prominent school
book publisher, but are there not other
books on the same line equally as good2
Perhaps following the idea that
selection for state commissioner must
be made outside of the state, and that
superintendent for Burlington
county must be taken from outside our
a history of the United
States, by 1.-THE Gentleman from In
diana" is the proper caper. But, leav-
ing all joking or attempts at joking
aside, it does look as if it is quite
pertinent to ask what the people of New
Jersey are getting for the greatly in
creased cost in the department of educa-
ton.
A New Egypt man has been fined 5000
for running his automobile into wagon;
three Freehold men were fined for not
dimming their lights; two were punished
for letting their autos stand on the
streets without showing any lights, and
others were hauled up for opening their
muffiers while going through the streets
of town. Some of these days the
froH io md 10 vxTtll he
Mount Holly and cars will not be al
lowed to go through the principal streets
breaking nearly every law supposed to
govern their movements, especially the
speed law.
A Communication.
Editor of THE NEWS:
In view of the fact that INV going he-