The New York herald., 1922-02-07
MILLER KEEPS WORD
. ON SCHOOL POLITICS
-
At Once Declares in Favor
of Downing Bill to End
Mayors Meddling.
TAMMANY SURPRISED
Measure to Keep Hylan
From Interfering During
Remainder of Term.
WILL PROTECT ETTINGER
Governor Again Explains He
Wants Politics Barred i'm
Education System.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
AIhapy Feb x

Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany. Feb. 6.
Gov. Miller lost no time making
s,ood his word given in New York last
Saturday night that politics must be
kept out of the city's schols. AS
soon as he returned to his Office to-
day he announced he would support
Senator Bernard Downing's bill MAX
ing the tenure of Office of the Super
jntendent of Schools and the Associate
Superintendents ten years. 1t provides
also that the officials can be removed
only for cause.
Senator Downing is n Tammany
member and introduced his bill re-
Gently, presumably to give to Mrs
Grace Stachan Forsythe a long term
in office. After it was presented, TIE
report came from New York that
Mayor Hylan did not like the bill
Not only would it keep Mrs. For
sNthe in her new office but it would
ement William l.. Ettinger, Superin-
tcndent. in his post for life and it is
we'll known that the Mayor has been
warring on Mr.. Ettinger for years.
This bill would keep Ettinger in Office
in spite of Hylan.
Complications In Politics.
Some complications resulted in New
York politics as a result of the intro
duction of this bill ard Tammany was
said to have been displeased because the
Mayor was displeased There was an
understanding that the measure would
,,ct be pressed for passage. Hylan is
reported to have been furious because
'rammany was going to the rescue of
Ettinger
Whether the Governor knew this or
rot Is not known, but his endorsement
OF the Tammany mans proposal was a
siocl to-day to the Democrats. BY
this stand the Governor demonstrates
he Is for any proposal to keep politics
out of the New York school system.
Tammany wants to hand life jobs TO
its own favorites and that Is why the
organization seeks through Hylan to
inject politics into the schools.
tion law providing for ten year terms
from the date of appointment instead OF
six for the superintendent and provid-
ing that the superintendent and provid-
2te superintendents lin office at the
time this act shall go into effect ana
associate superintendents appointed
a fter this act shall 20 into effect shall
not be removable except for cause.
"The occasion for my remarks In New
60 Loot
srperintendents whose terms expire
SOON the Governor said. THE Down.
ing bill would make the same tenure of
the superintendents constituting the
heard as other members of the teaching
organization now have. / know OF no
similar situation elsewhere in the state
tl,an in New York city"
would Stay Longer Than HyInn.
"The Downing hill would extend the
T.ttinger term beyond Hylan's term
end keep the superintendent in office,
tho Governor was informed.
THE main thing | have in mind IS TO
assure the superintendents a tenure of
office that would prevent Their being
controlled by political influences" the
Governor said. Under this bill they
would hold during good behavior.
have not taRen the matter up with the
legislative leaders. but | guess they VIII
know what ! think on the subject"
When the Downing bill was called for
4 second reading tonight in the Senate.
Senators Lusk and Walker. majority
and minority leaders. concurred in
notion that il be laid aside Until to-
morrow for purposes of amendment.
This was taken to mean that the two
sides would agree on Il proposed amend
n,cnt providing that associate supern-
tendents be required to serve "a certain
Tcr,od of their terms before their posi-
tions be regarded as permanent.
Senator Downing said "A similar bill
was offered last year, but not passed.
J seeks to make the most important
positions as permanent as others in the
school system, he said