The New York herald., 1869-03-23
THE WHOLESALE ROBBERY OF THE EDUCA-
TaONAL FUND.

purposes. III
cation for great activity Of those having the con-
troll Of the Board OF Education and OF the school
moneys in their efforts TO prevent any interference
with the existing condition OF things; because. how
ever bad the present system may be- no matter what
abuses may have grown up during this long con-
tinued control Of set Of men, forming the ring
OF the present Board it would be better even tnat 1t
should continue It s than that the objects said to
lie at the bottom Of the movement should succeed.
Rather bear those Ills have,
Than 1y 10 others that we know not OF.
Now, there can be no harm in calmly considering
the existing condition and rel alton OF the Board OF
Education and the objects attempted to be secured
and which will probably be accomplished by the bill
Of Mr. Richmond. Mere clam0r proves nothing,
and should not AFFECT any citizen who feels as all
good citizens shoud-a deep and responsible interest
In the cause OF common school education. Let not
abuses which are patent, and which are growing,
continue, from any vague apprehension or any in
terested statements that the opposition comes from
One would suppose that the object OF the move
ment IN the Legislature Is to uprO0t the common
practice OF this scheme of public education Mr.. Rich
mond's bill does not interfere at all, or propose to
interfere with the system o. commSn school edn,
to introduce new men, and doubtless, better men,
into the Board OF Edncaton for the purpose OF con-
trolling the enormous growth of the expenses OF
common school educati0n-new men as school COM
missoners who can be relied upon to correct the
abuses which have grown up under the secret man.
agement OF the clique In whose hands are tile opera
tions OF the Board OF Education. One would sup
pose, from the upr0ar ana excitement winch II Is
Education the most intelligent, capable and I'M
macuate set Of commissioners to be found anywhere
administering 80 important trust. Now, ask how
many OF your readers know VINO compose the Board
of Educatlon2 and not knowing who they are, how
position How many know Of the proceedings and
operations OF the Board Of Educations How can
they judge in regard to the expenditures Of
the jobs that are passed theref few
years ago che proceedings OF the Board OF
act was made known. The result OF this found
to be exceedingly inconvenient to the managers OF
stopped and since that time their proceedings nave
been kept entirely secret except to the few specta
tors who may from time 70 time choose to attend:
Board OF Education ls an EFFORT OF the Tammany
ring to obtain control OF that Board. Do not all
your readers know that eighteen out OF the twenty
one commissioners were elected by Tammany Hall,
and that they stand In the position OF control COM
ali ts Is not S'nr @ s rs
are good and capable men and are dischargng their
duties with efficiency aud economy.
Now, what are the facts, the results, in q general
ways The expenses Of the Board OF Education for
the last SIX years have been as follows:-
1883. 81, ,450. 900
1884,. 1,1S7,OOO
1900. ................ ...-............. 2,zye,5O8
1856. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2,454327
1857 Observation-Disclosures. 2,039,34s
1858. 1900, 900
TINS shows that the expenses have increased dur
ing the above period 100 per cent, and that the in
crease goes steadily on. The appropriation asked
for during the present year Is S3,l6Oo00. or this
total the following are the items OF necessity though
doubtless extravagant In amount
Salaries OF teachers In ward schools. 81, 1000
For the support OF the evening schools 10000
Normal schools. ....................-... 20000
For psupnes through the ... depos,tory. $4,000
Total. So, 40, 900
II win be seen that the actual expenses required
for salaries and for the support and supplies or the
schools amount, even on the estimate prepared Dy
the present ,e &c oncers; 4 70 about . 5000 600
would seem TO be all that Is necessary for the sup
port OF the schools Is Increased 81 900 at this time
when are suffering. in every department. OF taxa
bic interests from the burdens OF national State and
city taxation. The first Item that attracts attention
Ii salaries Of the Superlntendents clerk &C., OF the
Board OF Education $65, 900. Does any one pretend
that tA expense OF clerk and assistants to perform
the mere clerical duties OF that position need amount
TO any such sum as thisf the Board meets twice q
month, and the whole duties consist In paying sala
ries and keeping record OF the proceedings Of the
Tne next item IL incidental expenses OF the Board
OF Education including shop account, $60,0O0 What
are '.ncidentair expensess II means expenditures
for which the items cannot be anticipated or OF
which 10 is not agreeable TO furnish statement; II
means simply general re, fnnd 70 oe expended by the
think proper incidentally Among these "lnci-
dental" expenses Is what is known AZ . tea room;
U
ments furnished 10 them at their meetings. and ms
they choose TO order. This Is never returned or
charged under the head OF tea room supper, dinner
or board blll but IL covered up under the head OF
postage stamps or other '1ncldentalu expenses.
low much OF the 100000 goes In this way II H. OF
course. impossible for us TO know. If the Common
Council OF the city OF New York should set abr at
providing for their daily board out Of % public
treasury there would be universal howY OF Indig-
nation; but because such gross abuse IL perpe-
trated In the sacred name Of education, and from
the sacred funds raised Tor educational purposes All
attempts at inquiry attacks upon the proprety OF
such expenditures are considered an unhoy effort
20 break down the common school system.
The next prominent ITEM y procuring sites for
buildings the sum OF S4500 extended by the same
clique and under the operation OF the same In
nucnces by which the expenses OF the Clerks ONCE
are made 10 reach 800 for salaries aud $50 for
Incidental expenses. IL Is TO be remarked IN regard
TO tins charge for incidental expenses that II Ia as
much for such purposes az all the other city depart
menls receive, including the Finance Department,
the street Department the Croton Aqueduct Depart.
mont, the Law Department and the Clerk OF the
Common Council.
Another item Ia for incidental expenses OF ward
schools, x2l50O0 about $4,000 for each ward TO be
expended under the same direction. Incidental
expenses IL the substitutlye term for the contingen
ces Of the city departments, and, treating this
branch OF the subject Incidentally must say that
the waste fund under the direction OF the managers
of the Board OF Education Is n very handsome sum,
and II IN not remarkable thai those who have man
aged IL, coming from the humbest positions without
means are now men OF wealth and properly In
nuence.
Now, then, let us look at the branch OF supplies
The supplies are Included In the first statement
made OF expenses. allowing $4,000 900 for necessary
purposes. II is not well known. but ouQni 10 be,
that most OF the supplies OF books for the Board OF
Education are furnished. under any contract
arrangement between the publishers and the school
0nlcers, out ~ middle man named BurntOn
who does not publish but furnished them on his own
terms 70 the board NOW, would ask any citizen,