New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-23

Total. llO,OOO
II win be seenfthat the actual expenses required for
saares and for the support and supplies Of the schools
amount. the estimate prepared by the present
officers, to about 100000.
Now let us see it that the amount Of what would
seem be all that is necessary for the support Of the
schools increased 100000 this time when suf
ferng in every department Of taxable interests from the
burdens Of National State and City taxation. The first
Item that attracts attention is Salaries Of the Super
intendents, Clerk, &c, Of the Board Of Education,
t65 OOO any pretend that the expense Of clerk
and assistants perform the clerical duties OF that
position, need amount to any such sum as tisf TIE
Board meets twice month"; and the whole duties consist
IN paying salaries and Keeping record OF the proceed
The next item is Incidental Expenses Of the Board OF
Education, including shop account, 100000. What are
Incidental" expensesi II means expenditures for
which che items cannot be anticipated or Of which it is
agreeable to furnish statements IL means simply
general fund 20 be expended by the Clerk and Officers
dentay." Among these incidental" expenses is what
sknOwu tea room that Is 10 say the members have
supper, refreshments, furnished TO them at their
meetings, end they choose to order. THIS is never
returned, or charged, under the head OF tea room,
supper, dinner, or boArdbill but is covered up
under the head Of postage stamps or other Incidental
expenses How much Of the sixty thousand dollars goes
in this way it is OF course impossible for us to know II
the Common Council OF the City OF NewYOrk should set
about providing for their daily board out of the public
but because such gross abuse is perperated I'm the
sacred of Education and from the sacred funds
or attacks upon the prdprey Of such expenditures are
consider unhOy effort TO break down the Common
The next prominent item procuring sites erecting
buildings and furnishing and fitting up buildings, the
of $4,000 expended by the clique and under
the operation Of the same influences by which The expenses
Of the Clerks office are made to reach $4,000 for salaries
and $4,000 for Incidental expenses. II is 10 be remarked,
In regard to this charge for Incidental expenses that 1t Is
much for such purposes all the other city depart
ments receive. including the Finance Department the
street Department the CrOtOn Aqueduct Department,
The Law Department, and the Clerk Of the Common
Another item "a for Incidental Expenses OF Ward
Schools t1isOoo about slooo for each ward be ex
pended under the direction Incidental Expenses
Is the sabstutiye term Tor the Contingencies OF the City
cideniaIy must say that the waste fund under tho
direction OF the managers Of the Board Education
very handsome sum- and 10 j. not remarkable that those
who have managed it, coming from the humhlest posi-.
uC' without means, are now men Of wealth and prop
Now. then let Us look at the branch Of supplies The
supplies are Included IN the inst statement made Of
expenses allowing 100000 for necessary purposes II
mot well known. bnt ought be. that most Of the sup
Ss lot tne Board Of Education are furnished not under
any contract or arrangement between the publishers and
the school officers but by middle man named Burnton
terus to the Board Vow. would ak any citizen If he
~ ghsIged Win thc business Of conducting single
school and desired that no one should profit
tby tho trust which be had assumed whether
Nth would have bargain arrangement
books and supplies. for the benefit OF that agent or
whether he would contract directly with The publishers
them. The expenditures for books. maps, states, &C..
sMount to slS po por anlum, all nearly all through
hs same MI BnrutOn 1t may also he proper TO stale
hpaSSng that one Of the principal hooks used in the
chools Is book copyrighted by Of the Snreriueud
ehls ana OF course, embraced IN every order
Again, on the subject OF Pianos an important item
eee are not purchased Of Chickering Stenway man
usctnrers, who can afford 10 furnish them nf the best
SAuy ana at the lowest prices but they are procured
eYeT the agent Tor that purpose chooses win refer
sc 70 me lnnuonces which control hun in respect
ne aerage price paid for pianos is $780, and pa
,sa.iled about from school TO school, under pre-
SSuse OF repairing, 80 that when repaired
k'aso can pass muster, " Is not remarkable that
turns up IS entirely new. NOW Chickerlng
W, VII furnish all these pianos regular contract for
10 and Steinway for 1885. The item Of pianos au inn
ht one, because they furnished 70 all the schools
tSage IN every grainmarschOOl building Now, who
bAes the difference between the pfices actually re-
eu TOT these inferior pianos, and the fixed price paid
uen and why isit that ChlckeriDg a Co not per-
ed 70 furnish for s2 less plnuO that 10 worth 500
Olet Gan this question he asked without mourning the
'epohNbity OF attacking the Common School system4
I, regard 70 the item OF Furniture, II only n the
80 meeting OF the Board Of Education that committee
sblnvestlgaiiOn appointed 10 Inquire Into fraud
yea IN that department. 10 was found that the Su
hendent had invited proposals and received bids for
nufe for Ninth Ward school, when IL will be nine
ms before the school building viii be ready 20 receive
furniture and that officer Of the Board OF Rduca-
whose Office Ia I'm the Clerks Department, has pat
d m pretended patent, for an item OF furniture ncu
an, competition; indeed competition has been entirely
nlnated FROM this branch expenditure and but
bs now attempt TO engage In the business for the
gafa OF Education.
~ Dn al these matters OF mild fagrancy Tho tine
f CLERK seems 10 Do taken zap by these Jobs tnat
wa ia" Testimony ia regard 10 the celebrated $1,000