New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-05
CONTROL or SCHOOL FUNDS.
TIE ruI IN RELATION TO TIE BOARD or EDUcA-
TIoN's ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES.

TIE BILL IN RELATION TO TIE BOARD on EpUCA-
TIoN's ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES.
The Assembly OF this State il now consider
ing an important cducaJ Ona bill winch mas aie"i1
been briefly spoken Of ia THE TRIBUNE II gives 10 inc
Board ~ Education complete control Of It's moneys u
gentleman occupying high position In the department
OF education in this city expresses the following Vio"s
concerning 10:
This measure IL no experiment II amounts simply TO
legislative declaration that the statutes unoer which the
oubc school system Of the city provided for ana
conducted from 1851 10 1870 are st IN force. Inc
charter passed IN 1870 created Department OF Pubho
Instruction. and provided for commission OF Twelve
members by tins legislation there was "A complete
merging o. tho educational interests with the general
ndmu.tratlon Of the City Government When the char
ter Of 1873 was passed which repealed the act which
mudc the Board of Education a department, II
was considered by those best informed that no
legislation was needed to provide for raising
school moneys, aud that tho former legislation
was revived. BY supplemental net passed the same
year, upon request Of persons unadyi'edy alarmed
was provided that to the mode Of fixing estimates
for school expenditure, the system common to depart
mcnts OF the City Government should apply 10 school
moneys This supplemental legislation has placed the
board during the four years since the act took effect ~
IN abnormal position. The provision that the Board OF
Estimate should determine the amount of moneys TO
be raised by taxation too plain 10 admit OF contro
yersy ana such has been the practice; but ~
20 every other point. involving tho relations
" the board 10 the city litigation has been had, and The
courts have uniformly decided that the Board Of Eiuca
lion was not department OF ne CITY Government Not
withdrawing this, the law that provides That money
once put "a the fruits Of taxation, in that imaginary
pace Of deposit the "cy treasury" has been construed
by tho courts include the funds ai5ed for the expend
lures Of the Board Of Education, whether they nre the
product ~ State and received the certificate
90 no tot derived
taxation and received from the Tax Collector COHse
quutly tho payments of a. board are made through the
Probably there worse jLmb"d legal provisions clfc
where than This exhibit shows, hut 10 would he hard TO
aud them. Probably, also The neonyenitnces OF con.
fused and iog II legislation would have been allowed
To continue had not b. for the action Of the Board ~
rSrudiiurs "a ST., ~ exercising ls unlimited right
10 fix the absolute amount ana making reductions with
out investigation or knowledge 70 provide for wicl the
Board OF Education ha- delayed many plans for building.
alteration aud rrp4ilt nd has Hlhrcrd s large corps
sa'aiic5 Of 3ia per cont Thi7 action, whether rX
pcd!cnt or not, has called attention To the con
,., n'',r Ti' ,it inc climates for school rtpcnJ
ture shall bs submitted Board of Estimate by the
Board uf Educ and that the amount uNrd Nv Tie
FORMER hoard 5.a he final except when overrued 10y a
ak ~ycnth- vote the Board OF Edugiou that Is, ~
members ont OF II must adhere 10 the original esuac
or tnc revision Of the Board Of Esnato su stand. Ia
regard 10 the mode Of disbursement 10 provides mat the
money! -lnll Ice deposited by the nmbcrain IN such
banks or trust companies the Mayor and Controller
snail dislguatc aud b" drawn out on the drafts OF the
President Clerk. and Finance Committee Of the board.
Vuls .rhruc IA n substance The one under which for
more f1u 80 years educational affairs I'm this city have
b,, conducted. n is lcvcd TINT there are Objoc
tons 10 il which would prevent its approval by HE ypi
cal aNpHycr II u h admitted that the Board OF hppor-
tiouent viii DO always and absolutely right M ils re-
ductinus upOu estimates itS action mas II
nance. out Of u to prevail. The board
ITSELF direct representation OF the t1xpaying interest
~ Is composed Of II members serving legislative
body ana without pay. IL rcprantS. at present con
stIintcd over 1000 900 ~ ind dua and corporate
cIpta u has voice Whatever In the appointing Of
tine great OF lt, employ whusc compensation
II "a far removed AK possible from Opput-
tuuira FOR corrupt, needless and cXtravagant action
ON tho other hand. II IL asked what objections can bc
made present state n the law No political body
outside those charged with the special duty of super
vision school funds ought 90 have the absolute veto
~ Xrr respecting their amOuut. What political
ligous complia tons arise no can orcsr@ but
Is thought sufficient To SLATE the point without arguing
IT, 10 -tv that friend Of the schools should
rest satisfied until II ia made impossible by law for four
elected uVOn such issue to close the doors of any
school ia the city.