New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-18
TO SCHOOL HOUSES.
WHY THEY HAVE BEEN DELAYED.

CONFLICT BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE ON BUILD
INGs OF TIRE BOARD or FDucArIoN AND 1HE
WARD SCHOOL TRUsrEFs-ACuoN OF THE
BOARD DECLARED nLrGAL-TuE TRUSTEES
PRorEsrISG--TALKs WITH COMMISSIONERS AND
TRUSTEES.
The customary repairs upon the schooi
buildings Of this city, which are usually begun imme"
a,eiy after the close Spring and Summer tefn'
have not yet begun this and the delays caus
ing much comment. Proposals Tor the work. wnoh 9en
orally appear early In June, have just been adVerseu
and 1t Is thought taat the delay may proven
the completion OF important ana neeoe" "orA
upon many school buildings before the open
ing of the Fan term. According 10 seVera
members OF the Board OF Education and OF Tie
ward trustees whom TRIBUNE reporter called upon
recently the delay is due to the Board OF Edncanon
After protracted discussion of several months TINS
body acted finally July on resolution taxing 'ne
greater part OF the repairs out OF the power OF
the trustees placing IL in the hands OF the Building
Committee Of Board Tue trustees OF several wards
have formally protested against tbis action, CLAIMING
that IL is usurpaon Of their as set forth by
statute Some Of them state that they viii not sign
hills contracted by the Building Committee OF
The Board for this reason. and claim tDao
the Controller cannot lawfully pay the DIS so lncurrc"
unless signed by them II this should prove 10 Ut ne
ease serious complications likely TO arise Presiden'
Walker of the Board OF Education aud other 0onms-
soners that in their opinion the action oil the Board
IN deriving the of their power to make all re-
pairs is illegal.
The members OF the Committee BuidinGs-B. +.
Watson chairman, James Flyun, W. III. wickbam and
Isaac Bc-decare yer, that they do not regard 1t
necessary OF of the wards to sign the
bills which they incur long the Board cerihes TO
the correctness of their accounts. Now hat the matter
is settled as they claim. they intend TO take immaculate
stems to begin the repairs For this purpose SlloVoo
has been asked for by the committee, but s sta'ed
that the expenditure will be much Ices than TINS ior inc
that's lar an
Watson claims full legality for the decision OF the Board
aner the trustees have neglected ther
duty Others claim the right OF the Board 10 act as
II cd under statute which provides that tue trustees
have power under such general rules aud regulations
and subject such limitations as the Board OF Euuea-
lion may prescrDe TO conduct and manage said schools
TO furnish all ueedful supplies therefor ana to make all
peedfu repairs alterations and additions In ana 10 the
school premises etc
Ga the other hand r. G. Beardslee amomber of the
Board who been particularly active IN the matter
after careful search has found statute to be unre-
rosled which the Board of Education manual states
was repealed. This statute reads as follows:
An EXPENSES incurred for the support of common
schools in the respective wards shan he certified 10y the
trustees Of the common schools in such wards.
Stephen A. Walker president OF the Board OF Eauca-
tion, said:
:" Nv opjniop IA that the Board has right to make
n contract with mechanic IN regard 10 rephF1hs
school binding unless application originates with
vested with the trustees and NY argument Is that ac
cordine 10 The statute only when OF actual neg
leot or default is proved can tae Board take action
against them No default has been proved against them
in tie present iDsta and go We ave no right TO IN
terfere." ~
Cbarles crary one of the trustees of the Twelfth
Ward said: Orr Board omitted TO comply with the
new rule OF the Board Of Education to HE schedule OF
repairs We dd this because believe that we canno,
horizontally carry out wor under such rule There
ere certain applying TO our ward one being It's
large size, which do not apply TO other wards
"If the Binding Committee of the Board OF Education
nresent bills Tor You sign after it has made the re-
pairs will YOU refuse TO sign them y
we haven't yet decided this point Our Board
doesn't propose to be tacto for Lave the idea That
The Board of Education is acting in good fai'h but we
are acting so too of the opinion that the Board OF
ucatio not the power to take these repairs mto
somewhat The question of repairs belongs TO the trus
tees the law imposes the duty imPerayey upon mem
win the Controller audit the bills OF INC B3o, t
trustees OF " ards which the repairs wer' mad "
don't think he will l can't see now ne Is author
I'D to do without special decision oi tne courtS
We hold the school buildings IN trust ana are resp4ns
bic for the work done upon them II t5e mere Is any m
own responsibility; but nnGer the present , crcd'9 u
" H. Ely Of No IS Nassau.st, trustee of the lXtl
VII said {" The Board Of Education mas taken tie
power TO make repairs out OF The hands OF tue uU
when according TO- law the tr9se1S III mroSe ' =,
tbtm Hence the trustees arc going sign The bill
lar work done hy other persons Several Of the uuste
have sent word to tue Board that they dee ANYTHING
OF this kind uula wful The Board cannot get me repair
done according law without the signature Of me tIus,
tees Alrealythe work has been delayed. Inc Board
ecut blank schedules Tor US TO state on tIct
what repairs 10 be made for the year ana whht
may be wanted IL was lmpactcaOe Tor us 10 90 is;
70 We sent back wore aI we o h n0 so and we have
a.ked of the Board certain amounts OF money lot ms
work. But that which Is most needed they refused 10
allow us to do and appropriate for us Only sma SUN
for mart OF the work TO be done. This way OF doing
40 I'm
thing have them say that we don't know our
mike Tie repairs in word and don't intend to sign
tie bills for work which we know nothing about"
suppose from this dispute the schools are not re-
paired by SeptembeTp 80,
can't help hat inns. o5 IKE 70 sG bs Board of Esca
H. for by this action they are Try lug 70 sulp tne
OF the trustees il Is YerS interesting question: anu
Henry DAYTON OF No. 100 broadway, trustee OF the
Ninth Ward who is on the Building Committee OF
The Ward Boards THE action OF the trustees OF
Ward depends upon the action OF the BosG o. nv
law They schedule IN which tney PROPOSED 70
60 about half OF The repairs snGnn "a s9y c usns
There conflicts It Is only question %neep t inc
trustees not It has never been Questioned before
We take oath of oiliee to see 10 iese H. hcn
Has not this complication greatly delay ca the oe-
and VIVA, is TO he done before TINS time. Many OF
us are gong away now for the summer ana cannot
We should have had our mechanics at w9rh ny t.li
time aud now polling las been begun our ' met TO- D
spect IT, IL nothing done the Board must be he'd re-
sponsIbe The acton Of the Board is Simply an gno
mo 81 tho trustees regard tue statute allowing
Inc hoard 10 make limitations there Is dhercnce OF
Commissioner OF Education r. G. Beardsee, OF No
ZIG Broadway said: The amount TO be expend ttis
wear Tor repails during the sumner vacation is laiGey
jU excess other year except 1873 III Is
$4,000 Already the delay ia getting TO work upon
them is much more usual Trustees tell me thtt
IepaIrs are Included in theestmaes OF the Committee on
Eudngs which not called Tor and are unnecessary
Tie Board ignored the trustees, aud contend ina
tie statute absolutely vests In tile trustees The duty and
no % III
Az mat the Board Education has TO 90 III the matter
is 10 make general rules aud regulations as 10 no"