The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-25

lions made by the Finance Commission
ers. The Directors on the whole ac-
knowledge that the Finance Commis-
sioners were quite liberal with then, but
still they claim that they are in some
what OF predicament Last year the
Board OF Education was allowed S2G2, :
7.16 for teachers salaries and fuel.
This year they asked for s323, ,OoO or $50
$4,000, or Si0.632 81 more than they re-
ceived last year
Why cid you ask for 10000 more this
year than lasii" asked Director Kelly.
Well, in the first place we will have to
open the two new schools. No. % on Paw
onia avenue and No, "a on Virginia ave
nue.. We employ about twenty teachers
in each OF our schools, so they will re-
quire forty teachers. l understsnd, how
ever, that the teachers in Annex No. Q
and Annex. No, IS are to be transferred
to the new schools. We have ten teachers
In the annexes, so we will be compelled
to engage thirty new teachers."
How much does 1t cost to run a school
one monthT l continued.
As near as | can figure 1t. it is about
q, 500 month" was the reply.
What do you intend doing IL your ap-
preparation is not increasedf'' / asked.
There are but two things for us to do:
first, 10 keep the schools closed; or open
them, fill them full OF children and COM
pei the Finance Commissioners to make
provision for the payment Of the teach
ers, and as long as am in that Board not
one of our public schools shall be shut
down for want Of an appropriation.
Our schools are run on a cheap scale
now. Our lowest grade teachers receive
only $50 month, and it is a shame and
disgrace that we should ask girls to work
for any such sum as that after spending
the best years of their lives In fitting
themselves to hold such positions Of
trust"
THE higher grade teachers are paid
quite literally, are they not?'
Eyes; aud am In favor of not paying
them any more until we Increase the pay
OF the teachers in the lower grades. They
do more work, and harder work, than
the high grade teachers and should be
paid accordingly
DIRECTOR MULDooN's VIEWS.
Director Mnldoon looks at the situa tion
in different light He acknowledges
that the salary appropriation Is lower
than IL should be, but states that the
teachers for the annexes Will be put in
the new schools. The annexes which are
in very bad condition will he closed.
Director Muldoon is of the opinion that
the $4,000 increase in appropriation over
last year will be used in paying
increases In salaries which must be made
this year. He states that the Board has
been literally dealt with and will do the
best 1t can with the salary appropriation.
Both Directors, however. are in a guam
dary as TO what TO do with the IS, 600
given them for gas, heating, ventilating
and repairs to the schools.
"That sum Is not one quarter enough, y
said Director Kelly. ''At least $50, OO6
could be spent In repairing our schools
before it would show itself. We haven't
dollar now in our appropriation to
maze any repairs, and some of the schools
are ertainly in deplorable condition.
The schools in some cases will either
nave to be closed or repaired. We may
be able to get some one TO make the
necessary repairs and wait for his money,
and, as far as / can see, that is our only
salvation.
1.-THE fence and closets of School No. 1
must be repaired before the school can be
opened. The Street and Water Commits
missioners will not help us, as they were
given no money for this purpose, and
High School and Schools Nos. 2 and s
especially will have to be repaired"
The directors are hopeful that the FL
nance Commissioners will make an extr a
appropriation and free them from their
present predicament.
THE STREET AND WATER BOARD.
next interviewed Commissioner Mad
den, of the Street and Water Board, as to
what the Board would do on account of
the Finance ommissioners failing to
appropriate the $4,000 asked for the
maintenance of the Engineering Bureau.
One thousand dollars was appropriated
last year for this purpose, and This year
$4,000 was asked for and not cent ap-
propriated.
''fo what use was the $19, 900 to be putY'
asked
"Well, as far as / can learn. Commits
or Cook of the Committee on Engineering
and Survey wanted to purchase new ma
cl1QarV ~ WAS the FaOlV
what Kind of machinery and tools are
required which would cost Sl9,000" l con-
tinded.
81 cannot answer that question; but
there are a mum ber of things necessary to
the proper running Of that department. :"
us not the Engineering Bureau self
sustainingY' ! asked.
81 think it is, and in my opinion the
money collected from improvements
should run the Bureau and allow the pur-
chase of everything required. l would
rather have Commissioner Cook explain
why that $1,000 was asked for, as am a
new member and know but little of the
necessities of any of the departments"
OH FOR sALARIEsl
Commissioner Dugan explained that
the $19. 600 was needed for the salaries of
the Chief Engineer, his assistant and the
surveyors. The salaries of the officials
In this department amount to S14 100.
''If that money WAS required for sal
aries, what do you intend doing, and how
can you pay those menW | asked.
"Ohl the bureau is self sustaining, and
we may be able to pay them with the
money we collect from Improvements"
''Was any of the money to be used for
new Instruments" quried.
Not that am aware Of think they
are well fxed with everything they need.
If the bureau is not self sustaining this
year We will make requisition upon tn
Finance Board and get 500. 600, which tn @
charter Of 1871 gives u.s."
SOME MINOR KICKS.
In regard to public baths, for which an
Dugan stated that the idea would have to
having tine S., 500 appropriated for the
Parks set aside for the reconstruction of
m uch disappointed over the failure of
ate money for public bath. He thought
it was an oversight and intends agitating
the question so as to keep Super
intendent Smith from arresting every
boy who takes a plunge for his
health. In relation to the fall
ure of the Finance Commissioners
to appropriate money for repairs to pub
lie schools, Commissioner Dugan stated
that the Street and Water Commissioners
would not attempt to make any repairs
unless the money was forthcoming. lt
was the intention Of the Commissioners
not to interest themselves in repairs to
schools.
fSo,,, n.-.. k,~ A.