New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
LAWSUITS FOR TEACHERS.
MANY ACTIONS GROWING OUT OF THE
PAY MIDDLE.


There has been a great deal said and printed
sbout the Brooklyn school teachers salary mud
Ale hut II has been along the lines Of the de-
~o,onraents from time to time. There have been
s,,ros bv both sides and demands and ndg-
,o,ion meetings on the part OF the teachers.
D., through II all the teachers have been I'M
.hla 20 get their full salaries. according to the
.o,edule adopted by the Brooklyn School Board.
IA what they have obtained this year has been
cIv after considerable financial inconvenience.
MATTERS now. however, have reached a crisis.
Cutie are 10 be instituted this week which will
ssttle the whole matter and determine just what
GALAXY each teacher can expect to receive There
orc therefore in Brooklyn $500 teachers who
arc anxious to know in just what shape the
salary matter now stands and what they can
expect in the future In addition to the teach
,rs there are thousands Of their friends who
are deeply interested in this question.
In order 10 be able TO set forth clearly and
conciselv the present state of affairs. Tribune
r.porter called on the chairman Of the Law
Committee Of the Brooklyn School Board. who,
IN association with Edward NJ. Shepard, has
been retained by the Brooklyn school teachers
~ settle their salary claims by legal procedures.
The following facts were learned:
The Controller will not pay the teachers
cordins 70 the Harrigan salary schedule. adopt
Cd by the Brooklyn School Board July 5. 1899,
because Corporation Counsel Whalen has de-
clared # 10 be illegal Counsel will this week
amply to the courts for a peremptory writ of
rnandaraus 10 compel the auditor Of the Board
N Education 10 certify and approve the Har-
rigan schedule This mandamus If granted
and upheld by the courts will Of course prove
the contention Of the School Board that the
Harrigan schedule IS legal and that Corporation
Counsel Whalen was wrong in his decision. The
spnucation for the mandamus will probably be
made next Wednesday.
Another point that has been decided upon
practically is that the Brooklyn teachers will
no advised TO refuse TO receive the checks from
the city which will be offered them for their
October salary which is now due II It should
seem 10 counsel that in accepting partial pay
roent as was done for the September salaries
they would prejudice their right to the entire
salary claimed they will be advised to refuse
the checks entirely.
This advice. II decided on will be communi-
Gated 10 the teachers through the special law
committee Of the Teachers Association. consist
ing Of Edward P. Rowell, Claiming Stebbins'
James j. McCabe. Frank L. Greene and SIDNEY
Walmsey.
There is little doubt that the teachers will
y, they had decided TO refuse their September
pay under the compromise. and IT was with some
diflculty that they were persuaded TO accept
the checks and sign a receipt for a part pay
ment. This was only temporary and unsafe
makeshift. acceded to for the time only on &C
count OF the extreme financial needs Of the
teachers Counsel does not believe that II is
wise 10 do It again under the present conditions.
AID FROM TRUST COMPANIES
When asked what the teachers would do for
their October salaries which are badly needed
nv most Of them, the counsel said: There will
he no trouble about that: the teachers are
sidered 10 be the best Of risks. The teachers
upon giving their promissory notes receive
the full amount Of their salaries. and the inter-
est asked will be no higher than e per cent
year" The Flatbush and the Williamsburg
Trust companies are among those which have
already given this accommodation in some in
stances. and are willing. as are other similar
companies 10 advance the october salaries 10
~ DrceHnber / when the November salaries
are due. counsel hopes 10 have won his conteh-
ton in the courts 80 that the Controuer VIII pe
iged 10 pay the teachers acCOluIHs - '
4 brief mention Of the Ahearn bill and the
Harrigan schedule and their relations onefto
the other will make the whole mater cieai
The Ahearn law is Chapter Ala OF the Laws q!
1899 being an amendment 70 section 1'oo1 OI
the charter. 1t provides that no teacher III any
public school shall receive less thah SoVV yea
no teacher who has served ten years shaI re-
ceivo less than 5000 and no teacher VINO mas
served fifteen years shall receive Tess I tHai'
81 900 This law went into effect April 20 loo''
since that time no Brooklyn teacher mas re-
celyed the benefits Of the law. except such leacho
ers as were receiving less than Sco' anu MI MI
since then have received that amount, inc
trouble has been that clause OF the Din pr
,.ided that no teacher should receive the IN
crease until after the Borough Board OF super
intendents had issued certificate or ntness ana
RIGHTEOUSNESS after due Inspection anu "
VestigatOn. -, 49,
This work Of inspecting and investigating the
records Of thirty-tve hundred teachers IN bIook-
Ign took some time IL was cOilipie'eu tarbed
IN The Sentember payroll. But this payroll was
not made out on the basis Of the Harrlgan
schedule. Here was the rub ana 'he pay VII
was held up.
SCHOOL BOARDS INTENTION.
The Brooklyn School Board considers that the
Ahearn law is not Of itself salary scheouie'
but only the basis for one. So on July D. 1oo''
It passed the Harrigan schedule paseo on '"e
Ahea~r law hut in accordance with length or
service fitness and other Considerations s'au'"s
the yariors salaries UP from the minimum pro
vded for bv the Ahearn law. rms, OF course
gave a majority Of the teachers mort III, rLiaI ~
minimum and increased the payroH- Inc mar
rcan schedule took the place or the tetleHS 81
s-baJ,I ,.tfcb vvent into effect on June ~.
1895 and went out Of existence January 100 l. 800
From the latter date until April % lesS, whe ra
the Ahearn law went into erect saia a. s i.n
laid On the old basis OF the bod'u u
q the city Of Brooklyn. - ,.,. o,,ee
Now the teachers claim that the CITY 49, 49,
them the extra pay under the Ahearn iam addi-
april Is 1890 TO the present time anu ~ az e.
ton 10 that the further increase provlpeu ~ ~
by the Harrigan schedule for SepteInue,t, - o en
the first Of which month the scheduie was - 80
into effect .A. the
Corporation Counsel Whalen says ma ehaern
Farrigan schedule is illegal because the Schooi
law provides a schedule whch ene tor the
teachers contends that the Ahearn law tbs rs
no schedule. but only the basis for one a. he
Corporation Counsel further declares - -rouId
nnl.-- ri-rara