The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-10
QUEENS TEACHERS MAY SUE
THEY MEET AVID APPOINT a sALhRY-
COLLECTING COMMITTEE.

Comptroller CoIer Says Their Troubles Are
Duo to the Negligence OF tho Borough
School Board and That III He 10 Com
suited He Can Probably Help Them.
The unpaid school teachers OF the borough
OF Queens gathered more than seven hundred
strong at a meeting OF their association In 1t.
Marys Lyceum. Long Island City. yesterday.
DR.. Peter T. Demarcst principal OF the Long
Island City High School and President OF the
Teachers Association. presided. resolution
directing the Chairman to appoint a commit
tee for the purpose Of engaging counsel to sue
the city for the teachers salaries was presented.
1t was suggested that individual suits should
be brought This brought DEPUTY Auditor
Francis r. Clair Of tho borough to his feet.
For many years Mr.. Clair was School Commits
sioner OF the Second district OF Queens county.
He was ono OF the founders OF the Teachers
Assoc atlon.
When DR.. Demarest recognized Mr.. Clair he
referred to him "a q representative OF the
Comptroller's offlce. Mr.. Clair said he was not
there as o representative OF the Comptrollers
ONCE but simply as q member OF the assocla-
ton with the welfare OF both the teachers and
the taxpayers at heart He protested against
the Teachers Association advising the bring
ing OF individual suits. for It would entail costs
OF at least SIS so on the city for each suit.
~
522 90 He wanted a test case made and i'm
plored the association to act honestly" In the
matter.
This appeal TO act honestly" stirred Ut every
one present. DR. Dematest said that Mr. Clair
was not willing that the tax-psyers should be
burdened with the costs OF lawsuits. but there
was no other way 10 obtain the money than by
legal proceedings. There was enough money
to pay everything else. but none for the teach
ers. III the city wants to stop the costs let II
pay the BILL" exclaimed Dr. Demarest. and the
teachers stood up in their enthusiasm to APP
paud him.
Mr.. Clair again protested against the bring
Ing Of individual suits. He said the teachers
were receiving circulars from law irm ask
ing them to sign blanks enclosed empowering
the firm mentioned to represent them In an
action against the city to collect their salaries
He urged the teachers hot TO sign any such
agreement
DR.. Demarest said this was the first he had
| heard Of such circular. Any teacher In the
gathering who had received one was asked to
make It known. but none responded. Mr.
Clair then asserted that more than dozen
| teachers present had informed him that they
hal received the circular described.
The association finally voted to appoint a
committee OF Ave to employ counsel 70 sue
district k;iorney.clsct Msrrili Is an expert
| in educational matters In the borough Of
Queens. He served as School Com I'm slonpr In
| tn" Third district OF Old Queens county and re-
| modelled tho countys educational system.
/ Yesterday he announced that he proposed
| bringing the borough School Board to account
cause Of the delay IN the completion OF several
new schoolhouses and n $50 by the teache ~ are
! not paid Mayor Van WICK. who charged the
| board with being criminally responsible, may
| have an opportunity to tell the next Grand
| Jury In what this criminality consists
| Comptroller Coler has placed the entire
| blame for the present salary mudde in the
| mem hers Of the Queens Borough School Board.
| \ deeaaiIon OF Queens teachers called OH him
| at his Office Yesterday. II was composed o' a
! dozen women teachers. who explained 10 the
| Com ptroler the embarrassment to which they
| have been subjected by not receiving their
salaries. The Comptroller said;
| I'll he teachers are sure 10 get the minimum
salaries provided Ivy the Ahearn law Whether
| they will receive anything in excess OF this
| will be decided by the suit which Ia TO he
| heard hy Justice Garr-tsnn Monday morning
| The October payrolls have not reached my
| ONCE yet. This II due TO neglect In the Office
| OF the Queens borough boari. Although there
| Il deficit in the fund OF about 50 900 to pay
! the October salaries. | think IL some member
1.-THE Queen Borough board will come 10 my
| ONCE this difficulty can be adjusted 30 that thu
payrols can b" honorei as soon as they are re-
ceived from the cnntrnl hoard
| The reason money has ~ been provided to
| meet the Ahehrn salaries for the rest OF the
! year Is that tn. Queens hohrl did not ask for
! the Issuance Of enough bonds
| The Comptroller commented. with emphasis.
on the TACT that no member Of the Queens
| bonrd had called on him 10 straghten out tho