New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-15
TROUBLE OYER TEACHERS PAY.
MIR. COLER SAYS THAT THE BOARD OF ED.
UCATION HAS USED UP ITS APPRO-
PRIATION

Controller Coler threw some light yesterday upon
the trouble concerning teachers salaries which has
sprung up between his Department and the Board
Of Education. He first declared that he was not
assuming hostile attitude toward the Board hut
was simply protecting himself from financial loss.
81 cannot" he said. pay out money to the Board
that has not been appropriated without becoming
personally responsible. The Board has simply over
drawn its account and l not disposed to be-
come personally responsible for It..
Then Mr. Coler went on 10 say that 'if the Board
Of Education had complied with the law 1t would
not be In financial straits to-day. When the budget
was passed IT got plenty of money to comply
with the Ahearn law, which fixed the smallest
sums TO be paid 10 public school teachers me
Board appropriated enough money TO permit the
school authorities to comply with this law But
they right ahead and raised the salaries gem
erally-ofce salaries clerks. and the teachers not
comprised under the Ahearn law. They have spent
some 100000 in this way-in raising the salaries
of old teachers. Mr.. Maxwell raised the salaries
of every one connected with his office, and this
was the general rule throughout the Department.
But now the time comes when they are obliged
10 raise the salaries stipulated in the Ahearn law.
and finding that they haven't the money to do 1t.
they raise a great cry about the hostility OF the
administration to the schools They had this
money at the time the Ahearn law was passed,
only they have used 1t for other purposes. II me
Board cares reduce these salaries back to their
former status we are perfectly Wiling 10 comprO,
mise the matter on that basis. Inc money cOuIu
he paid from the bonds which can be issued under
the terms of the Ahearn law. The regular appro-
prlation however is exhausted; the budget is
closed and no more money can be forthcoming
from that source. The Ahearn bonds can be issued
at any time however. But the Board must stipu-
late upon which account-its Appropriation or It's
bonds-it is drawing. Up TO the present time II
has not done this
Superintendent Maxwell said yesterday that the
difficulty was likely TO be settled at an early date
but did not intimate just how
Charles f. Robertson. president OF the Brooklyn
School Board said yesterday
Mr. Coler says that the School Board has been
spending or attempting TO spend more than the
liberal allowance made by the Board Of Estimate.
and has been caught and trapped at the game
This does not affect Brooklyn, however It may APP
ply the other boroughs. The question simply
Ieverts to the disposition Of the 100000 which the
Board Of Estimate appropriated for the equaliza-
ton and increases OF salaries Of all teachers in
Brooklyn this year. We made a schedule which
divided that among the teachers on q basis
that was accepted by every concerned as fair
and just Many lawyers tell ne II is legal.
We have not spent one dollar here than
was absolutely legal IS shown by the fact that
now paying our teachers on the basis Of the
old schedule pending the decision the courts on
the point at issue. We will soon know Just how
much money we will have for 1900. and our sched-
ule VIII be adjusted 10 II at once beginning with
January and will leave no loophole open for n re-
newal OF the troubles