New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
TROUBLES OF RICHMOND SCHOOLS.
THREAT TO CLOSE THEM DOES NOT DIS
TURB THE CITY AUTHORITIES

THREAT To CLOSE THEM DOES NOT Dis
TURB THE CITY AUTHORITIES.
The threat Of the School Board Of the Borough
OF Richmond to close the public schools under
its control until the end Of the year on account
Of lack OF money TO pay the salaries of teachers
has not frightened the members Of the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment Mayor Van
Wyck would not talk the subject yesterday.
but officials close to him said that his letter
warning the school boards not to exceed their
appropriations and the action OF the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment in refusing TO
make further appropriations OF money expressed
the Mayors sentiments and he would not
cede from the position he had taken.
President Feitner Of the Tax Department said
THE School Boards have expended in ten
months the money allowed them by the Board
Of Estimate to run the schools for one year. The
law gives to the Board Of Estimate the right TO
Ak the expenditures of the Board Of Educa tion
along with the other departments. II also makes
II compulsory the heads of departments 70
keep within the appropriation under penalty
The Board Of Estimate therefore cannot be ex-
pected to put its hands into the pockets Of the
taxpayers further at the behest of the head Of
any department"
The shortage in Richmond Borough is due to
the action Of the Central Board OF Education
in apportioning the appropriation for each Dor
ough which took $50, 102 from the amount orig
inally allowed TO Richmond. In making up the
budget for 1900 Mayor Van Wyck said that
shortage would have TO be taken into account.
and Richmond would have 10 get back for 1900
the amount lost for 1899. This was done. but
nothing has been done for the current year,
with the result that there is no money left TO
pay the teachers. The case in Queens is dlHer-
ent. for while that borough had large amount
added to its original allotment It has expended
all. and is now without funds to pay Its teachers
for the remainder Of the year.
President Burke of the Richmond School
Board says that II the schools are closed the
State Superintendent of Education can step in
and open the schools. and the city VIII nave 10
been taken and should the members OF the
Richmond School Board resign in body an IN
teresting fight is looked for.
J. j. Little president Of the Board Of Educa-
ton, was quoted as follows yesterday:
The situation regarding teachers salaries is
peculiar one. and brought about by the passase :"
a statute during the fiscal year 30 laI a. an! -
outside of the question OF mandatory increases IN
der the Ahearn law. think they are at leaSt cen
its Of their appropria lions except as 70 me manu-.
tory provisions Of the Ahearn law. think tns
question is far different. as 1t depends laIgeiE,
not wholly. question or constructlotl anu
until within n very recent period | have had no
information that the Interpretation given TINS
statute by the Board Of Education and the boy
general Interpretation given II by me bogrT Oh
Estimate and Apportonment. The Board OF lou
cation not being affected by the Ahearn law there
is no question Of undue expenditures by tna'
BOARD The boroughs OF Manhattan and The
Bronx revised the salary schedule. keeping well
within the limits Of the appropriations mace 1, oy
ing that the Ahearn law provided It's own remedy
for the mandatory increases required