New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-09
BROOKLYN TEACHERS LOSE
CORPORATION COUNSEL SENDS TWO
DECISIONS ADVERSE TO THEM TO
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The teachers OF Brooklyn received a blow yester-
day when Corporation Counsel Whalen sent two
decisions TO the Board OF Education in Manhattan
relative to the tangle in the Brooklyn teachers
salaries and the requirements OF the Ahearn law
In regard to the Ahearn law the Board OF Educa-
ton sent letter to Mr.. Whalen some time ago
asking for his immediate consideration of the
Ahearn law saying that there were five thousand
teachers waiting for their salaries. Mr. Whaen
replied:
In my opinion the School Board had no I light
mentioned beyond the minimum requirements. I'M
less they had sufficient appropriation so 10 DC.
the mandao Hereas @s oceasoned the
preparation is insufficient revenue bonds may De
up the dehciency in the appropriation i Is to be
presumed that the estimate did not call ior any any
OF the persons mentioned and the Legislature, hav-
ing decided to increase the salaries OF large num-
contained in the estimate authorized the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment to direct the issue OF
meet the deficiency which would be occasioned by
reason OF this Increase Of the salaries
BY this letter Mr.. Whalen practically says that
the increase in salaries cannot be paid unless there
is sufficient amount OF money on hand or that
revenue bonds have been issued to make up the
deficiency.
The other communication relative TO the
tange IN the salary schedule In Brooklyn Boroueh'
Mr.. Whalen's communication Is long GOVERNS
with a resume Of the situation in Brooklyn Inc
matter is gone into from every side and the rights
and wrongs freely discussed. suddenly d
bombshel is thrown into the hopes OF the teachers
by the following paragraph: The Brooklyn SAL
airy schedules Of July 1885, are Illegal and the
September payrols based thereon cannot ne
audited whole properly.
MUST DO HIS DUTY.
Mr.. whaen continues by saying that he is aware
ers but that his duty must be done, and therefore
the salaries cannot be paid. He blames the BROOK
lyn School Board for taking the matter INTO It's
own hands without consulting the Board OF super
intendents the merits OF the teachers ana a'So
seeing that the money was provided for ne iu'
Their attacks the so-called Law Committees OF
the various boards and says that they 40 , doas
work improperly Mr. Whayn adds tha po ne oV 'n
tentionally overlooked any act OF the Ahearh law
and then .nfers that they did not KnoW sS Would
be necessary. which would be more thah n'''"o''
The two communications. as well as comm NUM-
cation from State Superintendent OF Schoois ohln-
nE we're n Bem as af the Brooklyn members Of
Board were absent the Brookiyn b1a't Nh ma hor
ough The Board went into executive session IN
order TO try TO decide on the merits OF various
makes of thy 80 decon G
The Board then adjourned
THE BROOKLYN BOARD RENAMED.
Henry W. Maxwell yesterday afternoon told his
colleagues in the Brooklyn School Board that the
Board was an educational myth" The dictionary
saws that myth is "al imaginary or fictitious per-
SON object or event" Mr.. Maxwell was pretty near
right no doubt, for the Board used up an nour OF
so In debating Corporation Counsel Whalens re-
port on the Brooklyn salary schedules and nnaiiy
sent II TO the Committee Law. regarded by
many as the most competent committee on mytnoi-
ogv in the whole Board. Mr.. Maxwell was IN
decidedly entertaining mood yesterday MI Young
OF Flatbush. introduced resolution providing teie-
phones for all schools with more than SIX rooms
II objec; on the ground that there Is no money
available for the purpose" said Mr.. Maxwell and
on the further ground that by 1901 the earliest GATE
when money will be available. Marconts wireless
teegraphy will be in use in the BROOKLYN schools'
and Brother Young talk from Flatoush 10 the
Eastern District without takins the trouble 10
ring UP the hello girl
Mr.. Young was SO utterly convinced by this that
he withdrew his amendment
Mr. Maxweps nickname for. the Brooklyn School
Board was provoked by the suggestion that the
BROOKLYN Board might force the payment OF the
proposed increase in teachers salaries ~,
Maxwell I'VE cannot bring an action In court as
a board or defend one II brought against us We
cant make any amicape arrangement with the
CORPORATION Counsel because We have no legal
status We are nothing but an educational myth
1 Horace E Dresser said that he had reason 70 be;
eve that the opponents OF the BrooKIyh sc"y Ss
Brooklyn system and substituting the Manhattan
idea as embodied the views OF Professor
Nicholas Murray Butler and others. This was 10
be done by having entire new educational CHAP
fer passe.. at Albany. He moved the appointment
OF a special committee OF five on legislation, ana
the motion was carried.
Nessrs Blandy Griffin and McNamee were ap-
pointed a special committee the expenditure
Of 81 900 for free school libraries OF this $1,000
will be spent for travelling libraries, which Will be
used by all the schools
Messrs Hunt. Harrigan Thompson Dresser.
Grieve Somers and Powell were appointed Com
rnittee on Free Lectures in the schools.