New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-06
LITTLE REPLIES TO CoLER
DECLARES THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCA-
TION HAS BEEN UNJUSTLY
ATTACKED

-,so,, TstfIe president of the Board Of Educa-
-so- yesterday sent Mayor Van Wyck long
1sttsr endesvorizg to show that Controller Coler
raj rnisrepressnted and unjustly condemned the
BOARD az Education in applying FOR the aid OF the
Commissioners OF Accounts in the preparation OF
ne December payroIls for teachers salaries Much
~ TIE recent history OF the salary trouble is re-
hesr=el IN Mr.. LittIe's letter, which goes 10
declare that The Board Of Education has asked fer
sr5 received s5s.ee8 less than II might have de-
-,.rded and required under the recent decision OF
,ne Court that the Controller has not alleged in
scc-1racies IN the payrolis while demanding that
each teachers account should show the amounts 10
s,s taken from the general fund and from the sum
-zssed by revenue bonds and that II the Controller
hsd exscted such requirement in May the cal
citations might have been made from month 10
month
The letter speaks Of the magnitude OF the work
now required II Strengthening the accounts and
declares that the Board OF Education has neither
me force Of accountants the money hire
accountants 10 do the work. A 10 the contract
FOR scissors. about which the Controller com
NAMED M Little says II was made by the Board
OF Education % 1925. and does affect the pres
ent Beard
Henry r N. Cook. auditor Of the Board OF Edu-
cation yesterday issued long statement. express
.ux regret that he had been criticised by the Con-
1roIler Mr.. Cook declared that he knew the law
vel enough not ID question the power OF the Con-
troIler 70 prescribe the form OF keeping and render
ing accounts in The city department. Mr.. Cook de-
clared that he had not tried 70 force his OWE
methods Upon the Finance Department. The teach
ers payroIs. he said not prepared in his office
They are sent 10 him from the borough boards 70
be audited Mr.. Cook declared that with his small
force II would take long time to anayze the
ra--oIIs since June. but the work could be done In
his Office II the Controller insisted
Controller Celer went 10 Boston yesterday, hav-
ing accepted a. invitation 10 speak before the
Massachusetts Reform Club. Many books Of the
Board OF Education sent TO his office yester-
6sv snd were transferred 10 the Office Of the Com
-utsssoners Of Accounts, where the new payrolls
sor teachers salaries for December viii be pre-
pa-ed John Hertle, OF the Commissioners
~ Accounts said yesterday that the entire force
q accountants his disposal would be kept al
work on the books until the accounts OF all the
teachers had been made Up. Il is expected that
tire work viii take two or three weeks
state Senator McCarren's proposed bill 10 abolish
the Central School Board and leave to each Dor
oueh Board the management Of its own educational
system. viii NEE with no opposition from Borough
superintendent Jasper. Of Manhattan, who SAID
yesterday:
The Central Board has accomplished nothing for
me system and II is difficult 10 how il ever
can accomplish anything / am strongly N "a .a.oE
Of . return the old conditions under certain re-
strictions. I believe that each borough shoqio
have its own School Board, absolutely responsible
for the educational affairs OF Us oSL9IS' -
believe there should be one salary seheogle 1oI ne
should be identical in al sectors OF 1he cI5 ~
that local borough supernendenls snou5o 10
a the city's educational system may be a good
idea but the unifying force has not yet been found
and I do not believe that II can be FOUND IN the
existing scheme Of a Central Board
The boiler in the Board Of Education Building
gave out on Thursday night, and only small force
Of the employees were working yesterday some
wsg suggested that the boiler had recognized mat
-he Board is IN hot water enough, and that II was
: good tine 70 take holiday. The borough super
.ntendeurs bought q gas radiator, but despite its
efforts rhe building was cold to work in.