The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-09
COLER HAS a sCBOOL BILL WOW.
The Comptroller suggests n Way to Solve
the Teachers' salary Puzzle.


Although the examination OF the books and
accounts Of the Board Of Education which the
Comptroller and tho Commissioners Of Ac-
counts began on Friday Is not nearly com.
pleted, Comptroller Coler announced ~yester-
day that the Investigation had already shown n
way to end the salary muddle In the boroughs
OF Queens and Richmond. whore tho
teachers have now been without pay for
nearly FIVE months. II has been alleged
that the trouble was due to the
School Boards exceeding their appro-
priations and the Board Of Estimate
therefore refused to make up the deficit exist
ing at the end Of the year. Ever since this refusal
the problem as to how the teachers should get
their pay has remained unsolyed. Last week
two bills we're introduced at Albany authorize
Ing the Board OF Estimate to issue revenue
bonds to pay the teachers In the two borouRhs.
The Com ptrolier now has a substitute measure
which, he says. will settle the whole question
without the issuance OF any bonds. He ex-
plains his plan in the following statement is-
sued yesterday concerning tho examination
now In progress:
The investigation OF the accounts OF the
Board Of Education has progressed far enough
10 disclose the fact that the total amount mp
prOprldteu 10 cns bOpuTtDeut vi EuuSdtiou VI
the Board Of Estimate and Apportlonment in
1se9 was sufficient TO pay every known claim.
both for salaries and supplies; insulting the
salaries OF those teachers in the boroughs OF
i Hsn Without ut' pay The difficulty has been:
hoy e s6,,,s that ,b Sndef boa III p Gi Estimate S,
and Appor,ionment has not had the
power TO ~transior surpluses In the appropria-
tons In the Department OF Education 70 other
accounts in which Deficiencies exist; ms is
regard TO which the Board OF Estimate and
Apportion ment is deprived OF this power. Even
n such n power OF transfer existed, however, II
would be practically useless 80 long as me
scheme OF apportionment provided BY section
1W85 OF the charter. remained the law Iorit
would be necessary. Ia order to place $4o,oOo
at the disposition Of the School Board OF the
borough Of Richmond &c 70 ,h MAKE s,o q 11ans'e sn no
of 81. 25O.00O, the balance OF which, would ne
payable principally To- the boronghs OF Manhat-
tan and Brooklyn. which would not requireit;
Everybody now seems to agree that TINS oo-
noxlous provision In the charter. should be i'm
mediately repealed. and II. In addition to THIS
repeal, the Board OF Lstimate be granted the
same power OF transfer az exists IN the case OF
would be solved. / intend TO present these
facts TO the Legislature and will endeavor 70
have a hill PASSED at once which Will accom-
pllsh these results
Ter had q long talk with President Burks ofthe
Richmond school Board and President Kobert-
son OF the Brooklyn Board, Both favored me
Couptroller's plan, The latter SAID: Tue
legislation for a reorganization OF the school
system. II simply has to do with the present
salary muddle in Queens and kichmonn' l
have every reason 90 believe tnst ~ W.. be
ers will receive every. cent the city owes them
inside OF q fortnight"