New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-15
SCHOOL BOARD is VEXED.
COMMISSIONERS ANSWER MR.. GOLFERS
CRITICISMS OF THEIR BOOKKEEPING.
MR.. LITTLE REELECTED PRESIDENT AND
w J. ELLIS CHOSEN SECRETARY
FIRST MEETING IN THE
NEW HALL.

FIRST MEETING IN THE
NEW HALL
The first meeting of the School Board for the
Boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx for the
year. and the initial meeting in the new hall Of
the Board of Education Park-ave. and Fifty
ninth-st. was held yesterday afternoon.
President J. j. Little read a newspaper article
under the date of February ii in which the
Commissioner of Accounts criticises severely the
methods of bookkeeping prevailing at present in
the Board Of Education. alleging that there is
jugglery in the matter of payment Of teachers
salaries Of such character to make payments
rather matter of caprice than of any uniform
rule" and giving in detail the cases of several
teachers examples He also read a letter
from Controller Golfer requesting the Borough
Board TO make suggestions looking toward the
betterment of this existing condition of affairs.
The cause of the fluctuations. President Little
explained was account of an additional
amount of $50 paid to teachers of female classes
when they taught boys: also because of promo
lions and for long terms Of service as teachers.
He continued:
od 5he eaTs o. he e, assistant PrinT,pal OF Public
ceived $500 the April payrolls and was paid
boys class; her salary therefore $3.50 in April
:s wei as IN May When the May Il schedule went
$3.50. and she was paid at that rate from June
raised by the Controller as to the right of the
Bosrd 10 eNpend any part OF its surplus IN paying
Of the Ahearn bill, and by agreement with the
Sotob ee Seacne was ptId on account curing
that she had received in May, 500 a year After
70 make the schedules of May Il the teacher was
Sember on an arrearage payron' In the mean time
this Board decided that first assistants should be
recognized such and paid accordingly, and
she was an assistant principal she was, placed on
eording TO the schedule, with arrears due her at
that rate from June l The other cases are similar.
distorted and are misrepresentation
Commissioner Davis said he was opposed to
the Board taking notice of newspaper articles
answering them. When the statements
made are known to be untrue" said Mr. Davis
1T is not dignfed to give them any notice
whatever. The report of the Commissioner of
Accounts has not been read TO the Board, only
this article"
Commissioner OBrien said:
have not the slightest idea of allowing the Con-
troller Commissioner of Accounts any other
city official to unjusty eTiticise this Board to
few months ago the Controller asked the teach
ers give up four months salary just the time
when they needed it. and after this Board
refused TO sanction any such proceeding he now
derstand to place the Borough Board in bad light
before the public He then asked TO make up the
allow ourselves to be caught in that trap. Then
he and the assistance of the City
Superintendent and his entire clerical force
the leaves of the account books and dis
the work in a few days which this Board, with
its twelve men. could not do in many weeks.
and to every member Of this Board to refute
statements If they untrue
The report of the Commissioner of Accounts
was referred TO a joint committee composed OF
the Teachers and Finance committees.
This being the first meeting of the Board in
+bo of nd va ALL
reorganized and President Little unanimously
chosen president for the ensuing year. Presi-
dent Little expressed his Acknowledgements for
the honor bestowed upon him. and said he would
endeavor in the future, as he had in the past,
TO lend his efforts toward the successful admin
istraton Of the schools of the city.
The following nine of the delegates to the
Central Board then reelected: Richard
II. Adams, Vernon NJ. Davis, Edward F. Farrell
Joseph j. Kittel. Thadeus Moriarty. Miles NJ.
o'Bren. Waldo H Richardson Morris E. Sterne,
George NJ Van Hoesen and the president,
oficio The only member of the Board of Dele
gates who failed of reelection was George Liv-
ingst0n r,,,,. -.,,,o,., - - saora
tary of the Board by MI Van Hoesen. Commits
sioner Lee nominated Thomas =. Busby, the
acting incumbent who has been filling the po
sition for the last seven months. Mr.. Ellis was
elected the first ballot for one year, at a sal
airy OF 1900.
The baIloting for the tenth delegate to the
Central Board then resumed, and on the
tenth ballot Commissioner Abraham Stern was
declared elected, winning over his opponent,
John b. Harrison, by five votes.
n Acting Secretary Bussey was unanimously
VI voted a two months vacation with pay, in con-
sideration of his labors during the last six
months.
Commissioner Livingston moved that the
Board oppose the bill introduced by Senator Ford
10 place on the retired list twenty-four teachers
who have already resigned. The motion was
carried
The hour Of meeting changed to s o'clock
VI the evening to take effect at the next meet
ing
Superintendent Jasper and two associate
perintendents were elected delegates to the Ma
torai Educational Association. which meets in
Chicago February % and 2S and March l.
Eifty-eght teachers were appointed by the
Borough Superintendent and their appointments
confirmed by the Borough Beard.
IN INNOCENT CONVICT P4RDONED