New-York tribune., 1900-03-28
TEACHERS HOOT AND HISS.
STRIKING SCENES AT THE MAYORS
HEARING on THE DAVIS
SCHOOL BILL.

Some two thousand school teachers invaded the
City Hall yesterday afternoon 70 attend the hear
ing on the Davis School bill. The bill, which is
compromise of the many school measures sent 10
Albany this winter, provides for increases OF
salaries OF teachers the rate of $40 year for
women and s1o5 a year for men. and gives the
Board of Education absolute control over the
auditing and disbursements. This is the interpre-
tation put the bill by those opposed to it; the
people who favored it denied that the second pro-
vision absolute while IL was held that there
limit beyond which salaries could not rise.
The teachers all in favor of the bill because
it increased their salaries The Controller and
members of the Board of Education there to
oppose It.
DR. William Ettinger president of the New-York
City School Teachers Association. said that the
measure did not provide for Increases beyond those
made by the local school boards. The body of
teachers he added. had received benefits from
the Ahearn law. The teachers applauded.
Ladies and gentlemen said the Mayor. II hope
you will not applaud must have order. have
not made up my mind on this bill, and must hear
the arguments Of those on both sides. must get
facts on which to make up my mind"
DR. Ettinger started read editorial from
newspaper in favor of the bill.
Never mind that" said the Mayor IT think you
capable Of stating your arguments the
editor who wrote that article The editors do not
foot the bills II is the taxpayers that do that"
FIGURES AsTONIsH THE MAYOR.
DR. Ettinger started to give figures 10 prove the
increases under the bill.
How do you get those fgures7'' asked the Mayor.
I postponed this hearing for the purpose OF getting
some figures but 1 found 1t would take fifty ex
perts for three months present figures that would
be reliable Now, lawyers tell that female
principal who receives 1850 a year and who has
served fifteen years Will, If this bill becomes
law receive $3.50 more, more than 5000 They
also tell that male principal getting s9.50o
will under the bill get more than 5000. Hos is
that?"
There were cries Of THAT is not so," from all
parts of the office
Il minimums provided for. but not maxi
NUNS" said the Mayor.
why should that provision be inserted taking
the auditing OF bills out of hands of the Con-
troller?'' asked the Mayor
DR.. Ettinger thought If there was small defect
It could be remedied next year and the bill ought
not to be vetoed on that account.
Principal Wormsley of Brooklyn. made a plea IN
favor Of the bill. He spoke of the small salary OF
5000 at which teachers had to begin.
That is than young receive on
beginning" said the Mayor, "and I speak of
graduates of medical and law colleges
NO, no. shouted the teachers in chorus.
CONTROLLER COLER's STRONG OBJECTIONS.
Controller Coler said he was absolutely opposed
to the bill because II put into the hands OF the
Board Of Education control over the auditing OF
bills. The appropriation made by the Board OF
Estimate in October be turned over in
twelve instruments He OBJECTED 70 any Dill IndI
gave ursalaried officers absolute control over So
100000. Nobody could be held responsible. There
treasurer. nobody bonded, and no checks
supervision the payrolls.
President Little of the Board Of Education also
opposed the bill. 1T is the most absurd bill ever
passed he said
NO. no. chorused the teachers.
Under this bill teachers can get more salaries
than Cabinet Ministers he went Some of
our teachers have been and fifty years in the
7{urr rO
the provisions OF bill will exceed the salaries
of the Ministers in the Cabinet of the President OF
Cries of No nor' and Kisses.
4 surprised at such an exhibition as this
PRESIDENT sid Robertson Of the Brooklyn School
Board said the bill would produce yearly surpluses.
qure the undivided attention of some man at the
7 have been trying to find a man who would give
I've been in office" said the Mayor
TEACHERS LAUGH AT THE MAYOR.
Commissioner George FriefeId said the under
living principle of the bill vicious. Commits
sioner Horace E. Dresser made speech against
the bill Both were Missed various points during
its delivery.
We'll you don't help your any by these
disorderIy scenes" said the Mayor. IF there is
not better order viii have the office cleared"
The teachers laughed at the Mayors threat, and
went on kissing the speakers who opposed the bill.
DR. John Harrigan. School Commissioner, said
the Dill a bad one. II increased the salaries
beyond the hopes and expectations Of those re-
sponsible for it, AT this point there perfect
storm of kissing and hooting.
Principal Quinn OF Long Island City said that
5000 Il year to begin with was too small.
You don't suppose I made $500 the first year
| practised law" said the Mayor.
y certainly do not" was the answer.
Mrs J J. HILL a principal. said she not in
favor of the bill. When the Ahearn bill passed
she thought the teachers had got what they were
reasonably entitled TO. Then the holdups.
and the suggestion was made to her that another
bill be prepared prevent repetition of that.
She had had such a bill prepared but it not
ne Davis BILL and the Davis bill did go about
II in the right way II a principal, she said.
and If the present bill passes 1 look to becoming
rich. certainly going 10 look for my 5000
salary
Mrs Hill was Missed and hoOted by the teachers
present. Turning 10 the Mayor she said AS a
school teacher l do not want TO keep you longer
a witness a of which am ashamed
Mrs. Emma F. PettngiU said that ali favored
the bill who were having their salaries raised by
II. Those who were provided for in the Ahearn law
but II Is q fact nevertheless - she said.
The Mavor said that the Ahearn law had added
81 373942 70 the teachers salaries. and far he
could make the present bill added $3.194.000
more. He said he would take the bill under
sideration.
The opinion freely expressed that the Mayor
would veto the measure.
II n