New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-07


was intended to protect the city's treasury
against the raids of illegal claimants 1t was
nevertheless bitterly fought by both the Platt
and Tammany machines. The bill was held
back by the Assembly Committee on Cities for
nearly two months. During that time the Con-
troller himself asked repeatedly that the bill be
brought before the House so that that body could
decide upon its merits. Instead a committee re-
ported bill of Assemblyman Trainor permitting
the Corporation Counsel to confess judgments
TO the extent of 100000 The recommittal of
this bin to the Committee on Cities impressed
Mr.. Kelsey and his associates of the Committee
on Cities to such an extent, however, that at the
eleventh hour almost they reported out the Fail
lows bill. 1t passed both houses with the help
of an emergency message from the Governor.
was vetoed by the Mayor and passed over the
veto by both houses
The bill is in part follows:
The Corporation Counsel shall not be empow-
cred to compromise. settle or adjust any rights,
or against the city of Newly York, to permit,
offer or confess judgment against the city or
to accept any offer OF judgment in favor Of the
city without the previous written approval Of
the Controller and in of any claim for a
money judgment exceeding $4,000. for relief
other than in the nature of money judgment.
the previous written approval of the Mayor
shall be also necessary.
Neither shall he institute any proceeding for
acquiring title TO real estate by condemnation
proceedings, except for opening streets, unless
the same shelr have been approved by the
current vote of all the members of the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment upon a statement
to be furnished said board of the valuation of
such real estate assessed for purposes Of
taxation; and provided further. that the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment shall have
power by majority vote to direct such changes
TO be made in the forms of contracts and speci-
hcations as may seem to promote the interests
Of the city.
TENEMENT HOUSE COMMISSION.
The Legislature has authorized another Tene-
ment House Commission. The passage Of the
measure providing for such a commission is due
TO the personal energy of Governor Roosevelt
An investigation of the tenement houses of
New-York and Buffalo as to their proper
struction and the sanitary needs of their occu-
pants was earnestly desired by the Governor
that he not only sought to win over opposition
by personal entreaty. but finally sent in
emergency message asking for the passage OF
the bill. Tammany fought the measure when
it brought out Of committee with persistent
ferocity. Indeed, the attempt to strange the
bill in committee also due to Tammany
Hall working tremendously with the Republi-
can machine. This particular antagonism to
the measure by the Democrats arose from a
fear that such an investigation as is proposed
will result in legislation affecting the present
Building Code of New-York City by which the
Commissioner Of Buildings has great arbitrary
powers.
The law provides for an appropriation Of
$4,000 and for an investigation by the Com
mission Of both New-York City and Buffalo.
1t further provides that the Commission shall
have power to subpoena witnesses before it,
with or without papers, and to compel their at
tendance. if necessary. by attachment. This
praI iS 10 oF les ptpc fba
dtions of tenement houses and their effect upon
the health, education savings and morals of
their occupants.
SALARIES OF TEACHERS
AS a result Of the agitation over the sufferngs
of the unpaid and i'll paid teachers of New-York
City, the Legislature has provided them with
the labors of a sub-c committee of the Senate
Committee Cities, Senator D. F. Davis being
the chairman of the former. The schedule
increases the salaries of teachers of almost
every grade 1t also divides the moneys TO be
used for educational purposes into two classes.
One is known as the general school fund and
the special school fund, the former being for
the payment of the teaching force throughout
all the boroughs and the latter being for ma
terial ends, such schoolhouses, etc. The
general school fund is to be raised in bulk by
tax Of four mills. apportioned among the
eral boroughs by the Board Of Education In
the month of July in each year the School
Board shall transmit to the Board Of Education
an estimate in detail of the moneys needed for
the purposes of the general school fund within
the territory under it's jurisdiction during the
next succeeding calendar year. The Board of
Education shall have power In its discretion to
amend or reduce these estimates and thereupon
shall submit together with a written
dunn of any such amendment or reduction so
made by the said Board of Education, and the
reason for making the same, an estimate for the
entire school system of the city to the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment for its action. Any
amendment to or reduction of the estimate Of
any School Board which shall be made by the
Board Of Education shall not preclude the right
of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
after proper passing, to restore to its original
form such estimate. The Board of Estimate
and Apportonment shall appropriate for the
general school fund for the year 1901, and annu-
ally for each year thereafter an amount equiv
alent to not less than four mills on every dollar
of assessed valuation of the real and personal
estate In the city of New-York liable to taxa
ton. inclusive OF much Of the State school
moneys apportoned by the Superintendent Of
Public Instruction for the payment OF teachers
wages is actually paid into the said general
school fund.
The bill provides for recognition of services
Of teachers outside OF New York City To pro-
vide the necessary funds for carrying into effect
the provisions Of the law for the calendar year
1900 in case the unexpended balances shall not
be sufficient for such purpose the Board of Es-
innate and Apportionment is authorized and re-
quired to direct the issue Of revenue bonds suf-
ficient to provide for any deficiency of funds
that shall still exist