New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-05
IN HASTE TO GET AT FUNDS
BOARD OF EDUCATION CLERK DEMANDS
BLANK CHECKS.
DAVIS LAW AND ACTING MAYOR GUG-
GENHEIMER BACKS HIM UP.

Officials of the Board of Education yesterday ap-
peared to be in frantic haste to begin operations
urder the Davis School bin, which had become a
law by Governor Roosevets signature. Mr. Bus
sey assistant secretary of the Board OF Education.
called up Mr. Zimmerman. the City Paymaster, on
the telephone early in the forenoon and said: We
vant you to send up some blank checks ana a
list Of the banks in which the city has deposits
What do you want with them?" asked the City
Paymaster
we are going 10 draw checks, now
that the law is in force, and pay our own bills.
How do you know that the city has balances in
these banks TO the credit of the Board of Educa-
ticn?"
That does not matter. We are going to pay our
own bills and draw our own checks, now that the
law is in force. and want the checks
YOU cannot have them"
I'VE will seev'
The colloquy was brought 10 sudden termina-
ton and Mr.. Zimmerman reported the conversa-
tion Controller Coler.
The Finance Department is considering what &C
ton to take so as to act as check on the Board
OF Education
Mr. Coler yesterday issued the following addition
al statement regarding the Davis law:
made that at the r ae o nd 10 ehe
Davis bill will be only sll09oo or $500 Is "a tp
lately false. If true could see TO opJeS5om 70 ,e
schedule, the present one needed adjustment
However. a conservative estimate OF the real III
crease is So eeO 800 and il will probably reach much
more than this without giving new teacher or
pupil The taking away from this department OF
the auditing OF bills is nothing short of political
crime The subordinateS of the Board of Educa-
ron now pay anything they please for scissors
or anything else. Money is 10 be taken from the
city treasury in lump sum TO be redeposited ana
drawn upon by men under no bond, ana TO SUIT
the accommodation of supply agents who were be-
hind this feature OF the bill
The Controller wishes the public thoroughly 10
understand that he has nothing further to do with
the payments Of the Board of Education. and can
be held responsible for any delays If this pro
vision TO be recognized and extended in the
future IL the doing away of the Controller 5
own accounts. The people who are responsible for
this of affairs must also assume the response
biity for the rate in 1901. There is no way Tor
them evade it. Even the friends OF this measure
will be appalled, when the time comes for settle
ment.
Politics follows opportunity for DOODLE and this
will make the school system the centre of one con-
tinuous struggle for share of the spoiis- The
future will than prove the case OF this De-
partment.
Acting Mayor Guggenheimer said:
The Davis School bill is open to many practical
objections that il seems impossible TO understand
how the Governor could allow il 10 become law
the taxes of property owners in the city or New
York AT least twenty points. In this respect II
city of New-Yo rk, which has sought in every way
possible prevent the increase of the tax rate,
and has consistently refused to favor allow any
measure which would tend TO increase the burdens
upon the treasury Of the city of New-Iork, and
may be used an opening wedge for further IN
larure. The memorandum OF the Governor admits
that bill is open serious criticism. and lndi-
Gates that he signed il upon the theory that bad
legislation upon subject is better than no eSisla-
ton at all because legislation if bad be cured
by subsequent amendment. Meanwhile the people
suffer.