New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-14
HEARING ON SCHOOL BILL.
ARGUMENTS BEFORE GOVERNOR ON
QUESTION OF TEACHERS SALARIES.


Der crowded to-day with teachers and pubic
officials interested In the hearing to DE given De-
fore Governor Roosevelt on the COMPROMISE
School b'' increasing the salaries OF all the
school teachers In New-York City Before the
hearing began Governor Roosevelt said;
Before proceeding with the arguments wish , TO
give few suggestions which hat are aseut
what he may desire to say In nan en- fad
ner. No interruption of any KIND VIII De toieraSeu
from anybody for moment
Arthur C. Butts Assistant Corporation Counsel
of New-York. appeared In opposition to the ohl
Mayor Van Wyck having vetoed It, and conducted
the speaking for the opposition whiie fresiueh'
W. L. Ettinger of the City Teachers Association
conducted the side OF those who favored the DILL
Among others present IN opposition 10 the Dill
President Little of the Central Board OF ECU
cation, Charles E. Robinson. president OF the
Brooklyn School Board; Horace E. Dresser. chair-
man of the Legislative Committee OF the Centrai
BOARD of Education; Abram Stern. of the Central
Board; George Freifeld. G. NJ. Basset ana Dr'
John Harr.gan of the Brooklyn Board. and MIS-
J. ]. Well, of Manhattan.
There appeared in favor of the bill William H.
Maxwell. City Superintendent of Schools; Senator
ID. F. Davis, William c. Wamsley, Dr. Walter b
Gunnison. DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler. Lewis L"
Delafeld, counsel for the Teachers Association;
DR.. w L. Ettinger. Principal A. J. Downing. Miss
Ruth Granger. Miss Blake. DIR. Towle, of the
Brooklyn High School; Mr.. Stevens, Superintendent
of the Schools of Queens; j. j. Driscoii ana A A
Yates, of Richmond County; DR.. Hicks. of Man
haitian and many other teachers from the various
boroughs.
THE OPPOSITION'S CASE.
The first speech made by Mr. Butts. who ap-
peared in opposition to the biil sdid:
The city of New-York is not opposed to the lib
erat compensation OF Its teaches l. ti!e p-blc
schools. 1t does, however, oppose this DILL as an
unjust and unjustinao,e attempt pile up ana in
cease the tax burden upon me taxpayers OF me
teachers in the year 1900 the sL1 Sv ~ 10 ~
TINS vast sum OF money sl5iSSi2 was pad under t4
Laws of 1897 to this sum must oe adced siooOV99
applica the payment of salaries OF additional
teachers, and equalizng fatty OF all existing saa-
ries.
ers in the public schools, which fixed only at
minimum amount, but it attaches to such salaries
of not less than $40 year for a female seaeheri
not less THAI s05 year for male teacher anu
There is absolutely no maximum amount of salary
fixed for any teacher or principal, ana, except as
to principals no fixed sum to the annual in
WhafeVer maximum rate the same may be liked.
A female principal receiving a salary OF 800 d
T receive under this bin $500 male principal
Seivng gsc as S4 4 wnS msS Of $50 year
for twenty years or in all $500 year Tea7
this bIli becomes a law There are 1880 teachers
in the city Of New.York and under this bill the
added burden for the year 1900 of 100000:
or total Of increased salaries for the year of
The city authorities as trustees of all the tax
R essat S It Vital boW at rule
takes away all bS and
in regulation of the expenditures Of the city and
datory Provision compeis said Board 70 raise vast
sums of money. which impose unjust public bur
This bin is class legislation in its most vicious
only by those who are to be its beneficiares By
its provisions the Controller of the city of New
nahcs oeer of the eity He is Compelled to
pay over all moneys raised for SCHOOL purposes 20
powers under the to adu auG c ana pay b
the Board of Education. Nearly one-auarter of the
entire revenue Of the city over zoo Is to Re ~
out by an auditor appointed by said Board-not
under no bond as is the Controller for the faithful
discharge of it's public duty in the payment of all
The city authorities of New-York protest against
OF tne IN performance of
their duty representing the body OF its citizens and
against the hill becoming law If against such
protest the bill is signed. the responsibility must
which passed. and the Governor who by his APP
prevail made 1T p law.
THE VIEW OF MIR. LITTLE,
Mr. Little was the next speaker. He said that If
the Governor signed it the result would be litiga-
lions the public schools for months and possibly
years in the courts. Such legislation he argued.
bad for the schools if the bin had been
perfectly drawn, which it not Under its pro-
visions able determine the amount
The Governor here said that he had received a let
ter from Charles c. Birmingham. who said that
though there were bad features in the bill they
outweighed by the good in the measure. President
Little in reply said that Mr.. Birmingham had voted
for resolution eondemnng the bill unless ii were
amended TO put the disbursement of moneys into
the hands of Controller Coler. and provide for a
definite period for increment.
Mr.. Robinson said If the, four mill provision in
the bill had been in 1886 II would have created
surplus of 81 66S 600 and in 1898 a surplus of 81
591 ,533 At the lowest figure the surplus this wear
would be sS000GOO and probably $5.000OO The tax
payers would naturally object the creation of an
unnecessary surplus. He also objected to the limi-
taton of the Controllers powers
Governor Roosevelt then called the attention of
those who favored the bill to this speech and
asked them especially to meet the points put for
ward by the opponents of the bill
Abram Stern Of the Central Board said thar n
the bill was signed not a teacher of anv grad.
would get a penny of salary for the month of Nav
and for several months following The bill did nor
definitely state when the Increment was to cease
Some teachers would receive $3.50 under the law
and others IS. 400.
EFFECTIVENESS OF AHEARN LAW
Mrs. VIII declared that the Ahearn Salary act
had been carried into effect. Governor Roosevelt
said he was surprised at this statement since he
had been told by various Senators and Assembly,
men that this proposed law a necessity be-
cause the Ahearn law had not been carried out
Messrs. Robinson. Little. Dresser and Stern de-
clared that the Ahearn had been followed 70
the letter
George Freifeld argued that the new law would
add to the prevailing confusion regarding salaries
Governor Roosevelt here closed the session for
luncheon. saying:
ers asking me to sign this bill a few requests in
rs 1ator from taxpayers and some objections it