New-York tribune., 1900-05-07
MAY HANDLE THE FUNDS.
PRESIDENT LITTLE DISCUSSES THE
DAVIS LAW.
4 SPECIAL BUREAU MAY BE ESTABLISHED
BY THE BOARD OF EDrCATIoN-CoN-
TRoLLER DENoUNcEs THE MEASURE
A TALK WITH SENATOR DAVIS.

/ A TALK WITH SENATOR DAVIS
Whatever may be the final effect Of the Davis
School Law. the Board OF Education = resolved
that II Controller Coler adheres 10 the position he
/ has taken. that the law ceDrives the Finance
! Department OF al control q disbursing OF the
school funds the Board itself VIII take charge Of
the funds, unless it IS confronted BY some supreme
difficulty. So much was made clear by Joseph J.
Little. president Of the Board OF Education in the
/ course OF conversation yesterday with Tribune
I reporter
J We don't want TO take control OF the funds.
I Air Little explained. 1T would involve the Board
! in great amount OF responsibility. but We are
/ determined that there shall be holding up of
the teachers salaries. II necessary wiI estao-
I lisa bureau to handle the funds We would
much prefer. however. that the Controller should
continue to disburse the funds. and tomorrow,
3 when n delegation Of the Board waits upon him. il
VIII b. pointed out 10 him that the charter pro-
vides that he shall handle al moneys relating 70
the schools"
Does the BOARD Of Education. then hold TO the
| view that he position which the Controller has
/ taken is an un;enable one"' Gr. Little asked
Well" Nj. Little piled the charter specifically
states that all bills and contracts mus be
proved by the Controller. and If that is so ne
should not object TO pay out the school funds
But still II the Controller should adhere TO ne at
titude he has adopted the Board will undertake TO
disburse Jhc funds expeditiOusiy as il can make
{ arrangements TO DO So One thing is certain. and
1
he nature Of a tieup While think the bill is an
| unfortunate one. as it has become law we intend
. try 10 make the best OF T.. II We find that We
cannot organize new bureau i is possible that
the only way or The difficulty will be 20 ask the
Governor 70 call special session 10 amend the
! bill. But that IS detail upon which II Is impos-
sible TO speak IT present We have not get re-
eeved certified copy Of the bill. but We expect II
| to reach tomorrow. On Wednesday he Board
will meet and discuss the BILL and will then decide
upon what action it VIII take. In the mean time
nothing of i definite nature as 20 what the Board
vii do can Be stated"
CORRESPONDENCE MADE PUBLIC.
MIR. Little made public yesterday further
sDondence which has passed between the Board and
the Controller upon the subject OF the Davis law
On May Inc Controller wrote President Little as
follows:
have been informed that the EN- measure es1 known EI
visions of this bill the dsbursing OF all funss ap.
plicable 10 the expenses OF the Department or
Education has been placed under the sole control OF
the Board Of Education There are at present a
the hoard Of Educatiap FOR audit and disburse-
nent under the old system Among these vouchers
are number Of payroils desire 70 be informed
desire of the Board OF Education that should
pay the payrolls heretofore Transmitted by the
delay or, hardship TO those entitled to their sal
at once the Board Of Education.
day later Mr.. Little replied TO Mr.. Coler as
follows:
beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the
81 instant and 20 note its contents, and In reply
rolls are in your hands, and also request that
for the present you VIII III, not return any ot di lhe
yidasl opinion thaf if it be possible under the
bursirg the educational funds il viii be the unani-
nous wish Of the members OF n the Board OF EdIcs-
day next regularly, by which time l hope Ne may
can determine at that time on course Of action.
yeniance and deIsvs IN av 9te be occasoned 10 the
teachers and those doing business with the Board.
II t6a BoagG of n FSucsifoG u0er This law must
handle the funds it will be necessary 10 organize
tate certain inconveniences and delays, and it is
m h As m 1ey ddn3en IF T that tRs s6a7d Bh h o
Education will unanimously !ndorse my aetion in
tions 70 you for compliance with the request.
To this letter Mr. Coler replied on the day:
No one regrets more than myself the serious
condition OF affairs and would be only TOO glad
member tbst the f b e as understand I it prov.des
that the money shall be turned the Board
Of Education upon acquisitions, and that the act
is 20 take effect Immediately. Under the circum-
stances do not at present see how l have any
et en @ the dn Of % last aon9F MONTH y6uF 3 a
see why there Shogd be- any great delay; as your
could make immediate requisition upon me for
a taG M ~1cn baye of pecayaS cd as cop
of the law so it may be better TO let the matter
f1 at oyer woud @ be persSnay abIe for any
that should make other than in the way provided
nna 0 W Who one is Under such beavv bond as nys@If
must take counsel in order not TO render myself
liable.
When Charles z. robertson. the chairman OF the
Finance Committee of the Central Board of Educa-
ton yesterday at his home, in South
Pcrland-ave., Brooklyn, he said that he would call
a special meeting OF the committee tonight for the
purpose OF dealing with the problem of paying the
teachers their salaries under the provisions of the
Davis law The Finance Committee he explained,
would have the main responsibility for disbursing
the millions Of dollars which will the
Board OF Education through the enactment of the
Davis bill. Mr.. Robertson declared that the
sponsibility was too onerous 10 suit the members
Of the committee, and they determined find
q safe and expeditions means of distributing the
funds to meet the payrolls of the teachers.
Miss Emma +. Pettengitl. yce-president of the
Teachers Association, and one Of those who
in favor OF the Davis BILL said yesterday:
There should be holdup of the teachers sal
aries Controller Coler IS acting like boy. he
would pay the payrolls. The fact is, who ad-
vocated the Davis bill did not anticipate any
method of disbursement other than that which has
hitherto prevailed. The Davis bill is not entirely
what the teachers would like TO have. but the
salary meets the approval Of the great majority"
"A MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF FOOLERY."
Controller Coler when last night at his
home In Brooklyn by Tribune reporter declared
that the statement that he ''acting like u
boy" foolish. lie explained forcibly that his
tions based entirely upon legal reasons, and he
trying carry out the law in every respect He
caused a single delay a day or two in
the payment of the payrolls OF the teachers He
self because he said the public seemed TO be
under the misconception that the Controllers office