The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
COLER REPLIES TO FORD.
COMPARES HIM 10 nor VINO STOOD
ON The BURNIN0 DECK"

-
Says Hs IL the Only Ono Left who Fsvors
the system of Arbitrary Apportionnsnt
of the General school ~Fund-sn,s Grady
school Bill WIN Solve the Problem.
The Com missloners OF Accounts announced
yesterday that the experts who have been at
work Strengthening out tho books OF the
School Board for Manhattan and The Bronx.
with especial reference to the teachers pay
rolls. would probably complete their work to-
day. The work Involved nearly 5000 calcu-
lations and tho experts have worked In night
and lay shifts to accomplish It. The pay
schedules show tho amounts duo to the teach-
ers under the arrangement made In May. II
will be necessary TO have The rolls certified By
the Mayor. the Com ptroller and the Chamber
lain. Mr.. Coler said yesterday that no OK.
pec,ed payment OF the teachers would begin
tomorrow.
The school Boards record. were found to be
in very bad condition. 1hs Brooklyn Board
compiled with the Comptrolcr's requirements
easily. Deputy Contradictory said yestcr-
day that he hoped the School Board for Man
haitian and The Bronx would Keep lis books
in better shape hereafter. Comptroller Colcr
issued n settlement yesterday IN reply 10 the
attack made on his school bin by Sea ator
JDilH TOIu' III a. NJ wv bAll
Il am really sorry for my friend, Ssnat or
Ford. who Ia Ike the boy who stood on the
burning deck whence all but he had fled In all
the difference Of opinion that now exists as
TO the school problem. there is one point upon
which l have found a practical unanimitv Of
opinion - that the system OF arbitrary apror-
comment OF the dencral School Fund provided
by the charter il utterly vicious and Is at the
bpt,o,n - ali Tho a,,,,tnI a ~ n,I,t,a 80 thn
Board Of Education. Senator Ford alone seems
to be 40 welded 10 this pre- postorous system
that he Is willing to make the rashest state
ments In its defence. though In his W hill he
practically confesses away his whole case by
raising TO the maximum the allotment on the
basis Of ths number Of teachers and reducing
to the minimum the allotment FOR attendance.
So tar as concerns the Senator's charge against
me- in relation TO the steps which wers naces-
sary TO prepare properly tho p|ayrollS for the
month 81 december, after he Manhattan
School Board hat deIlbe rately refused 10 obey
the instructions which the chart, r authorizes
me To give. all | have to say il that stand
ready 10 commit any number VI Imilhr out
RACES 20 accomplish similar results. senator
lori thinks / should not nav" allowed the
school Boards to have eNcecd-! 0nr-jweltth Of
their appropriation IN any one month, Infor-
~tunatrly the charter does not authorize the
Comptroller to withheld payurnts for this rea;
JUL N'lAlNtl ~ NV 'bl - e hNNA
though all my predecessors have frequently
sought to eyer ise this power, every Corona
ton Counsel has successfully ruled against the
claim
SO far as the power to transfer unex pended
balances Is concerned. senator Ford speaks as
though this were some new and unhedri ~
power. A. It matter Of fnct Il exists and al
ways has existed in regard to all the 6pprO-
IriatiOns OF every department otthe city SOy-
eminent except the general school fund OF
the Department OF Education. whore IL j. pre-
vented by the ridiculous uDpOrtipnmcnt pro-
vision. A Board of Estimate and Apportion-
r0cnt that was omnisciont ml.hr be ahIe TO
iOrctell to "a cent the exact requirements Oi
each OF twenty or more accounts m an drpro-
priatiOn Of fourteen million dollars so as to
leave no deficit and no surplus In sHy one ot
them ut tho cni Of the year tut "a long as the
wisdom Of this bodrt il likely to remain
human and finite. a certain discretion and
latitude must ho allowed. These al fNcUlnrS
have never ,risen In the case uf any other de-
Iartmcnt when The power to transfer uneA-
balances exist. and were not heard Of
IN the Board II Education until thisw wonderful
apportlonment Of the General school Fund was
devised
Senator Grady's hin l. fqvoreity practically
every school interest, hy all thp Teachers, and
by the city administration II Will end all tho
financial difficulties Of he school system past.
present and future. an will enable the school
teachers TO be raid, | think II Senator Ford
will TAX" a it'll" time for reflection he will
withdraw his Objections