The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-24
RECORD USELESS
He Cannot Give an Opinion
on the School Law
Middle.
MUST EMPLOY OTHER COUNSEL
City Did Not Have to Do
That When Allan McDer-
mott Was It's Adviser.

The city authorities had long, private
conference yesterday afternoon at the
Office of the Board of Finance. They
talked over a variety of subjects and
few left without a worried, careworn
look. The principal subject under con-
ssidera ton was the new general school
law. That law has had the effect Of
mixing everyone up 30 badly that no one
has any hope of getting out of the maze
until the law has been passed upon by
the courts.
The law makes the Board of Education
a separate corporation within the cor
poration of the city. 1t has every right
that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen
have so far as running its department is
concerned. 1t makes its own laws can
be sued and sue, appoints its own officers,
even to counsel and attorney, and must
be paid any amount of money it says is
required for ito expenses. There is, how
ever. TO be a body known as the Board of
Estimate to go over the Board of Edu-
cation's estimate, and If that Board sees
that any of the money demanded is not
absolutely needed it win SO report to the
Board of Finance. On the recommends
tion of the Board of Estimate the Board
of Finance makes an appropriation. 1t
must appropriate the amount decided
upon by the Board of Estimate.
The Board Of Estimate is to be made
up of two members of the Board of Edu-
cation, two members of the Board of FL
nance and the Mayor. This Board, the
law says, is to be appointed every year
in January.
The Board Of Education and the Board
of Finance will disregard the law by ap-
pointing their members tonight. The
Board of Education holds regular meet
ing tonight and the Board of Finance
holds a special meeting.
Yesterdays conference was attended by
Mayor Pagan, President Ringle and Com
missioner Abernethy of the Board of FL
nance; President Ward and Superinten-
dent Snyder, of the Board of Education;
Corporation Counsel Record, Corpora ton
Attorney Queen, Assistant Corporation
Attorney Carey City Clerk O'DonneiI,
City Treasurer Ely and Clerk Michael
Kalaher of the Board of Finance.
Mr.. Record was there TO advise the
others on the Iaw.LHe had been invited
to the last meeting of the Board of Edu-
cation to discuss the law informally but
did not attend. Instead Corporation At
torney Queen was present and he acted
as counsel for the Board inasmueh as he
gave his opinions. His knowledge of the
subject is extensive. He and Congress
man McDermott, when the latter was
Corporation Counsel, went over the who'e
matter and the result was that Mr. Queen
knew every detail of the law.
IT was decided al that meeting of the
Board of Education to formulate list of
questions on the law, and to have Corpor-
alton Counsel Record give his opinion on
them. This was considered the best
method of getting at the meat of the law.
Mr. Record has not vet given his opinion.
He was asked yesterday for an opinion
on a variety of points in the law, but did
not give any. He brushed all the obsta-
cles aside in light, airy fashion, but avoid
ed the legal points diplomatieally. Those
who wanted legal opinions could not tie
the wiley Corporation Counsel down to
the subject, and they soon grew tired of
the task 1t was the opinion of several
that good splan would be to engage
Charles Corbin, who made an exhaustive
study of the Stokes law and educational
laws in general, with view of drawing
bill that would be good and constitutions
al as special counSe1 TO interpret lie
present law for the city.
One gentleman who expressed this
opinion this morning, said:-
Corporation Counsel Record simply
would net give us any legal opinion. We
are sadly in need of legal advice, The
best thing to do is to engage someone who
knows the school law, and can give an
opinion. If the city could afford to pay
$500 for special counsel in the water mat
ter, certainly it can afford to pay 5000
when the education of our youths is at
stake"
The final result OF the conference on
this point was the adoption of the views
OF Corporation Attorney John Wahi
queen ITO go ahead and obey the law lit
eraIly'
Then 1t was decided to appoint the
members of the Board of Estimate. There
was an effort made to have President
Ringle, of the Board Of Finance, appoint
two members yesterday, but he refused
to do so.