New-York tribune., 1907-08-29
SCHOOL BUDGET LARGE.
CALLS FOR $31 500, 900.
Increase OUer Last Year to Rdlse
Teachers Salaries.

The budget for 1903 of the Board of Education, as
made out by the finance committee and approved by
the executive committee at meeting yesterday
afternoon, asks for appropriation oy the CITY
of mere than $Sl 10000 This budget exceeds that
of 1907 by about s6OOOOG due principally according
to Commissioner Greene, the chairman OF the
finance committee to the inclusion in it OF the
recommendations of the committees on increases In
the teachers salaries The approval of the budget
was strongly opposed by Commissioners Nathan ..
Jonas and George Freifeld but it was finally ap-
proved and ordered to the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment.
Just before the meeting talk with John H.
Walsh, Associate City Superintendent. brought out
the fact that there would probably be more puphs
on part time this year in the boroughs of Brook
lyn and Queens than ever before The statistics
show there is continual falling of in the number
of pupils in Manhattan. while In Brooklyn and
Queens the natural increase In the NUMBER OF
children Is being augmented by those moving out
of Manhattan. The eight more blocks torn down
by the Pennsylvania Railroad around 32d street and
Seventh avenue to make way for its new station
and tunnels and the tenements which were torn
down around Delaney street for the approach TO
the Williamsburg Bridge, have sent many families
across the river
Last year there 435N part time pupils III
Brooklyn 9012 in Queens. Despite the large
number Of sttings provided for the coming
year. the present indications that the number
Of part time pupils In these boroughs will reach
5000 in Brooklyn and II uJ in Queens when the
schools opened again.
Commissioner Greene said that only about 81 116,-
600 OF the increase in the budget for 1908 due
to the Increase in the number of pupils and the
normal extension of the public school system. The
remainder OF the additional expense for 1905 he
said due to the proposed revision IN the sched
ule OF teachers salaries.
The budget calls in all for s31. .s4 53 To- OF this
s25 09O51 81 is for the general school fund which
this year not quite so. 900 900. The remaining
$3.50 52 3S is for the special school fund and rep
resents only normal increase over the fund OF
1907 Mr.. Greene said that most of the increase
would go to the elementary schools. and that the
increase in the special school fund absolutely
needed to keep the general plant in decent work
ing order
When the budget was laid before the executive
committee Mr.. Jonas said he wished TO protest most
strongly against the action of the finance com
mttee in springing the budget on the members OF
this committee the time IF feasible. would
enter a protest against the consideration OF the
budget to-day" he said.
Mr.. Jonas then read a letter from Mayor Nc
Clelan advising all departments of the city gov
ernment to keep expenses down to the actual needs
for the present, and declared that even If sell
forty millions of city bonds at Az cent interest
should not spend the money for the purposes
mentioned in the budget The condition of the ctys
finances does not warrant IT The Board of Esti-
mate will be called to account IL a single increase
of salary is allowed. and wish introduce reso-
luton striking out of the budget all provisions for
salary increases except those mandatory under
the law
This resolution seconded by Mr. Freifeld. but
was finally voted down. Mr.. Freifeld then entered
protest for himself against the shortness Of time
allowed the members Of the executive committee to
consider such a large budget. He said he wanted
least a week days to consider the appropria-
tions. He then said that he objected to four in
creased salaries provided for in the budget These
the increase of 1900 in the salaries of the
of A Emerson Palmer.
auditor. Henry R NJ Cook. and the director of
physical training. DIR. Luther II. Gulick. and also
the increase In the salary of teachers of physical
training and Of sewing.
These increases extravagant,' declared Mr..
Freifeld- The salary of the secretary IN
creased shortly after became member of the
board. The auditor does not give his undivided at
,ention to his work here. but is connected with
firm of accountants
He then moved that the increase In the salaries
OF three officers be stricken out Mr.. Greene rose
to say that the auditor had asserted to him in
writing that he had not received dollar from
outside during his connection with the De-
partment of Education. and that all his time
taken up with his work there.
City Superintendent Maxwell also said that DR..
Gulick had received an offer from the Board OF
Education of Boston. and that the proposed in
crease in his salary made in order to keep
him here.
To enable II to carry out its plans for the extern
sion Of evening school instruction the board wants
$3.50 i9s for 1908. whereas only s56o.000 was appOr
toned for that purpose this year An appropria-
ton Of something like SOS 7s4 is also wanted for
the extension of the vacation schools and play
grounds
One OF the additions TO the system this year viii
be n deaf and dumb school. which will be opened
In the old building of the Stuyvesant High School.
No. 223 East ed street Superintendent Walsh said
Yesterday that this school would at present draw
it's pupils from all the city. but that other
schools like would De opened later. the school
for cd child irep tq maintained
Madison avenue.