New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-15
HITS At ESTIMATE BOARD
Would Dictate City's Policy of
Education, Says Winthrop.
COLLEAGUES BACK HIM UP
President of Education Board
Adds That Any Inquiry Will
Be Welcomed.

The methods Of the Board OF Estimate
and Apportionment we're sharply criticised
by Egerton l. Winthrop. president OF tho
Board Of Education, in his annual report
read to the Education Board at Its meet
ing yesterday. He held that the Estimate
Board had shown an unerring tendency. to
infringe upon the rights and powers Of
the Board Of Education. The attack upon
the Board OF Estimate was upheld by all
the members Of the Education Board pres
ent, many Of whom seemed to think that
Mr.. Winthrop had let the Board OF EST
mate off easy.
'.I take this opportunity" said Mr.. Win
throp In his report 'of calling attention to
the fact that the Board OF Estimate ard
Apportionment, the duties Of which are
prescribed In Section 226 Of the Charter,
has for some years shown an increasing
tendency to infringe upon the rights and
powers Of the Board OF Education. and
thus dictate the educational policy OF the
city" The report goes on:
The first step was the refusal to grant
funds to this board to enable 1t to furnlsh
light for school buildings, although gas
as coal, and the plain provision Of the
charter is that the Board OF Education
shall furnish all necessary supplies
The next step was taken two years ago,
when the appropriation for rents" was
taken away from this department; notW .the
special school fund shall contain and EN-,
brace all moneys raised for educational
purposes not contained IN the genera sca 100,
shall have the power to administer ana
shall administer all moneys appropriated
or ayailasle for edneationat purp otnn IN IN
the charter gives the Board OF Educatlon
power to lease property required ior IHe
lions, vet no funds are given to 1t for the
payment of rentals!
More Usurpation Charged.
The Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment, which in previous years had recon,
rnended the manner in which the sene s, a.
school fund should be apportioned, mas tIis
year gone still further, and, contrary 70
the provision Of Section 1860. has appor.
toned said fund. conditioning the extra
allowance therefore dn excess or the three
mill taxi upon the acceptance or the boaI9
of Education of the segregation lnolcateo
in the budget for 1911. E..,
mate and Apportionment as respects the
Special School Fund are distinctly ilniteu
in raising the Special School Fund the re-
spective amounts thereof, which shaL De
available for use in the several porousn =.
In spite of this since lsos the h soa mnde W
taken to fix the salary OF every omcer anu LILY,
employe Of the Board Of Education. l am
of the opinion that in so doing that the
board has exceeded its powers.
Another instance is to be found IN the
resolution Of the Board OF Estimate ano
Annortionment recurring the submission to
it Of plans for new school buildings, etc,
whereas the Charter. Section 1913 proVides
that the action Of the Board OF Education
upon all plans shall be final.
The more consider the problems which
the Board Of Education is called upon It, to
solve, the more I am convinced that TINS
hoard should determine it's own policy AND
administer its own affairs. There can. IN
my Judgment, be no settled educauo I,
nolicy. and no proper development OF the
ruhlic school system, if charges have to
be made at short intervals as the result o,
action by another body. the membership OF
which is completely changed from ufne u
time.