The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-15
u u SITE MAY
NOW COME UNDER FIRE
Brown Committee Expected to Show City's High Taxes
Not Wholly Due to Albany-Mayor Questioned
About Mandatory Bills He Signed.

mended that the Board of Educatlon's
finances be independent Of the Estimate
Board"
Later I shall, ask leave 10 tell the
facts about that" Mr.. Prendergast in
terjecte6.
Under present conditions I favor the
equal pay law" said Mr.. Churchill In
his testimony. ~ do not object to Al
bangs control Of school salaries because
the financial stress here Just now has re-
suited In placing great impress or econ
omy rather than on efficiency. II you
sup with the devil you must use a long
spoon n Albany Is further away han
the City Hall.
IL should give the Board Of Education
power to fix salaries II that body were
never under the influence OF any politi-
cal power. such as the Mayor or the
Board Of Estimate. should consider
any method OF selecting Board 81 Edu-
cation members preferable to the existing
one of appointment by the Mayor. The
tendency of Mayors is to show respect
for the aristocratic elements OF the COM
munity and to neglect the democratic
elements. think II would be well for
the board members to be elected by bor-
oughs."
What OF the Mayors suggestion that
teachers salaries be fixed by the Board
Of Estimator asked Senator Charles G.
Lockwood Of Kings.
Tho worst thing possible" said Mr..
Churchill. 1T would demoralize the
school system-and the Board OF Esti-
mate. Financial independence rom po-
litical control is our greatest need"
Mr.. Martin. In emphasizing his opposl.
ton to equal salaries for women. said
THE Superintendent told me this
morning that women high school teach
ers are paid more than they should be
and more than they receive in any other
city or the world. / agree with that
view. They are paid from 5000 10
$2.65o. receiving the latter amount In the
thirteenth year OF their service. I should
fix IA lower schedule for the women thar
this.
Before this law was finally enacted
the maximum salary proposed for them
was $1,000. The $3.50 provision was
placed in the bill to tempt men OF col
lege training and experience into the
high schools. The report was lad over
for n week and in that time a change
OF two votes was Effected by persistent
marrying so that women would share the
Increase.
Il think a woman's market value Is
one OF the elements which should be
selected In fixing salaries. Frequently
men teachers are to be preferred, even
in girls high schools. for the virile III
huence Is valuable. The effec, OF this
law Is to tie the boards hands com
pletely. We must 20 to Albany for every
little thing.
II would oppose any move to pay
school board members. for there would
be danger that the board would then
nave n partisan complexion. See what
has happened In the Public Service Com
mission. II the same conditions OBJ
tanned in the Board OF Education the
parents of the city would he very prop
eriy alarmed. II IL true that the school
board asks for larger amounts than II
s possible to give II. but should the
Legislature r%elinQuish it's power over the
schools don't think the authority
should be placed with the Board OF AL
dermen or the Board OF Estimate"
Mandatory Adverttsins.
AT the morning session Senator
Brown asked the meaning OF an item
reading Corporation advertising. Bor-
u Z Of Brooklyn. 500. 900" in Commits
sioner of Accounts Wallstcin's report.
II is under the head "~mandatory.'
That" explained Comptroller Prem
dergast. lis paid annually. In equal
amount. TO five Brooklyn ~wspap
1t was given TO them first when they
opposed conSolidation. lf any Brooklyn
member OF the Legislature has the nerve
10 propose its adjustment the city ad-
ministration will give him It's backing.
The provision is in the Charter and It has
been placed in every Charter revision.
once II was left out hut at the eleventh
hour n Paul Revere arrived from Brook
lyn and it had TO go in"
Mayor Mitchell. asked to explain a
s53. 1000 600 item for debt service. one
quarter the entire 1915 budget. said Il
included interest for some OF the debt
caused by the mandatory legislation to
which he has been objccting. and about
100000 for the expenses OF the Pub
lie Service Commission and the Board
Of Water Supply.
The hearing will go on this morning