The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-18
FTNEGAN A DESPOT,
HYLAN SAYS HOYLY
Mayor Attacks Deputy State
Education Commissioner as
Political HOhenzollern.
WRITES TO SCHOOL BOARD
Charges That Auditor Cook Is
Representative in City of
Political Machine.

In letter addressed to the members
Of the Board of Education. Mayor HyIan
last night attacked Thomas e. Finesan.
Deputy Commissioner of Education OF
New York State. as the political Hohen-
sollern OF the educational system Of the
State" Henry r. NJ. Cook. auditor of
the Board OF Education of the city, who
In the morning had failed to respond
to subpoena to appear before David
Hirshheld, Commissioner of Accounts, in
a financial examination of the Depart
ment of Education. was characterized az
Mr.. Finegans Representative in New
York city"
The Mayor 10 informed that Mr.. Cook
has stated that the power OF the Board
or Education lis limited to the appoint
ment OF yellow haired stenographer."
The latest outburst OF the Mayor fol-
lows:
Permit me TO call your attention to
the activities of Auditor Cook of the De-
partment Of Education. Mr.. Cook with
others endeavored to have the money
which was appropriated by the Board
OF Estimate and Apportionment made
over without reservation to the Depart
ment of Education so that the money
thus appropriated might be used as they
saw At.
MI Cook very recently with the con-
sent or Superintendent of Schools Ell
finger refused TO permit an examination
or the Auditors accounts BY the Com
missioner of Accounts OF the City of
New York.
AN Educative Politician"
81 am Informed that several days
ago Deputy State Commissioner OF Ed
ucation Finegan communicated with
Mr.. Cook by telegraph. requesting Mr..
COOK to meet him at the Onondaga
Hotel. Syracuse. Saturday. March is.
Since Mr.. Cook Is the financial officer
OF the Department OF Education it
would indicate that Commissioner Fine
gan Ia interesting himself In that branch
or the department. Commissioner Fine
gan is one Of the cleverest educational
politicians in the State OF New York,
and 10 behind the statewide bill to in
crease the salaries Of highly paid teach
ers. III these bills are enacted into law
they Will place a heavy financial tax
upon the farmer and other upstate
people. as well as $50. 900 900 additional
tax burden upon the people OF New York
city. thereby increasing the tax rate OF
the city from twenty TO forty points.
Deputy State Commissioner Finegan
Is the political Hohenzollern Of the edu-
catbonal system OF the State. and Cook il
his representative in New York city.
Commissioner Finegan, as state boss
OF the educational system. has built UP a
political machine that reaches from Mon
tauk Point to Niagara Falls
Brow Beating Methods Charged.
81 am Informed that Mr. Cook stated
mat the sooner the Board OF Education
appointed by Mayor Hylan realized that
their power is limited TO the appointment
Of yellow haired stenos rapher the bet
ter it will be for them, and that Ettinger
will do as he tells him. and that he will
have Commissioner Finegap remove the
members OF the Board of Education II
they interfere with him.
"As an example OF one Of the many
methods resorted to by the educational
system. Miss Clara G. Calkins, principal
OF Public School No. 6. Warren street.
Brooklyn. stated that school principals
were using browbeating and deceptive
methods TO procure the Endorsement of
bills in Albany which would load the
State with an additional burden of from
eighteen to twenty million dollars for
teachers salaries.
This Is only one OF the many methods
resorted to by the Finegan- Cook Ettin-
ger system in our public schools II the
Board OF Education has not sufficient
power under the law to break up this
despicable combination the board ought
to have bill prepared and ask the Leg
islatnre to give them the power ID clean
out this political, manipulating, money
grabbing crowd.
IF YOU have the power under the law
you should exercise st. Mr.. Cook and