The sun., 1919-03-27
superintendent Based Refusal
on Wish to Keep Schools
Free of Politics.
BOARD ORDERS ACTION
Misinformation and Confusion
Of Thought Seen in May
or's Letters.


the accounts or the Department or ECU
cation. This action followed tho issu-
.nc. ~ a ,onv ,,s+en.nt NV mr.. 1T
49,
''hser expressing MS oesire 10 heep O'e
schools free from political influence and
stating the reasons he refused an exam
inauon. He also said that ne DID nor
believe Commissioner Hirshfeld should
ask to see the books so long as the mat
ter had been taken before the courts In
an order to II. r. NJ. Cook, auditor OF
the Board, directing him to show cause
why he should not be punished for con-
tempt IN failing to obey a subpoena OF
the Commissioner.
DR.. Ettinger said he had obtained
counsel to protect the rights Of Mr.. Cook
and himself whom the case comes UP in
court to-day.
Arthur 9. Somers. president OF the
Board OF Education, wrote last week to
Mayor Hylan asking him on behalf Of
the Board TO make ar investigation. In
spite Of this letter Superintendent Et-
finger turned Commissioner Hirshheld
and his examiners away on Monday. At
the meeting of the Board yesterday
Mr.. Somers asked II he were to be sus-
tained in tho position he had taken.
Voting with him for the resolution d.
recting Superintendent Ettinger to per-
nit the examination were Aiming g.
Prall, George r. Ryan, Joseph Yeska
and Mrs. Emma L. Murray. Only two
members opposed the motion-Frank d.
wilsey and Mrs. Ruth r. Russell.
An,,s..&son En- u.~.rt.
A letter was received oy the board
OF Education from Superintendent Et-
finger In which he said:
my decision In the matter OF per-
hitting the Commissioner OF Accounts
to examine into the records Of the de-
partment was based also on the fact
that on March 20. 1919, I addressed n
communication to the Regents Of the
University OF the State OF New York,
who according to, Article 8 of the State
Constitution have supreme control over
all educational matters within the lin
It's OF the State, requesting them to
appoint n committee Of competent per-
sons familiar and conversant with proper
methods of education administration,
with full powers TO Investigate the at
fairs Of this school system, the opera
ton Of the State law and the matter OF
It's applicability to tho School District Of
Sew
MT SoHie,o an ~sNs ,o' '.e p
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.he So"' n'nh. .ns sa xsn,sa ~. nuhi,c
- 49,, ,ha, AZ Bod n, Educa tIon
10 Nnow ens, 'ho noao "a e" ''o''
hau no.m.ns ~ on ..,.,,,.
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nv, - ho,rS 1000 ra.ay anI viii.
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us W ~. asn,andad oon.
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oei,'s 80, ,.,,. =, NJ
p p ., NJ. o,,Ia
oon'e'' 49, Az s,,,o,San
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.he -, -, &C. CIssn
.eSe, "a '"e ep"' ''''e"' "a
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sa.S ne WY u,,h.,. ,ha, ~ Mavor hsd
49, a., a., o., ,n,o,, In . iong ssrias on
~ tho suhtect hut n
,ras sufec,ent n saw tha, "the letters Of
HE Honor are marked by glaring mis-
,nyormation confusIon Of thought and
utter disreeard of law"
CooL u.,.,xs. pr.,..
Mr. Cook. auditor OF the poaro' was
praised as man whose sole aims nave
been honestly ana completely 10 i've up
TO the obhsaaohs ifhposeu on MN ny
statute
AS TO poh'ieai uo''''"a''o" 1T ~
unRer sa'u =,
Despite VIC Vere,o' VI u.e peopne ~.
.he ms. ~, ~ n,,n,. Ia ~,
80 49, 81. ,ro,,isos I'D ~.
" 1870 .,nrs 49,.
nst.,ant aaarassI,o orcroach-
-, ", tha Maven ond the corntroIler
~ ,nsv,tah,e ra.,j, ~ which ~ NOT
s,o,,iy, rssisted either nv the members
~ thn Hoard Of Education or the Super
Intendent OF schools. would have meant
the reduction OF the department 10 the
same plane Of political control as that
Of departments dealing with municipal
housekeeping affairs and the prevention
Of danger to persons and property"
BY insisting upon details OF budget
control. Or. Ettinger declared, the Board
Education in an administrative straight
Jacket
Declaring that one OF the serious sides
of the matter Is that the Mayor has In
simulated that he Is anxious TO determine
whether or not the affairs OF the depart
ment have been honestly conducted, Dr.
Ettlnger explained that very little actual
cash Is handled and that amy interested
party can at any time ask the State
Department to conduct an investigation.
II appeared to him, the superintendent
declared. That either because OF wnfl.,
intent or inability to understand the law