New-York tribune., 1920-02-20
Craig's Charges
OF Obstruction
Rouse Ettinger
Either ''Willful Misrepre-
sentation'' or s'Naive Ig-
norance" Prompted Ac-
cusations, Is His Reply
Comptroller Is Blamed
Superintendent Says Delay
in School Program Is
at SsOther End of Line''

EltnCT Wllltu1 misrepresentation or
"naive ignorance" inspired the
L. Craig. yesterday that DR.. William L.
Ettinger, Superintendent of Schools,
"has a strangle hold on the school
building program" and "is obslructing
and greatly delaying the completion of
new schools so urgently needed" the
Superintendent asserted last night in
statement answering the Comp
troller.
The statement Of allegations against
the Superintendent was issued by the
Department of Finance early in the
day. 1t carried Comptroller Craigs
name at the top and was headed: "The
Blight of 'Ettingerism' Obstructs the
Building of New Schools" The Comp
troller imputed to the superintendent
activities which appear to be direct
ed toward the assumption of autocratic
control over all the persons employed
IN the Department Of Education" and
declared that 'Ettingerism' is tho
latest Towering of the exploitation of
power. claimed by bureaucrats under
the education law
To the allegations contained in the
Comptroller's statement, Dr.. Ettinger
made the following comment:
Il regret exceedingly that such q
screed should be issued by the Comp
troller of the City of New York. It ia
vindictive in tone and incorrect in it's
facts.
Resents SIurs on Finley
"The repeated slurs on the State
Commissioner of Education are in such
bad taste that they need no comment
from me.
"The glaring misinformation con-
tanned in the Comptroller's statement
IS such that if we are not to assume
wlltul Misrepresentation on his part.
we must assume naive ignorance of the
statute under which the Board of Edu-
cation must operate.
After | have read statements of
tnis character | can always find con-
ISOLATION in rereading The Tanning of
the Shrew.' by one William Shakes
peare."
The Comptroller's charges that plans
for new buildings had not been forth
coming with sufficient speed to assure
their frultlon; that the order to begin
construction was under the control Of
the Superintendent of Schools; that
the requirement of $50 days for the
completion of building is excessive;
that the 250-day limit on construction
would have to expire before work is
begun on plumbing, electrical and
other equipment contracts, and that the
Superintendent has been granting ex-
tensions of time to contractors, brought
warm replies from Dr. Ettinger
Takes Up Craig's Charges
Regarding the first allegation
plans for new schools have been COM
ing forward slowly"-the superinten-
dent declared that "plans are being
prepared and forwarded by the build,
ing bureau as fast as the inadequate
force in the drafting division permits
Despite handicaps during January
plans for five new buildings were for
warded to the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment for approval and are
listed on its calendar for tomorrow"
The Comptroller credited the super
intendent with holding down $10,-
100000 appropriation for new build
ings in 1919, to one-fourth Of that
amount, or $2,512, ,202.75-the actual
expenditure. On this the superinten-
dent commented as follows:
"The actual appropriation for con-
struction was about $5,0O0,000, the bal
ance being for sites, equipment and
other matter. The Board Of Education
rushed the plans on new buildings to
the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment for approval to the extent Of
practically using up the entire appro-
prlatlon for construction so that it
would seem that the Comptroller was
forced to hold back the approval of
the plans for one building from about
November l until early this year, when
the new appropriation would become
available"
DR.. Ettinger cited many instances
IN which he said the delay in build
Ing construction was traceable directly
to the Comptroller's office.
The obstruction is at the other
enc. of the line" DR.. Ettinger said,
"rather than here "