Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-05-22
ESTIMATE BOARD
HEARS REQUEST
Want $40 Monthly Bonus Un-
til High Cost of Living is Re-
duced---No Action Taken
TO SEE SCHOOL BD. AGAIN
Told That Estimate Board
Could Not Go Over Heads of
Education Body.

Marching In massed formation
from their rendezvous In High street
near city hall. about ninety grade
school teachers stormed city hall last
night, where the Board of school
Estimate was in session, in a concert
ed action to get a So monthly bonus
added to their present salary sched-
ule.
The engagement that followed end
ed In drawn battle. No decision
was reached, In fact. according to
the school estimate board the teachers
We're conducting their offensive on the
wrong front. AS a result another bat
tie will be fought. The teachers will
resume thier former offensive when
the Board of Education holds its next
meeting.
Members of the estimate board.
Alderman -at-Large John N. Wester,
Alderman Christian Anderson and
Commissioner John X. Sheehy con-
gregated in front of city hail. could
see the marching teachers coming
down High street. They wondered
what was going to happen. 1t did not
seem as If they were afraid, but they
fell back to in front of sthe police
stations just the same, perhaps to
. give the marching teachers a chance
TO file up stairs to the council
chambers
Mayor Frank Dorsey was next on
the scene. Commissioner Victor Main
followed soon after. Both expressed
surprise at the attack. Before
meeting the estimate board members
decided that the teachers were pur-
suing the wrong tactics that the Board
of School Estimate had nothing to
say as to the wages to be paid teach
ers. They only paid the bills AS
a result they decided that they would
cut the teachers short and go about
their regular business.
But large majority of the teach
ers present were women and they
were heard for over an hour. Mayor
Dorsey called the meeting to order
I and asked If the delegation wished
to address the board. Miss Lillian
Fretz as spokesman for the grade
teachers fired the first shot by de-
claring that the salary schedule for
the coming year is inadequate. She
declared that a committee of teach
ers appearing before the Board Of
Education on May in a plea for a
bonus of $40 monthly, had been told
that as the budget had been closed
nothing could be done. She added
that as the school estimate board
was to consider raising an additional
s15O,000 to pay for the new school in
Hall avenue, the teachers asked that
the bonus request, which would also
mean an added appropriation, be
considered at the same time.
Answering Miss Fretz, Mayor Dor
sey said that there was no chance Of
talking the matter over as the mat
ter rested with the Board of Educa-
tion. He explained how the two
boards function and advised the
teachers to take the matter up with
the Board of Education, who In turn
will present their demands to the
estimate board.
When 1t was said that the budget
was closed for the year, the question
of an emergency appropriation was
raised. 1t was explained that the is
suing of an emergency note was ef-
fected last year, when the $50 bonus
was given, but in discussing that
phase of city finances, Mayor Dorsey
said that he did not know IL the law
would provide for a similar action at
this time, it being war measure.
According to one of the teachers,
the war is not over yet. At this time
the mayor got out a book of laws
and found that the law under which
money can be raised by issuing emer
gency notes holds good until 1922.
Loud applause followed this finding.
But" explained the mayor, II
do not wish to go over the heads of,
the school board in this. as it Is UP
to them to decide whether a bonus
is granted or not. They in turn come
10 us for the finances"
He also advised the teachers to
consult with the city attorney on the
matter.
"Who is the city Attorney" asked
one of the teachers.
She was told that Leo Goldberger
filled that Office and it was asked
whether or not he could not be reach
ed at that time. 1t was not known
If he could be reached or not.
Miss Jetta Stacey said that she was
lead to understand that the matter
was up to the Board of School Esti-
mate. This brought an explanation
from President of the School Board
Sheehy He told how the school
board was in a minority on the esti-
mate board and that only finances
were acted upon by the latter board.
Miss Jane Warren said that the
teachers were told by the school COM
missioners recently that under the
"existing conditions" the board
could not raise the money at the
present time.
But" she asked. what are the
existing conditions?" The Board of
School Estimate says that 1t can be
raised"
Mr.. Sheehy explained that as the
budget had been closed he did not see
how any other method could be used
to raise the money. The mayor was
of the same opinion.
Continued on page p
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