The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-26
SAYS SCHOOLS FACE
A SERIOUS CRISIS
President of Board of Educa-
ton Urges Special Con-
ference on Funds.

Declaring that the schools OF the city
face a serious crisis through the action
| which the Board of Estimate has taken
in regard TO the school funds for 1921.
Aiming s. Prall, president of the Board
| of Education. In a letter addressed to
the Mayor urged last night that a spe-
cial conference be called Immediately
Department of Education ana the Off
cials OF this city.
| He asked that this meeting take place
| not later than Thursday as II Is i'm
perative that the matter of the school
funds be threshed out before the last
day Of this month after which no
| changes can be made in the 1921 bud
| get.
Mr.. Pral pointed out in his letter
that the action OF the Board of Esti-
mate In cutting the requests of the
Board of Education to $4,000, Co., leav-
ing 1t to the State Legislature to find
a means for paying the balance. Is go
ing to put the school heads In serious
predicament when they attempt to APP
portion the money allowed them to the
various branches Of the educational
| system.
what the Law Provides.
1.-The law provides that there shall be
q general school fund" his letter states
land special school fund and clearly
defines the purposes OF each. On Janu-
airy / 1t will be the duty of the Board
of Education to apportion the funds al
lowed by your board for educational
purposes.
IF we are to apportion the moneys
| n
tional system during the year 1881. there
will come time when all activities will
cease because of lack Of funds, as the
amount provided by you will not per-
NIT this department to continue the
activities under its control for more than
two-thirds of one year"
The letter continues to the effect that
1t is imperative upon the Board OF Edu-
cation to demand from the Board OF
Estimate conference In which the State
Department of Education, the Board OF
Education Of this city and the Board
Of Estimate may participate, to the end
that the Board OF Education may be ad-
vised as to how the money may De
provided for the proper conduct of the
schools for the year 1921"
Hearing on the Budget.
The public hearing yesterday on the
1921 budget was taken up by Stewart
Browne, president of the United Real
Estate Owners Association, and by Ed
ward +. Doyle, representing the New
York Real Estate Board. who protested
numerous items, including the appro-
priations for social service activities
and who made various suggestions fol-
radical changes in the city government
abolition of county offices OF various
kinds and consolidation of other large
departments.
Mr.. Browne at the conclusion Of the
day complained to the board that II ap
peared to be paying little or no atten.
| ton to his remarks. and also that the
public seemed to be totally indifferent
to the budget as evidenced by the fac,
that there were only two spectators II
the room. The Mayor told the stenog
rapher to note upon the record that they
had listened to Mr.. Browne from IL A
NJ until p. NJ, and that after all tina
time he had complained that they wer,
not paying attention.
The usual slapstick comedy featurinf
the Comptroller and the President of tn,
Board of Aldermen was staged for tn,
diversion Of those present. 1t started
when the Comptroller agreed with Mr.
Browne that an item of $1,000 for tn.
salary of chauffeur attendant" to tn,
| President OF the Board of Aldermen
should be eliminated.
President La guardia set out 60 prov,
that the Comptroller was more generou,
with the peoples money than he was anc
wanted to know about an item Of SIS, 90,
for automobiles for city paymasters.
Comptroller Craig replied that thcs,
automobiles were needed TO carry money
and he added. And | may say, for tn,
information OF the President Of tn,
Board Of Aldermen. that these paymas
ters are not merely heavily bonded Blu
heavily armed