New-York tribune., 1921-06-27
Union Begins Move to Get
Engineer and Medical
Societies to Appoin;
Board to Make Survey
Report Would Be
Sent toGovernor
Findings of Scientific
Non-P oIiiical Men To
Be Used to Back Appeal

Governor Miller may soon be called
upon to take hand in ending the
Hylan administration mismanage-
ment of the public schools, which, be-
cause Of inefficiency, neglect and in
expert handling of school funds, are
declared to be in a worse condition
to-day than at any other time IN
their history.
It was learned yesterday that
movement started by the Teachers
Union calling upon engineering and
medical societies to appoint a COM
mission to make a survey Of the
schools has for its ultimate object
the presentation of evidence 10 the
Governor with view of having him
take steps to end the evils. Since
public opinion has been stirred by
the disclosures of various civic soci-
cites, headed by the Public Educa-
tion Association, which showed that,
far from keeping his campaign
promises to put the schools on a
modern basis, Mayor Hylan has per-
mitted them to become dilapidated,
insanitary, overcrowded and in many
instances unfit for occupancy, the
teachers have determined to have an
organization of scientific men be-
come sponsors Of an appeal to the
Governor.
Want Schools Out of Politics
Officials of the Teachers Union
would not admit yesterday that they
were engaged in movement TO carry
the issue over the head OF the Mayor,
but it was learned from other sources
that they have become impatient with
the promises and excuses of the Hylan
administration. The purpose is TO place
the charges of school mismanagement
in such concrete shape and in form
to preclude any suggestion of politics
as will warrant the Governor in taking
action. The slogan of the plan is
"The schools must be taken out of
politics.
Teachers perhaps more keenly than
the general public realize that Mayor
Hylan, with an eye to the election next
fall, is now losing no opportunity to
excuse his neglect of the schools dur
ing the three and half years of his
administration" said a teacher yester-
day. every four years the public
school system is treated as kind of
football to be kicked by opposing can
didates. What we want is to prevent
the schools from being campaign is
sue. We want TO make them an edu-
cational issue. We know of no one
who is more likely to put an end to
politics in the schoole than the Gov
ernors
1t is expected that plans will be for
mulated this week for the appointment
by various scientific bodies of non
political commission which viii soon
begin survey.
Somers Wants Craig's Charge Sifted
Another development yesterday like
~ to call the school situstion to the
attention of the Governor was a state
menr by Arthur S. Somers, formerly
president of the Board of Education,
that he desired the Governor to re.
move Comptroller Charles L. Craig
from Office if the latter fails 20 sub
stantiate his charges Involving the in-
tegrity of members and officials of the
Board of Education"
Mr.. Craig on Saturday sent a letter
to District Attorney Harry E. Lewis
oS Kings County, submitting to him
for investigation the proposed aequi-
sitlon of site for a public school in
Neptune Avenue, Coney Island, and ask-
ing Mr.. Lewis "to determine whether
a crime has been committed within
your county either of malfeasance in
office or collusion or corruption in the
acquisition of property for public
purposes"
Mr.. Lewis said yesterday that he
had not received MIR. Craig's letter,
but that upon its probable receipt to-
day he would take whatever steps were
warranted.
The Comptroller pointed out that six
days after the Sinking Fund Commits
sion had released the cjty's interest in
lands in Neptune Avenue to private
owners the Board of Education, acting
on recommendations cf Associated
Superintendent Edward shallow, in
charge of school sites, selected three
alternative sites within the very prom
erty which the city had turned over to
private owners.
N2S'atCAo OF the
Comptroller's charges and his demand
for the removal Of the latter if the
charges are not sustained were con-
tanned in q speech made by Mr.. Somers
before the Board of Education last
Wednesday, A copy of the speech was
given out yesterday by A. Emerson
Palmer, secretary of the board.
Explains Object of Transfer
Charges have been made to the
effect that land which was sold by shs
city for pittance is now being uur-
chased by the Board of Education for
q large sum Of money" said Mr..
Somers, VINO has been member Of The
board for thirty years.
Ihe public does not quite get the
real fact that the SMALL sum inyolvad
was sum that was paid to the citv hv
the owners of the property in question
Tor the purpose Of getting a release
that would enable them to present 3
clear title in the event of their pran-
erty being offered for sale or purchase
by any prospective buyer and that the
actual value was as represented in the
department records OF the Board OF