New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-06-24
Craig Assails
Hylaln Delay
In School Debt
Reviews History of Claims
for 100000 in 1918
and Charges Court Ruiz
ing Has Not Been Obeyed
Special Bond IssueNeeded
Asserts Boards of Estimate
and Education Are Guilty
of Illegal Proceedings

SoHPbfoiler SnarleS IL. Crafg yeSCer~
day added new count to his charges
against the Board of Education and the
city authorities in regard to education
al matters. In communication to the
Board OF Estimate, which will appear
on the calendar of its meeting to-day,
the Comptroller called attention to the
delay In proceeding toward the pay
nent of more than $4,000 for serv-
ices, supplies and materials furnished
TO the Board of Education in 1918, as
we'll as refunds of salaries due to
teachers for that year.
This is the matter in which the
Comptroller's action in refusing to pay
these claims, except in legal and or
derby manner, was sustained by the
Court of Appeals more than month
ago against the attempt of the Corpo-
ration Counsel to mancamus him on
behalf of the Board of Education. The
Comptroller refused to honor vouchers
for these claims at the time on the
ground that the moneys provided to
pay them had been diverted to other
purposes by the Board of Education.
The Comptroller charges both the
Board of Education and the Board of
Estimate with illegal proceedings relat-
ing to the transactions involved.
Tells of Budget Juggling
He reviews the steps taken at his in
stance to expedite the payment of these
claims and the attempts of Mayor Hy-
Ian and the Corporation Counsel and
the Board of Education to prevent COM
pliance with his recommendations. He
charges the Mayor. the President of
the Board of Aldermen and the Presi-
dent of the Borough of Queens with
increasing the budget of 1921 by nearly
81 100000 and diminishing to that ex-
tent the amount of moneys available
for the public schools this year When
the Corporation Counsel, who is sup
posed to be counsel for the Comptrol-
Ter, appeared against him in the man
damus proceedings, Mr.. Craig conduct
ed his own case and, now that he has
been sustained by the highest court in
the state, he contends that nothing is
being done toward meeting these back
claims for teachers salaries and other
expenses pursuant to the decision of
the courts.
1T is quite clear" says the Comp
troller "that the thing uppermost in
the minds of those sponsoring this OPP
Grafton was not the payment of teach
ers' refunds, pension liabilities or oqui
table claims, but to save the Board of
Education from the stigma of illegal
to transfer that stigma to the Comp
troller and Illustrate his efforts to deal
with appropriations in the payment of
claims in the manner provided by
law"
After pointing out that the Board of
Education had transmitted resolutions
purporting to comply with the decision
of the Court of Appeals, but which
did not comply with the decision (inas-
much as no request was made by the
educational authorities for an appro-
liabilities, either for teachers salaries
or supplies and materially the Comp
troller says:
Further delay and illegality in
these matters should not be tolerated.
The Board of Education should forth
with comply with the resolution of the
Board of Estimate adopted May %.
1920, at the instance Of the Comp
troller, and with the opinion of Justice
ing an application for the necessary
appropriations which will have to be
provided by the issuance of special
revenue bonds, the liability for the
redemption of which must be included
in the itemized annual estimate of the
Board of Education to be submitted
for the year 1922. The amount re-
qulred Tor equitable CLAIMS has been
increased by subsequent items to
1858 465 and the amount required for
teachers refunds, salaries and pension
fund liabilities is now $210,921.
Charges Illegal Liabilities
Reviewing the circums stances leading
up to the present situation, the Comp
troller declared that in 1918 the Board
of Education, appointed by Mayor Hy-
Ian in the early part of that year,
incurred liabilities vastly in excess of
the appropriations made for it's pur-
poses"
approximately 2,400 claims for serv-
ices, materials and supplies were thus
illegally incurred" ne says, "besides
which toward the end of that year it
appeared that the appropriations made
to pay the teachers salaries had been
so diverted from their purposes that
insufficient funds remained to meet the
payrolls for the month of December,
1918. This course of action by the
Board Of Education was in plain dis
regard of the provisions of the educa-
ton law as we'll as the Greater New
York chapter. On motion of the Comp
troller the Board of Estimate trans
ferred 100000 to meet the payroll
situation. The Board of Education
persistently ignored the equities OF
enose VINO, In good faith, had furnished
10 with services, materials and supplies
without knowledge that the Board of
Education had acted illegally in order
ing ana making use thereof"