New-York tribune., 1922-12-05
Hylan to Shift
School Building
Control in Feud
Construction Is Suffering
Under Ettinger, Is Expla-
nation of Plan 10 Cut
Power of Superintendent
"BaIderdash," Is Reply
Education Head Says He
Already Is kept Out of,
Boards Business Affairs

The long-stRneing fued between
Mayor Hylan and william l. Ettinger.
Superintendent Of Schools, broke out
again yesterday. when the Mayor an
nounesd that plans were under way 70
change the bylaws Of the Board Of
Education in order to relieve the su-
serintendent Of control over the build
ins department Of tho Board Of Edu-
cation. Answering recent criticisms Of
ais Administration for failure 70 build
schools, the Mayor placed the respon-
sibillty a. Mr.. Ettinger's door. pr.
Ettinger, in turn, characterized tho
Navor,s statement "a balderdash, and
declared Il was time 70 "put all that
sort Of stua IN cold storage"
"ft is true, the Mayor said, shat the
building department under Ettinger
has not made the progress that this
adruinistration and the Board OF Edu-
cation hoped or. Mr.. Ryan, president
Of the Board Of Edueation. had an in
ve,tlgatlon made Of the building de-
partment. and IL now making changes
IN order that the control OF that de-
nartment will be taken out Of Superin-
tendent Ettinger's hands, and under
new policy fifty TO 100 new schools viii
be under way during the next year.
The Board Of Estimate Will appropriate
the necessary amount OF money for
that purpose.
Charges Laxity to Ettinger
III superintendent Ettinger had
aid more attention 20 properly edu-
esting the children In the three Rs and
20 getting the building department un-
der him 10 speed Up the work under
ne present Law, instead Of playing into
fse hands Of Nudd and the Gary
Rockefeller educational crowd, who are
circulating false propaganda about this
,dninistration in order 70 continue
nor work 70 AZ the child for the mill
and the factory, a great deal more
would have been accomplished IN the
last three or four years. Schools arc
being and will be built IN spite OF Et.
finger and Nudd and the Gary and
Rockefeller educational interests"
The Mayor said his administration
had constructed sin the neighborhood
OF forty schools and additions 70
schools, with forty-odd more on the
way," and had appropriated So5.VOO'VVV
FOR this purpose. He declared that the
Mitchell and other administrations nae
neglected TO build public schools ana
consequently when his administTat1on toa .on
went into Office the city was S1oDOO,OVV
20 500, 1000 900 behind In the eonstrpe-
tiOn Of public schools.
Isn't New, Says Ettinger
When the Mayors statement was
called 70 the attention Of Supennteno-
ent Ettingcr, he said;
That's what l would call balderdash.
How could you answer any stun IKE
hat IT'S time 70 put all that sort OF
etuf In cold storage. We never criti-
cired the administration for laxity In
building schools. whatever the short
cominge Of the building department
re thev cannot be attributed 70 me.
THAT is ali in the hands Of DR.. Fergu-
son, chairman Of the committee on
buildings. DR.. Ferguson has been
working hard and effectively, but II IS
a matter Of legal restrictions. OF what
avail are plans when you can't let your
contracts7 Il Is really q question OF
expansion Of the contractors market.
&C. B. ]. Snyder. Superintendent OF
School Buildings, Is under me in law
but not IN Nractice. They can't take
away the power any more than they
have. Things are now In transitory
tate. and / expect new bylaws will
nf kQOUNfus " utH h1NN ANNt'
troll Of buildIng7 The policy has been,
cvor since / have been superintendent
20 Keep me out OF the business affairs
- the board as much as possible"
George J. Ryan, president OF the
board. said yesterday that changes
were soon 20 be made in the organiza-
tion OF the building department Of the
BOARD and other bureaus 20 facilitate
the construction Of schools.
DR.. John A. Ferguson, mentioned by
superintendent Ettinger as chairman
~ the committee on buildings Of the
Board Of Education. has been promi-
nently suggested as the successor Of
Or. Royal s. Copeland. Health Com
missioner, when he leaves the depart
ment 20 take up his duties in the
United States Senate. DR.. Ferguson
is the Mayors family physician and
lives AZ 982 Bushwick Avenue, Brook
lyn, near the Mayors home.
Dr. Copeland has announced that he
does not intend 20 leave the Health
Department until he goes TO the Sen
ate next March. The Mayor has
plenty OF time in which 70 decide upon
his successor. II is understood that
he is considering both DR.. Ferguson