Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-09
The Pay of the Teachers.

AUDITOR RICHARDS DEFENDS HIS POSITION
TEACHERs NOT OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT
The auditor of the District, z. Richards, esq.,,
mas addressed communication to Controller
George r. Baker, in which Mr.. Richards saws:
GAS you have referred back to this office the
reQuisition for teachers salaries for the months
OF July and August, and for other bills incurred
mnich was approved by the board Of trustees,
and being sent to me after the close of the
month, was approved by me; and as you have
deemed IT Of sufficient Importance to obtain and
send to me, and have Published in the papers,
the written opinion OF the attorney for the Dis
0ict, William A. Cook, esq, which is adverse to
my approval, although my reasons have never
i been sought by any one, deem it sufficiently
you my reasons for approving the said requisi-
Ron. In the Hrst place, the laws of the late
corporation OF Washington, and especially the
act Of October II, 1861 with the subsequent acts
or Common Council, "authorize ed and directed
the mayor annually hereafter, in authorization of
the next annual appropriation to pay the full
amount OF all salaries due to the teachers of
public schools at the commencement of the
summer vacation" Payments for such salaries
nave been made accordingly annually until this
year, and the Governor one year ago very prop
erly provided for their payment. The organic
act for the new District government does not
repeal but confirms said act.
The only legislative act which can be claimed
70 repeal II, even indirectly that of August o.
ISL, which prescribes the duties OF certain Off
GERS, &c, as follows: can accounts against the
board OF trustees Of public schools shall be rem
deTed in duplicate, and when found correct shall
be approved by the said boar is respectively: and
1mmediately after the close of each month q
statement OF all accounts received and approved
as Aforesaid, shall be transmitted with the du-
Phcate accounts embraced in such statements to
.ne aGnl' or OF tne District who shall thereupon
repeating clause in this law, it must be found In
the words, "after the close OF each month"
bills for services rendered, or for Articles fnr-
nished by the board of trustees before thew are
presented TO the auditor for his approval; and
also, that such approved bills must be presented
70 the auditor after the close of each month.
Neither the kind of bill, nor the amount is speci-
he'd, II II Is only presented with duplicate vouch-
ers, approved by the board, after the close of
each month. Even if there were no other con-
siderations, 1 am unable to understand how
This act, either directly, indirectly, or in
t, tent rePeals or annuls plain, pos
has been confirmed by the organic act
Again, the teachers, sweeps, &C., are not Off
Gers under any legislative act, but they receive
their AZ pointmentsfrom, and are paid under the
erection Of the trustees, and are not therefore
subject to the law which requires the officers of
the District TO be paid monthly, since their sals-
ries are fixed for one year of school work. i am
unable 10 End any law which requires teachers
salaries, &c, TO be paid either monthly, bi.
hoLthly, or semi monthly. The custom has
monthly until the school closes for the wear and
.hen TO pay them the balance or their salaries
not be aid In ten equal payments, if the trus-
tees should 80 decide. Again, the whole service
1or the year OF teachers, sweeps, &c, have been
fully performed. They are doing nothing and
can no nothing curing July and AUxust in con-
neetion with the schools. except to recuperate
the!r broken down health and fit themselves
better Tor the work of another year. The trus-
tees DO not claim any pay for services not per
formed, nor ior expenditures not incurred
Again, by the acts or the common council and
OF the legislature the trustees are invested with
power and discretion in relation to all the saIa.
Iles OK their appointees and the contingencies OF
the schools, and have seen no law of Congress
or OF ,ne Ieglsla.u re to the contrary. Whatever
bills therefore, they approve, in the legitimate
discharge OF their duties, are to be presented
with duplicate vouchers, latter the close OF
each month" to the auditor, for his examina-
In approving the requisition OF the trustees
Ior teachers salaries, &C., am unable to see
Una, nave recognized advance payments, or
PAY ments in the nature Of advances, or by anti
cipauon, but claims only for services rendered
anu expenses actually incurred under direct
sn,, OF law. Again, although there is .
eouncn ecs which requires the salary of the
saperintendent to be paid 1t the samc time and
IN me same manner - the teachers' salaries
yss are sns sh secretary, and
ender me law creating District ofices. h is
plain they must be paid monthly. fhsSs Other
70 conclude nat ought to an naxe ain. induced me
the reputation Of the trustees, but Am inciineS
90 believe that the above statement is 4 sufs.
cient juSdncation for my approval, and here my
sALs OF BOOTHS, Sc, AT THE scHuErzsx
PAkK-.Green s. Williams, auctioneers, sold
yesterday the stands, bars, booths, Sc, In the
asnington Schuetzen Park for the festival on
the 18th, 3oth and 3lst OF July and the Ist and
I'd Of August, a. follows:-B No. 1, 70 o.
70 ea iGs f ReS. bar No John yogt SIS; bar
es5; bar No. s, George Bauer. sol: vine bsr2'
Henry VIII, sl65; two raffie stands, II. Reh. sN
each; two sausage stands, Charles Ebel, ss5 and
$40; two confectionery stands, L. Zezre So
and $50 80; two cigar stands one to Jacob reso
for $50, the other to Adam Young for az
two shooting galleries. H. Reh, SIS and 40,
George walker, s75; carrousel, +. Reh, az.
swings. j. p. Auster, SO; barber shop, A. Bac,
chus, IS; total, s1,Tl6.
FINE JET ard French gilt and tortoise shell
jewelry in all new styles az Prigg's jewelry