, 1875-06-12
LOCAL. LETTERS,
PAY or FEMALE TEApMEn8,

~ k4 Edftor Of The Chicago tribune:
CAloAoo, June 1l.-Tho controversy which is
at proaont being carried on IL tho paporB with
regard to tho reduction of tho nalaren OF female
teachers IN tho public schoolr, although II has
boon spirited and thorough, has, to my mind,
not treated tho subject in all ls poIn.a Of yiow
aud would hag leave, through tho medium oi
your valuable papor, to oAlt the attention OF the
public aud those having tho control OF tho mat.
ter to 4 foH cousdsEations, which may tuduencs
their judgment "a to the proplioty OF auoh =
course.
Assuming that tho reason for tbis reduction IL
economy, tho solution Of tho problem aesn,n
comparatively easy. II the result to 10 accom-
pliahod IL tho tightening Of tho burdens Of tho
sax-payeEe the question HAathes tue reduction
proposed ia tho most just, natEsfAotory, or e1pe-
dent way Of so doing IL the thing to bs disposed
Of. Tho Injustice Of such course has been A.
resly sufficiently demonstrated by othor corro-
spondents (at least to tho satisfaction Of un-
preiunleaa and fair-nindoh personb) but lha
question Of tho reAHonab! b!encss and expediency OF
this mathod Of reducing taxes still remains to DO
considered. Now, 1t It cau Gs shown that It iS
much moro just, aud would DO productive OF far
better results, 10 exercise economy by tho reluc-
iou OF salaries In other quarters, thon surely It
il wtacst to commence the reform where It will
do tho tnost good. pocunIarly, II not ia other
ways. The only juss and reasonable way to do
this, In my opinion. u ~ reducing the Ha1arios
OF .uoarly all Of tho city and county and othcr
political o.icesa. Tue feasibility af sn!s f!nn os
economy snust be apphEent to All, and tho res
sons fur IT. adoption arc mnny aud excellent.
AtaonE them ul&y bs mentioned tile following !
:. Tho Aforesaid oiicsats are being paid moro
than thoy earn. Their salaros range from $I, 900
| 10 fb,000 Ut &1U,091 par 4IluuM Iarely below
Sl,ooo. Now. II will hardly be conteuied that
sehool-tetcheEa, measured by tho atandard OF
otnes p11lIo employees, ara not earning their HaI-
st'est xheu rarely being paid more tflan $l, COO,
Comphto tho hours OF work; fos !nHsanoe, Az.
sshsots AUG ColsotoEs, and most other officers,
work ffotn 10 =. N. until p. IN, Thoso aso thoii
time !s spent in work; Tia majority ot tAo
officials appropriate half the time 10 themselves
| aud SONS Of tho Offices are perfect
ainecuses, requiring 10 attention frog, tucuu,.
bents. On tic other band tho teacher work,
. \. H. until 4:o0 p. H., aul tue nature Of III,
labor ta aucl that u requires inecssAnt At.eu
tion. Az further proof that thcse officials IT,
recelyinR more than tloy earn, II may be Htsta
~ fscL that but very few OF them could obtai
employment iu the Office ef merchant u III!
thttr preusnk aslsty, whils tha generality Of of
it not moro, than schoul-teachesa. II thu dc
Iaatid !e ANY criterion Of wagea, t4is ought 10 b
10 itself conclusive. Again, distinction mus
10 made ln tho quality Ut tho labor. Tho ditch
digger cAnnot hupo to 10 Paid like tho Legislator
nor tbs inferior clork like the Mayori aud
appears TO mo thAs tho pslao,ple should iuyaE
to schoo1"teacLcrs hlkhos salary than polite.
pumnbsu. II tue aucoexa aud ek4nuuill.ty OF
country dspsnda upon tho proper education q
tas masaes, then tha persons eu8Agod iu th
occupation should tsesivs . more 1pazA Il