Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-06
THE SCHOOL TEACHERS PAY.
The First Division Teachers Doubtful
Whether to submit or Not to the
Trustees Plan.

A meeting of the teachers Of the first division
OF public schools was held last evening, and
their action in regard to the deficiency In the
appropriation for salaries and the plan of a
horizontal reduction as proposed by the board
of school trustees was thoroughly discussed. At a
former meeting. it had been practically decided
to recommend that If the reduction of three per
cent went into effect that one month should be
dropped from the school year, but this has been
found impossible. The meeting last evening
considered two propositions, the first being a
plan to leave the matter of signing the pay roll
to the individual discretion of each teacher, but
to make o record of a protest against their sys-
tenn OF reduction The second proposition was
to refuse to sign the payroll at all and to en-
dcavor to make arrangements to have money
sufficient for the immediate wants OF the teach
ers loaned until Congress met and remedied the
difficulty. Both of these propositions were very
earnestly discussed by the large representation
OF the teachers present, and a committee was
appointed to consider the matter and report to
a meeting which will be held this evening. 1t
is thought that the teachers will finally decide
to make a protest against this arrangement
and place themselves on the record, and then
accept the reduced pay. The dissatisfaction
exists not alone in the first division, but is said
to be well developed in the second and fourth
The action of the teachers of the first division
is therefore awaited with great interest 10y all
the public school teachers of the District. The
ground taken by the teachers is not against
the reduction itself, but against the injustice,
ing the low-salaried teachers to suffer a
reduction because the increase in the
salaries OF some OF the best paid teach
ers has made the average too high. For
instance they say that the salary of the princi-
pal of the High school was increased, and also
that of several Of his assistants and the teacher
Of music. A new assistant to the principal Of
the Normal school was provided, and several
other changes made, all based upon an average
was cut down by the Commissioners to $3.50,
and Congress refused to make any change. 1t
is claimed that if reductions were made in the
higher salaries that the average could be
brought down to the amount specified in the
law. To-morrow is pay day and the supervis-
ing principal, Mr.. Cram, said this morning that
he did not know whether the teachers would
sign the pay-rolls or not. That will probably
be determined at the meeting this evening.
WHAT AUDITOR TICHENOR SAYS
The district auditor. speaking this morning of
aries Of school teachers, said that it is an un-
doubted fact that such deficiency will be found
at the close of the year, ut the rate of salaries
fixed by the committee on teachers In their
schedule.
HAD the schedule Of teachers pay been
made up before the appropriation was nader"
Certainly it had" said the auditor, .'but the
amount appropriated by Congress was not suf-
hctent to meet 1t. There was mistake some
where" he continued, "e;ther the amount
asked for was not appropriated, or there was not
tees in the appointment of teachers, making
their number conform to the sum appropriated.
The sum appropriated for teachers pay for the
entire year was $39O,O0O.
How is it proposed to remedy the diff
cnlty?" asked the reporter.
"By making deduction, said the auditor,
"on all the teachers salaries of 3 per cent,
which will be proportionate equal amount.
This seems to be the most practical way out of
the difficulty. This will have to be done and a
deficiency asked for OF about $4,000, the
amount or near the amount of deficiency. Con-
gress seems to have cut down the amount
asked for. It is no fault of the Commission
erS.'
Twill there not be good ground for claims
against the District by the school teachers
hereafter?"
"There may be, said the auditor; 81 cannot
say. but they will be in small amounts, 1t
any,"