San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-09
SAN ANTONIO'S AUTOCRAT.
THE MAYORS DIPLOMATIC ACTION
AT THE SCHOOL BOARD
MEETING.

How He Vanquished Three Opponents
| Leaving One Only With the Cour-
age to Cry May" Nay"
The air was somewhat sultry and sui
| phuric in the meeting of the school
board, but this was not surprising. The
mayor WAS present, and ii was the first
time that he has put in an appearance
| for some weeks. 1t was well known
fact that the great mOgul did not APP
| prove OF much that the board had done
| in his absence, and that he proposed I'M
| doing what the members had done. The
board evidently knew what was coming.
| Gallagher smiled gravely, Hambleton
looked rs II the sword OF Damocles hang
above his head, Smye did not seem TO
| relish the affair, and the l2X9 smile OF
the facetious Schreiner was obscured In
| gloom. Even Superintendent Smith
| appeared TO be considerably nervous.
The great mogul Of course assumed
the chair, and the minutes OF the meet
ing were read. The mayor listened
| eagerly and frequently interrupted the
reading to ask for information, which
was freely given to him.
The minutes were then read and
adopted, and then the mayor opened the
fun by straight talk that seemed to be
fringed with satire and dOgmatism. He
told the board that they had been liberal
with some teachers as regards salary and
ill-liberal to others. He reminded the
board that a teacher might fail in get
ting first class certificate and be a su-
perior instructor to the one who had, hut
he did not explain the peculiar dogma.
The board had classed the teachers by
merit. and this did not apparently suit.
Prof. Smith informed him that the ap-
pOintments were based upon averages.
There were some good teachers who had
fallen below the average, and who could
not be replaced and yet others had a
much higher salary. The teachers
should at least have a subsistence. Some
of the teachers were paid $40 per month.
He didn't believe in placing the mini
mum salary lower than S45.
Smye explained that 1t was intended
to grade salaries according TO
certificates, but it was found that
il would be unjust to old teachers,
the Board, therefore, set the salaries
same as last year for those who failed to
get certificates, giving So extra in con-
sideration of past services.
The Mayor said there were only few
teachers under S45. They were good
teachers and ought at least to have the
laborer's pay of 81 70 per diem. He did
not say that the teacher was any better
than the labOrer, bat it cost more time
and expense to qualify for the position.
They had to educate the peoples chill
dren and 1t was thankless task.
Gallagher satirically observed that he
was glad the mayor was converted to a
belief in higher wages. The laborer was
at all times worthy of his hire, and he
was therefore ready to vote for an in
crease of salary.
Hnn,hlatnp auiH thau xunnlI hay haan
more liberal II they could, but they fixed
the salaries according to the income.
Then occurred a sharp controversy on
the ways and means of the school fund,
when Schreiner wanted the mayors
views on the salary question. The
mayor CURLY answered that he wanted
the teachers who were placed at $40 to
be put down at $40. In response to en-
duiry the superintendent stated there
were 10 teachers so rated.
Gallagher moved that the increase be
made, but Smye objected. unless a pro-
portionate increase was made to the
other teachers.
Hambleton amended Gallagher's mo-
ton that the salaries remain as fixed by
the board. and Schreiner seconded it.
The face of the mayor was troubled
and clouded, and he said with due dig
nifty and emphasis: "Then I'll take the
| whole matter to the council" This
alarming threat didn't appear to intimi-
| date Smye or Hambleton, and said they
were agreeable to his doing so.
Schreiner pathetically wanted to know
why the mayor didn't kick before. The
board acted in good faith and did the
best they could for the teachers. The
mayor believed that, but he was fight
| ing for the extra S. for 10 teachers, and
II the board wouldn't give it he would
take the whole matter to the council
and call a special meeting to settle the
| question,
Hambleton still urged that 1t was best
to keep the salary list as fixed, when the
mayor put on bland smile and hope
the board wouldn't carry the thing as
far as they were doing. 1t was an in
furious policy.
| The blande smile didn't work. Ham
bleton still urged his willingness to
| meet the council on the ques-
ton, when the mayor looked daggers
| at him and said, sob, yes, understand,
| know you pretty well by this time"
Schreiner maintained his opinion, and
| did not believe in the justice of the
mayors proposal.
The motion to let salaries remain as
| fixed was again presented, and then the
mayor was again at work In gaining his
| point by concilliation. He was sorry to
differ with them, but said with pointed
| emphases, there was body higher than
the school board. Justice was done to
some teachers, injustice to others. He
would take the matter to the council on
the ground that 'you don't know what
monies you'll have at your disposal"
| Smye then pertinently enquired how
| IL was that under these circumstances