The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-03-01
Teachers, SALARIES.
Commissioner Webb's Comments {
Mr.. Dodge's Recent Remarks,


Mr.. Dodge's Recent Remarks.
%CRTIc reporter asked Commissioner
Webb what he had to say in reference to the
recent published statements Of Mr.. William
G. Dodge regarding the teachers salary
question: said:
"Nlr. Dodge's attitude rather surprises
me, that is, If anything he does can surprise
after his performance in the school site in
vestigation. The testimony taken in that
case will be published in a few days and l
refer to 1t for fair estimate of Mr.. Dodge's
character. Nothing can be further from
the truth than some of his statements. He
says, II he is reported correctly, that 'Mr.
Webb took 3 per cent. of the teachers sal
aries to make up n deficiency In this
there is not one word of truth. The es.i-
mates for deficiency Of appropriation for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, sent to
the Secretary of the Treasury and by that
officer transmitted to Congress, contains
this item: tal
"Public Schools, District of Columbia:
For salaries of teachers for fiscal year 1886,
submitted, Sl2,000.n
To this is appended note written by the
Commissioners:
This deficiency arises from the fact
that under a decision of the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia, dated
January 20, 1889, ''that the Commissioners
cannot approve of any scale of teachers
salaries in excess of appropriation by Con-
gress, and that within the limit OF such
appropriation they consider 1t to be the ex-
elusive function of the Board of School
Trustees (at this time Mr.. Dodge was one
of the trustees) to arrange and fix the
scale OF salaries" the salaries were so fixed
as to exceed the appropriation for the fiscal
| year 1886, by reason whereof the salaries OF
| teachers were reduced three per cent. This
was done without any fault ON the part
| Of the teachers, and as they contracted for
the salaries offered them, II is equitabl
that they should be paidn What is to be
| thought OF man who in the face of such o
record as tbs makes the outrageous state
ment referred to2 Said Mr.. Webb: ''It is
| charltyto think that for some reason his
mind has become unbalanced, Every
other statement published in the very
! remarkable diatribe published as the
uttorance OF Mr. Dodge is about as
| HtuT INC llulu vs. INC Que nenllOn, III
would be difficult to understand how a
man who has any respect for himself could
be guilty Of such stuff, but for the informa-
tion given us by the speaker that he is not
a candidate for the position of ComInis-
siOner (of course he is not and never was),
he is simply opposed TO Webb aud the
advice he gives to his admirers that Con,
gross should be made to know so much OF
the District that 1t would not be possible Ia
have a Commissioner like Webb. When
that millennial period arrives Gil the Com
missioners will be Dodges. | have never
been an associate of Mr. Dodge, and
don't know his sentiments political ol
religious, any more than he knows mine
but am willing to submit the question o.
my Republicanlsm to any test he may pro
pose, and will pledge myself to show thai
Ibaye given as much If not more sub
stantial aid to the party than he has FIJI
school site investigation turned out to be
farce. It made all who encouraged 4
ridiculous and heaped lasting odium upoi
its principal instigator. But It has had on'
good effect, II has deprived Mr.. Dodge oi
whatever influence he may have had before
and has eiIeotually silenced than insidious
blatant enemy Of the best interests Of oar
community.