The Portland daily press., 1892-04-19

July Regatta-The Committee Adjourn
: without Definitely Establishing Appro-
| priations. -
| The adjourned meeting of the COM
mittee on estimates was held last even
ing. This was tie last meeting at which
requests for appropriations could be
made. Now this committee will consider
all the requests and will make up the
appropriation bill which will be pre-
sented to the City Council for action the
first Monday in May.
City Engineer Jordan and Mr.. Smith,
from the Park Commissioners, approved
and asked for an appropriation of $4,000,
part of the sum to go for new bridge
| at the Oaks.
Engineer Jordan explained the re-
quired extensions and Improvements OF
sewers and asked for $1,7oO, a sum he
considered necessary for that purpose.
Hon. Chas. F. Libby, DR.. Holt, Hon.
N. P. Frank and Hon. A. Little appeared
and asked for an appropriation of $4,000
for the Eye and Ear Inffrmary.
The Fourth of July committee ask for
$1,000.
Salaries of School Teachers.
One of the most important matters
that come before the city committee last
evening was the question of raising the
school teachers salaries. This has been
advocated by the superintendent and
school committee at various times; but
without exciting any general interest.
This year the teachers themselves have
petitioned for the increase, and have
made quite a movement to secure it.
The request of the teachers seems to
be fair and reasonable. The male teach
ers at the heads of the large schools, do
| not, as we understand it, ask increases
for themselves, but the women teachers
outside of the high school for whom the
increase is asked certainly ought to have
it. The schools in which the teachers
should be better paid are the grammar
and primary grades. The principals of
primary schools, of which there are only
eight, get $500 each per annum.. In the
first and second grade of the grammar
schools teachers get $3.50 year and $425
in the third and fourth grade. In the
primary grade the teachers begin at $500,
and are raised $50 year until they get
$400. Outside the high school there are
eight women teachers getting $500 year
Id; Is getting $45o, 81 getting
1925 and so getting $40O or
less. In all there are about hundred
who ask the advance of $50 per year.
The total cost to the city would be up
wards of 5000 yearly.
"We do not Think said
Portland teacher the other day, ssthat
we are unreasonable. Four hundred
dollars year is pretty small salary for
a woman who must live in Portland. It
is not SIS week. When you think that
to live as a teacher must live, will cost
about $5 week for board and inciden-
tails, $e week seems pretty poor wages.
1t leaves only So for clothes, books, etc.
OF course some may say that we do not
have to work all the year; but we are so
tired when vacation comes that we need
rest, and our board bills go on as usu-
al,''
Superintendent Lord appeared before
the committee last evening to favor the
increase in salaries. He set forth the
facts in favor of the increase, and stated
that the city of Worcester, with $4,000
people spent s2o5, 900 yearly for teachers
salaries, while Portland, with 10000,
spent ST, ,912.
Members of the committee questioned
Mr.. Lord quite closely. One wanted to
know if the teachers were not getting as
much year as carpenters got. Mr.. Lord
replied that this might be SO; and he was
sorry if it was, But he certainly thought
the teachers should have more than
S40O.
The committee adjourned without tax
ing any action.
Regatta Not Likely.