St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-15
AID. MARKHAM OPPOSED Ii,
Making an Eloquent Effort
in Behalf Of the School
Teachers.
CITY SALARY CUT VETOED.
Mayor Did 1t Because Of the
Preamble to the ReSO-
luton.

The special meeting of the board of
aldermen, called for the consideration
Of the report of the special joint COM
uneventful. There were present last
night Messrs. Ehrmanntraut, Murphy,
Hare, Milham. Ulmer and Brady.
When the report of the committee
was read. accompanied by an ordinance
for the appropriation Of the amount of
the proposed reduced school budget.
there was one more attempt to stem the
tide. 1t came from Aid. Markham,
who eSpouSed the cause of the poor
school teacher with lengthy speech.
Mr.. Markham was opposed to the pro-
posed reduction i'll teachers salaries on
general principles, and felt inclined to
give his reasons. He said:
"There is no class of taxes paid by
our citizens so cheerfully as that for the
support of the public schools. Even
those who. from religious beliefs and
motives, feel inclined to make use of
the parochlal schools, are willing to
contribute their share, 80 that our pub
lie schools shall be of the best. l think
that we are tesiDning our system of
economy at the wrong end. There was
time in the history of this city when
the old school board wasted the public
money improperly. But that was dur
Ing the time that the buildings were
erected. and many jobs were entered
into. Under The present charter every
thing that can be done for economy has
been done by our efficient board Of
school inspectors. The gentlemen who
sign and send in this report in meas
ure apologize for it. The charter for
bids this council to fix the sal
aries of any class of teachers. Yet
his report practically does so in several
instances. This is going around the
provisions OF the charter by suggesting
to the board what salaries ii shall pay
to certain classes of teachers. There
have been two reductions in teachers
salaries already. 1t appears that in
every case the economy has begun with
the school teacher. What salaries does
the public demand shall be reduced?
Not certainly that of the poor teacher.
1t is that of the high priced official, who
sits with his feet upon his desk doing
practically nothing. The question is.
can we carry this idea OF reform and re-
trenchment into other departments of
the city government? If motif these
men are intrenched behind legislative
enactments. then III ali common justice,
l say, let the
Poor school Teacher Alone.
"His is one of the most exacting pro-
fessions in the world. requiring apti-
tude and fitness and a great amount of
nd IN ior
direction. One who fits himself for that
particular profession is fit for no other
after few years.
at seems to me unjust to cut off
$4,000 from the salaries of one class Of
city employees, as L fully believe that
we will be unable to carry the idea of
reductions into other departments. l
am in favor of the greatest liberality in
the matter of our educational instltu-
tons and greatest economy in our every
day expenditures. l move. therefore,
that the ordinance be amended so as to
read $780, for teachers salaries"
Id. Hare, in replying, said that he
was i'm sympathy with much that the
gentleman had said. but that a special
committee had spent much time and
labor on the investigation of the matter
and the report should be sustained.
During the present times the liberality
with the public's money must cease.
The city will have just as good schools
and fully as competent teachers in the
future, even if the small reductions
recommended go into force"
Mr.. Markham's amendment was lost :.
he alone voted for its passage.
The question recurring on the passage
of the report and ordinance as recon-
mended by the committee. the same
were passed by vote of 5 to 2, those
voting for the same being Aid. Ehrman-
traut, Murphy, Hare, Milham and Brady;
those voting nay, Markham and Ulmer.