The San Francisco call., 1899-04-22
TEACHERS MAY
NOW LOSE THEIR
APRIL SALARIES
Auditor Declines to
Approve Them.
MUST KEEP BOOKS STRAIGHT
NO EFFORT MADE TO ADJUST
OLD DIFFERENCES.
November and December Warrants
Allowed to Stand as an Offset to
Money illegally Paid and
Due the City.
MUST KEEP BOOKS STRAIGHT
NO EFFORT MADE TO ADJUST
OLD DIFFERENCES.

The troubous times for the schoolteach-
ers are not yet at an end. From present
appearances their April salaries VIII De
withheld until such time as the differences
between the teachers and the city shaH
have been finally adjusted. Auditor Asa
r. Wells, acting under the advice Oh ms
attorney, General John II. Dickinson, mas
decided to take a stand in the matter and
have settled before it becomes too late
the accounts of the teachers.
Speaking for him yesterday General
Dickinson said: when Mr.. Wells audited
the January salaries of the teachers II
was with the express understanding that
they would take immediate steps to un-
ravel the tangle in which their accounts
with the city were found. The courts had
held that they were illegally paid 100000
last June and that they could not draw
any money from the city treasury until
that amount had been returned or onset.
The teachers took no steps in the matter,
and when February came around we
stretched the law out of all recognizable
shape in order that the teachers mlght
secure their pay for which they were
clamoring.
''Within a few days it has been an
nounced that the teachers and the mer-
chants have come to an agreement. The
merchants take the $35 900, an uneXpend-
ed balance from the first half of the pres
ent fiscal year, and relinquish all claims
to share the money set aside for the
teachers in the second half or the year.
This is all very well in its way, but there
are other parties at interest. At the end
of the fiscal year, in June, the Auditors
books must balance and all the accounts
over which he has control must be closed:
The teachers and the merchants have paid
no heed to this. 1t is to force the issue
that we have taken the present stand.
MY suggestion has been that suit be
brought against Auditor Wells. 1t can
be taken to the Superior Court and he can
be ordered to audit the demand in ques-
ton. This he will refuse to do. He can be
cited for contempt and the matter can be
taken at once to the Supreme Court on
to the suit seeking to expedite it a deci-
sion should be handed down within thirty
days. The settlement of these affairs
has Jagged too much The attorneys
representing the various parties at inter-
est have never met at one time and set
tied matters definitely. There has been
a lack Of concerted action, which would
have resulted in something definite long
ago"
Persons familiar with the fight being
made by the teachers for the money due
them affirm that they do not know what
they want or what is best for them. They
have lost every suit they brought, besides
having adverse rulings handed down re-
garding matters material to their cause.
The present stand taken by the Auditor
is expected to result in clearing the Situ-
alton. Both Mr.. Wells and General Dick
inson have done everything in their power
present instance they are providing
against possible confusion in the future.
They want to protect the bondsmen Of
the Auditor from any suits that might re-
suit from his failing to take due precau-
uons in handling the business of his office.