The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-07
TEACHERS WILL WAIT
FEDERATION. OF GRADE TEACHERS
DISCUSS THE. SALARY sITUA-
TION AT LENGTH
TWO COMMITTEES ARE NAMED

One to Thank the Board of Educa-
ton for It's Stand in Their Be-
half and the Other to Look Up
the Legal Status of the Case-Are
They Now Under Contract: -Ac-
ton Postponed TIL Nov. II.
AT meeting OF the Federation of Grade
Teachers, held yesterday afternoon In
assembly hall at the Central high school,
the salary question. raised by the failure
of Comptroller McCardy to audit the
pay rolls. was considered, and after some
discussion the board of school inspectors
was indorsed for its Strength and
sta unchness."
Two committees were appointed. One
is to confer with the board of school in
spectors, to extend the cordial sympathy
and cooperation of the teachers, and to
make an expression Of the appreciation of
the teachers Of the manly attitude taken
by that body. The other committee was
appointed to look up the legal status of
the pay roll question, and if Mr.. McCardy
continues to refuse to arbitrate the mat
ter. the strong arm of the law will be
the last resort. Adjournment was taken
until Nov. II, two days after pay day,
and If by that time Mr.. McCardy does
not change his position something Is to
happen.
Miss RObb, the chairman of the grade
teachers meeting, explained that at the
recent meeting Of the school board a
member of the federation had been on
hand. After the meeting President Zim-
mermann assured the representative of
the federation that the board was with
the teachers, that it was planning for
their best interests, and would continue
to do so In the future. The board would
stand by the teachers, she was assured by
President Zimmerman, and she gave It as
her opinion that the board of school in
spectors was worthy of the utmost con-
t1dence and that all matters should be
left in their hands until further develop
ments.
Has Comptroller McCardy said official
ly that he would not audit the pay roll?"
inquired a teacher.
No one seemed to have a clear under.
standing this point, except that the
roll had been returned to the school board
Some one moved that the board be ask
ed to bring a case in the courts. OBJ
lection was made to this.
That would be interfering" somebody
suggested. Then a proposal to have the
proceedings
was made, and finally defeated IT was
argued that the high school teachers and
principals were just as much interested
as the grade teachers, and there was no
reason why the federation should stand
the expense of suit
Some one here raised the paint Of the
validity Of the contracts, meking the
statement that only those who had con-
tracts with the city could benefit under
any decision that might be given by the
courts. The chairman here took the posi-,
ton that the publication of the NAMES
or the teachers in the papers by the
board constituted a contract, the legality
of which, however, might be attacked. ~
Another point was made that the school.
BOARD was not in a position to bring suit
against the city. The board was a part
Of the municipal corpora tion and 1t was.
like one part of corporation suing an
other part. This was not thought to be
legal by the speaker.
we are all at sea until we know what
the comptroller is going to do" asserted
another teacher in the back of the, room.
Besides think a committee ought to
be appointed to find out who are proper
parties to commence legal action against
the city" On this point there was argu-
ment pro and con, resulting in the ap-
po1ntment of a committee, consisting of
Miss Virtue, Miss Kennedy and Mrs.
Flagg, to inquire into the legal phase Of
the question.
Another objection to asking the board
to apply for a writ Of mandamus to4com-
pei the comptroller to audit the paw roll
was that the corporation attorney was at
torney for the school board, as well as
the comptroller, and the federation did
not believe that one attorney could faith
fully serve two clients at the same time
A committee consisting of Miss Bartlett
Miss Mcmillan and Miss Lynch was ap-
pointed to wait upon the board and ex-
tend the greetings of the federation and
give assurances Of the appreciation of
the teachers of the boards attitude.
While the meeting of the grade teachers
was In progress there was a gathering of
principals in the office of Mr. Robinson to
discuss the same questions as came be-
fore the gathering in assembly hall.