Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-15
They Are Discussed in Considering
the Appropriation Bill.
DEBATE over 4 PRINCIPALS PAY
Arguments For and Against In
creasing 1t.
L A LIKING CON TINCES

| stGeration of the District appropriation bill
was resumed, and as the specchmaking on
the bill was exhausted yesterday, the sec
tions were considered by paragraphs.
Mr. Allen offered an amendment, which
was adopted, providing that street RAILWAYS
| shall remove within twelve hours the ac-
cumulations of snow swept aside along
| their tracks.
To Reduce PrincipaIs' Salaries.
| Mr.. Bell of Colorado offered en amend
ment to the bill providing that the principal
of the Central High School shall receive
5000 year and reducing the number OF
$1,000 principals from five to four
MIR Bell proceeded to make an argument
| in favor Of his amendment, in whtcn he re
! cited the duties of the principal whose sal
| airy was proposed TO be increased.
| Mr Grout raised a point OF order against
| The amendment and, In reply to Mr. Bell.
| said that Mr.. Bell. as a member OF the ap-
| preparations committee, had agreed To the
| Dill, and now comes in to attack It. He
said the whole subject of public schools is
now under consideration in another branch
/ or sse government. The people are not al
| together satisfied with the public schools.
4 But the question - salaries OF these teach
ers should not be discussed here.
| Mr. Bell thought that the S-hole public
| school section Of the bin was sub.eSt ~
the same point of order raised against Hrs
amendment
| MI ftlcnardson supported Mr.. Bell. and
| sald mat, as these salaries are not fixed by
| law, but by appropriation bills, the point
| of order would not hold.
Point of Order Sustained.
The chair CMr. Sherman) said that the
| custom has been to take the verdict of ap-
| preparation bills, in the absence OF general
law, and he sustained the point of order.
| Upon reconsideration of the case how
ever, Mr.. Sherman reversed his decision
nrsaxlr Inn.
order.
Mr.. BromweIrs Plea.
AT this point Mr.. BromweH OF Ohio took
the floor. He said he had long experience
| with school work. The salary proposed by
| the bill for this principal of a high school
| was totally Inadequate for the duties he
| ought TO perform. In his own city Clncfn-
| natD the principals receive S2.620. There
are not more than ten or a dozen teachers
! TO supervise, and the number of pupils does
not exceed 900. Here in this city. with
| t,o47 pupils and a greater number of teach
ers the principal should receive more than
| is liked by this bill. He said that no class
| Of people in the country are more poorly
paid than the teachers of the pubic schools
when their mental equipment and responsi-
hiitleS considered
Mr.. Champ Clark wanted to know If the
curriculum of the schools had been exam
ined by the committee.
Mr.. Grout replied in the negative. An
other committee at the other end OF the
Capitol had taken up the subject.
Glad Somebody fs Looking Into the
Curriculum.
We'll, I'm glad somebody is doing 1T
said Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Grout said the standing Of the public
schools of this city was high and it was
true that the average teacher was being
paid at good rate. The committee on ap-
preparations had been besieged by appli-
cants for increases. The committee had
acted conservatively.
Mr.. Grout said he was not certain hut
that the committee had done an injustice
to the principal Of the colored high school
in reducing his salary As 10 the principal
of the Central High School, however Mr.
Grout thought that If he was entitled To
5000 the other principals were entitled TO
the same.
Mr. Grout said that the superintendent Of
the Central High School only put in his
time, like the others. The fact that he had
few more teachers and pupils under him
did not alter the case.
The Case of Miss westcott.
Mr.. Grout cited the instance of Miss
Westcott of the Western High School who,
he said, had furnished her pupils with At
1-cent lunch and was working just as hard
for their interests. If the Central High
School principal was TO be increased he
wanted Miss westcett increased.
Mr. Allen of Mississippi indorsed the re-
marks of Mr.. Grout. He said one who had
no experience could not appreciate the ef-
forts of employees TO get their salaries in
creased.
There is not an employe in the District
he said, who does not know just what
every other employe of like position in the
world IS getting. 1t is not what they can
do, but what they get. 1t seems to be part
of their civil service training.
Mr.. Allen said that If all the arguments
which are presented for increase OF salaries
ch 4 ha raarf {,a h.
get the idea that this is at present a very
parsiulonious government.
There are some gentlemen in Congress-
said Mr.. Allen in a facetious vein, who
are not worth 80 cents, and then others Of
US who are worth $4,000 a year. But be-
cause have TO serve here with some gen
tlemeu whom / know at the same rates [
don't want to discriminate in favor of any
high school teachers.
Il am much more concerned said My.
Allen, ''in providing common schools than
eXependfng large amounts on high schools,
which are attended only by few"
Average Pay Higher Here.
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania said that
the average of S6a5 for the Washington
teachers is larger than the average pay Of
teachers in Philadelphia.
Mr.. Benton interrupted to say that the
average had been figured by Principal
Hughes at $7S4.
Mr. Bingham said that this was in sup
port of his contention. He wanted to show
the House that the actual days OF labor
are few. There are 22l days In the year
when the teachers are not employed, count
ing the Saturdays, the holidays and the
vacations He thought the teachers were
well paid.
Mr. Fitzgerald OF Massachusetts said
there was not a principal in high school
In the United States, in cities of 5000 in
habitants, who receives as low a salary as
these principals.
Mr. Fitzgerald called attention TO the
proposition to pay s.. 400 to an electrical
engineer and yet to limit to 81. SO the prin-
cipals of the high school.
Should Receive Sufficient Pay.
Mr.. Fitzgerald said that members were
constantly providing new clerks for the
House of Representatives, That is be-
cause these men will help us in our dis
tricts," said Mr.. Fitzgerald.
But when II comes to providing for
teachers who have political influence.
We cry economy and cut their salaries
down"
Mr.. Fitzgerald held that the capital city
of the nation could not AFFORD to lower the