The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-12
CAN PAY COST OF THE
FIREMEN'S SCHOOLS

their benefits shall be confined to minors
as in the States supporting free school
systems is left unanswered by Congress
sional legislation. Whether a certain
class only shall have the benefit of a Ger
tain school is the question arising under
the case submitted. The appropriations
are made for public schools, and the es-
adjustment OF night schools is recogniz-
ed. but whether a school confined to
particular class of adults. such as the
hremen stationed at a particular engine
house is a public school is a question
concerning which I am not at all free
from doubt.
In the absence. however. OF any at
tempted definition or limitation of what
constitutes a public school in the District
Of Columbia. and in view Of the broad dis
erection given the Board of Education as
regards these night schools, ] DO not on
the whole feel authorized to question the
discretion which the board has exercised
in thus establishing these schools and
limiting the attendance by holding that
the appropriations are available for the
payments in question. but do think that
such an exercise OF discretion is one that
merits Congressional investigation, and
it is left TO Congress TO apply the remedy,
If remedy is found necessary
How the Question Arose.
The question at hand arose from the
following facts: Mr.. R. Riordan,
teacher in the bay schools, is also en-
ployed as superintendent Of the night
schools. on certain nights. when not
acting as superintendent. he is engaged
as principal in teaching. Mr.. c. Hart.
teacher in the day schools. is also a prin-
cipal in the night schools. When the
night schools opened in October the pay
Of the superintendent had been fixed at
$3.50 per night, and the pay Of a principal
at $3.50 per night. The pay roll for No
vember. 1901 contained an allowance OF
S54 to Mr. Riordan for twelve nights at
S450 per night, as superintendent, and in
addition $3.50 for Eve nights at $3.50 per
night as principal for teaching in an en-
CINE house a cAsss composed entirely OF
members of the Fire Department. Mr.
Hart was credited on the same roll with
$50 for teaching twelve nights, as princi-
pal. az $3.50 per night in some Of the
schools. and with $3.50 additional tOc
five nights at $3.50 per night. for teach
ing a school in an engine house. to which
only members OF the Fire Department
were admitted.
Ruling of the District Auditor.
In his communication to the District
Commissioners, the Auditor for the Dis
trict of Columbia said:
Il was not officially advised OF any &C
tion to this end. but when the pay rolls
for December were received it was OBJ
served that Mr.. Riordans pay as super
intendent was increased 10 S5-Sl per
night and no credit given him for or
mention made Of teaching in the engine
house, although as a matter Of fact /
learned that he did teach therein. The
pay of Mr.. Hart, as principal for teach
ing in schools other than at the engine
house was increased tC 1897 per night
and no credit allowed for or reference
made to his teaching in the engine house
school although DC taught there regularly
Mr. RiJrdan and Mr. Hart are the only
teachers In the fremen's schools and they
were the only teachers whose pay was
increased AS no additional duties were
devolved upon Mr. Riordan as superin-
tendent. the inference Is plain that in
increasing his pay from $3.50 70 $5.s7 per
night he was being paid. as superintend-
emit 20 the extent OF S147 per night. for
services which he had rendered as teacher
in a fremen's school. and for which there
is reason for believing the law does not
allow any compensation
This is true also Of Mr. Hart whose
compensation was increased from $3.50
per night-the amount received by all the
other principals Of the same grade-tO
1897 per night. without any additional
duties. as I am advised, unless the ser
vices rendered as teacher in the engine
house school be reckoned in the account
There are two schools. located in en-
CINE houses. which are equipped with a
complete educational outfit embracing
text books. stationery and typewriters,
which we're purchased from the apprO-
priatfOn for night schools"