The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-05
TEACHERS MINIMUM SALARY.
Directors May Pay More, but
They Must Not Pay Less,
than S35 a Month.

passed the House at Harrisburg
last week by an almost unani-
nous vote. Kirk of this county,
Alsip of Bedford, and a few 9th.
ers opposed the bill, but they had
to stand q good deal of guying
from their fellow members. The
teachers are smiling and the tax
payers are frowning. Below we
give an abstract of Mr.. Kinks
speech against the bill.
s'T appreciate the import and sig
nifcance of this piece of legisla-
tion, fixing the minimum salary
of teachers at $500 per month.
1t is not my purpose, however, in
opposing this bill to cast any re-
Election upon the stability and
elasticity; the marvellous growth
and development of the public
school system of our great State.
1 protest against the character
ization of certain school boards,
as was done yesterday on this
floor, as being "niggardly" be-
cause by reasons of the hamper.
ed financial condition of the peo-
pie whom they represent they
are compelled to pay lower sal
aries than the more favored Sec
tions of the state.
This reputation is an insult to
the intelligence and sound judg-
ment of the school boards of our
State, especially of Fulton coun-
ty: for | believe that with few ex.
ceptions, they are doing the very
best they can for our public
schools.
is my good fortune to repre-
sent acounty with less than 10000
generous inhabitants, who are
free from the communicating in
duence of the feculent sewage of
any decayed nation. A county
sparsely settled with eighty-four
schools, represented by a body
of teachers as able, intelligent and
progressive as the same nun ber
in any other county in the State;
but | am opposed to this bill be-
cause | believe it will discrimi-
nate against our able, efficient and
experienced teachers, for, owing
to the increased taxation of our
people to pay salary of $50 per
month to all irrespective of quail
tications or efficiency will be such
a burden upon some districts in
Fulton county that it will be con-
sidered practically impossible to
advance the wages to the thor
ough, progressive and able teach
er above the S35 limit; hence be-
lieve it will work a hardship upon
our better teachers, and destroy
merit which is earned only by
great effort on the part of the am
bilious man or woman. Now, Mr.,
Speaker, | wish to correct some
statements made by the "Phila'
delphla Press" of February 3D..
1t makes the statement that Full
ton county raises only about $4,000
by taxation over and above the
state appropriation to pay its
teachers, and that Thompson
township raised about $51 .00from
it's people in addition to the ap
preparation. / wish to say ii
answer to this, that in the tisca
year ending June 1902 that Ful
ton raised by taxation over $1,000
and that Thompson township
raised $500 instead OF the paltr,
sum of S5l, and that these state
ments do great injustice to Ful
ton county, and especially t.
Thompson township; that tn
gentleman who compiled these fiji
ures is mistaken and if he inten
tlonally made this error, | shal
not call him a falsifier for tina
might seem harsh, but ! will say
sir, that there is an impedimen
in his veracity. Now, gentleme
il this bill becomes law, it wi
tax every district in Fulton cour
ty from four to eleven mills on tn
dollar for school purposes. .Thi
will do them a great injustice an
will be extremely burdensome
our people, and / am sure tha
there is not a gentleman in hea
ing OF my voice that would vot
ior a measure to tax it's peop