Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-24
salaries increase proportionately until at
the sixth year they range from $500 to


why do we refuse to trust the board of
educa ton In Washington to provide simila:
methods for the payment of our teachers
to inaugurate the merit system and to ar
range that teachers willing to remain in the
service. willing to work hard and who are
faithful and efficient shall be adequately
paid
At present. Mr.. Foster said, the system
of payment all along the line was unjust
Salaries were absolutely inadequate. He
called attention to the bill before the House
and read an extract to show that LAP
teachers were paid an aggregate of S1,05S.-
900. or an average of 1874 year. Then he
turned back to the street sweeping depart
of employees there was 81. and that they
received an average of Ss51 each.
Think of it, said Mr. Foster. you
seem to think more of cleaning the streets
than of educating the youth of the coun-
try"
He added in this connection that he did
not wish to pronounce a criticism in this
direction on any member of the District
of Columbia subcommittee which had pre-
pared the bill and particularly on Chair
man McCleary for whom he had the friend
lest feelings. and he declared that 1t was
his belief that Chairman McCreary would
agree with him that teachers of the Dis
trict of Columbia were inadequately paid
At this point Representative Baker of
Brooklyn jumped to his feet and demanded
to know what good il did the teachers of
Washington to know that Chairman Nc
Cleary agreed with the gentleman from
Vermont that they should have more
money. What good does it do these poorly
paid employees if the chairman of the Dis
triCt subcommittee does not put his ideas
into effect and provide more reasonable
compensation for them in the bill that he
draws up. This personal agreement with
the gentleman from Vermont is of no value
to the teachers of this city
Mr.. Foster repeated his statement that he
did not wish to criticise Chairman McCleary
or the other members of the District sub
committee. and said that he had no time
to consult with them to their views He
then read from a report of the board of ed
uca ton. showing that increases in the pay
of teachers had been vainly urged year
after year. and that Congress, representing
the federal government. was alone to blame
for the present deplorG BILE state of affairs.
Mr.. Fosters Amendment.
Mr.. Foster concluded his remarks by urg-
Ing the adoption of an amendment which
he introduced adding $4,000 to the appro-
priation for the pay of school teachers.
Representative Bourke Cochran of New
York then took the floor and threw his re-
marka BILE eloquence into the scale in behalf
of the school teachers of Washington He
said they were underpaid and pauperized
and he offered amendment increasing
the salaries of public school teachers all
along the line, beginning with an increase
OF the salary of the director of high schools
from $500 to 81 200. with proportionate in
creaSes in the other grades
Representative Gardner of Michigan, a
member of the District subcommittee which
drew up the bill defended the committee
and insisted that the public school teachers
of the District of Columbia were adequately
paid. He agreed with the gentleman from
New York that it was impossible to ade-
quately compensate those who instruct the
youth of the country. but he said that the
teachers OF Washington were receiving now
as much or more than the average paid to
instructors in other localities and he OBJ
Jected to any increase being made at the
present time, when there was the greatest
need for economy
Representative Benny of New Jersey took
Mr.. Gardner up and asked whether. as long
as teachers could not be adequately COM
pcnsated, if 1t would not be a good thing
10 come as near to IT possible.
Representative Cochran inquired sarcas-
tcaily If 1t would not be good thing to
reduce salaries in the interest of economy
The gentleman's eulogy of poverty was
so touching" said Mr.. Cochran that /
had some difficulty in determining his posi-
ton on the matter"
Batteries Turned on Mr. Gardner.
Representatives Champ Clark of Mis-
souri, and Baker of New York then jumped
into the discussion and turned their bat
teries on Mr.. Gardner. Mr.. Baker claimed
that the cost of living in Washington was
greater than In any other CITY in the
United States of more than 5000 popula-
ton. and he took Mr.. Gardner to task for
comparing the salaries of school teachers
in other cities with those in Washington.
Representative Vandiver of Missouri who
wa. formerly a public school teacher and
college professor, inquired of Mr. Gardner
what was the lowest salary paid in Wash
ington to a public school teacher. Mr.. Card
ner replied that there were about fifty
teachers getting $500 year. But that they
We're mostly young graduates of normal
schools who were Just starting in as teach
ers.
Representative Cochran then warned the
House not to be misled by this statement,
for although Ii was true that fifty teach
ers receive $500 year it was also true that
349 teachers received less than $500 and 1893
teachers received between $500 and 800,
thus 1t being that more than half of the
]. 442 teachers receive less than 500 year.
Representative Vandiver asked Mr..
Gardner il he thought $500 was adequate
compensation for any young. energetic,
Intelligent and efficient man who had
qualifications for the work of teaching
children. Mr.. Gardner said he thought 1t
was when the young man or young
woman was just starting in, and claimed
that to those who displayed particular
ability in their work the pathway of sue
cess was made plain and easy. Mr.. Vandi-
yer then told the House that he had some
experience with school teaching and later
In connection with an educat ional insti-
tuition in Missouri, in which he was called
upon to employ teachers, and he asserted
that any young man who came to him
and said that after two years in the pub
lie schools he was getting not more than
$500 would receive immediate advice to
leave the profession at once and for good.
The House is evidently much in SYM
PATTY with the proposition to increase
the salaries of the public school teachers
In washington, as practically every ut
terance of those in favor of such a move
was received with loud applause on both
sides of the chamber.
Made Point of Order.
Finally after the discussion continued for
some time Chairman McCleary of the Dis
trict Of Columbia subc ommittee rose and
addressing the chair said that much against
his inclination, but in accordance with the
lire Of his duty. he was forced to make a
point of order. The point of order, he ex-
planned, was that the amendment to In
crease the salaries OF the school teachers
OF Washington was not in order, as it In
effect changed existing law. Mr.. McCleary
was sustained by Representative Mann OF
illinois. who was in the chair.
Representative Bourke Cockhan of New
York appealed from the decision of the
chair IN an extended address. and was fol-
lowed by other members of the House who
favored the increase and who supported
r. "a t.