Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23
TOPAY TEACHERS MORE
SUGGESTED INCREASE OF go PER
CENT IN SALARIES.

'Tn glancing through the columns Of The
Star few evenings SINCE" said resident
to Star reporter, IT was surprised to
note, in the report Of the superintendent of
schools, in that part relating to the ap-
pointments, promotions and transfers OF
teachers, that the salaries of the score or
so teachers enumerated ranged from $500
to $3.50 per annum.
Not having a school teacher in my fam
lily, nor children who attend school, l was
astonished at the meagerness of this yearly
pay, considering the ability required and
the services rendered, and it would seem
to me that Congress might take recess in
the passing of appropriations and divert
some of the money into the public school
fund.
During the present agitation to increase
the pay of the government clerical force
with us, which is a most meritorious meas
ure and a very popular one everywhere IN
the District 1 have failed to note similar
insistence that Congress include In the DIS
trict budget a substantial increase in the
collective pay of our deserving schooi
teachers. though, of course, L am aware
that Congress has repeatedly and urgently
been importuned to take such an extremely
meritoriouS STEP
There is still ample time however, for
Congress to move in this matter and If the
remembered by our people, let it tack on to
the public school item of appropriation in
the District budget a blanket amendment
raising the salaries of our public school
teachers 20 per cent, but If 20 per cent
would seem to be too great an act of spon-
taneous generosity to our underpaid teach
ers they would be glad to receive 10 per
cent New Year gift.
eff the Congress can, without cracking a
smile. propose to raise the salaries of the
clerks to its own members from $1,000 to
$500 per annum, an Increase of $500 In
one jump to an already substantial salary,
it ought to be able to find the ways and
means of lacking on from $50 to $780, and
more if possible to the individual salaries
of our efficient corps of public school teach
ers. and then forget about it.
The Willingness of Congress to make this
proposed increase to the salaries of the
clerks to representatives may perhaps be
found in the overlooked clause in the bill
which provides that the respective repre-
sentatives shall disburSe the clerk hire
without accounting which in most quarters
has been taken to mean simply an addi-
tonal congressional increase in pay, as 1t
is well understood that many members of
the House do not employ clerks, and others
turn the clerk hire allowance over to men,
berS of their families.
therefore instead of giving this in
crease in the direction proposed, let Con-
greSS take this allowance from the pubic
funds and turn it over to the District school
fund to be applied pro rata to the increase
of our teachers pay. Such a shifting of
funds as this would be hailed with delight
in all circles in this city.
Our public school teachers as a great
body feel the enhanced cost of living in
common with the rest of us. There is a
perfect unanimity of sentiment that their
pay should be advanced all along the line
1t would be an easy matter, when the Dis
trict appropriation bill comes up for pas
sage, to include the necessary amendment.
During the holiday recess the members of
cricla 1nI ,icrInt j1nr mod
with generous impuses-this is the season
of the year to remember the deserving.