Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-01
IN AUDITORS HANDS
Mr.. Garrison EXAMINING Paw
Rolls of School Employees.
PREDICTS BUT LITTLEDELAY
Several Cases May Be Submitted to the
Controller.
AN INITIATION OF LITIGATION
Dismissed Teachers May Apply for
Temporary Injunction - Many
Legal Points Raised.
PREDICTS BUTLITTLEDE DELAY
AN INITIATION OF LITIGATION

Auditor Garrison of the District govern
ment is today examining the pay rolls for
the employees OF the local school board 1t
will probably require several days to COM
plete his task. Meanwhile the teachers
who are in the service and those who are
are out are wondering what his decision
Will be. There Is much discussion on every
phase of the situation In school quarters
The auditor told Star reporter some
thing this morning that was calculated to
relieve any anxiety the teachers might have
in regard to their salaries. He said he saw
no reason why there should be any greater
delay in the payment of the September SAL
aries than there was last year, when they
were paid October 10.
He admitted. however. that several cases
would have to be referred to the con-
troller of the treasury for an official opin-
ion. 1t is understood that there may be
several bitches. but the authorities do not
believe they will he serious.
An attorney representing several of the
dismissed employees of the school board
called Saturday at the office of the Dis
trict auditor TO inquire whether the names
of his clients We're on the rolls. He learn
ed they We're not. That legal action is
contemplated is known and it is said to
be probable that a temporary Injunction
may be asked for, to stop payment from
the entire roll until these particular sala-
iiCS diC iCSuiiy 81 a oo'-
No Request for Ruling.
1t was stated at the Office OF the controller
of the treasury this afternoon that no Of
fetal request for a ruling on the question Of
salaries of the local school employees had
been made by the auditor for the District
of Columbia. The controller. it was learned.
will not have to pass upon the matter I'M
less there is an appeal from the action OF
the District auditor and diSbursnR officer
in the payment of the money. or unless the
District authorities ask him for ruling In
order to protect themselves.
After the payment OF the money by the
District disbursing officer the pay rolls will
be reaudited by the auditor for the State
and other departments, and IL any errors
found they will be charged against the
District authorities.
The custom Of paying the teachers their
salaries in tents has been the cause of
much controversy in the past. although IL
was adopted primarily for the sake of con-
venience. The question is being asked to-
day: Abe the teachers and other employees
of the school board legally entitled to their
salary each month, and would the courts
hold that to be the case of the matter were
put before them. This is considered an In
tereStng phase of the affair in that II Is
believed to have a direct bearing on the
status of those teachers and officials who
have been dismissed from the service. The
question is whether they entitled 70
their salary up to the time they were dis
successor begin? ..,-
Complicated Problem.
The problem is said to boone more COM
plicated when 1t is taken into considera-
ton that the new superintendent and as
sstant superintendent were not appointed
to their offices until some time after the
end of the last fiscal year. 1t is held by
some that these officials are not entitled
to pay for time during which they did not
hold these offices. 1t is argued by some
that the salary OF the superintendent
should go to Mr.. Stuart until his resigna-
ton was accepted. and after that, until the
new superintendent took the oath Of offlce.
the money for his position should remain
in the treasury: A similar construction
is placed upon the facts in the case of the
assistant superintendent. 1t is held that
the former assistant superintendent either
held the office until her successor was ap-
pointed or nobody held It, and that there
fore either she should get pay for that
time or nobody should.
But Immediately there arises In the minds
of those who are discussing this knotty
problem the doubt as to whether the divf-
sion Of the salaries into twelfths IL the le-
gal way after all. Many believe 1t Is, but
declare that. Of course. 1t cannot be known
without a test case in the courts. Tho
controller Of. the treasury could clear the
situation greatly. 1t Is believed, and many
hope that he will have word to say on
it before the money is paid.
as soon as they can get 1t, and are inclined
to look with disfavor on any measure tnat
would hold I'D the pay rolls any longer.
AS for the members OF the board they
freely say in substance, that they would
like to know where they are at through
an official opinion.
There are many teachers who would like
to see their salaries paid m"nthly all the
wear round This method. they say would
greatly simplify the whole matter Tor tne
future. These teachers answer the objection
that 1t would be inconvenient to pay month
ly during the summer by calling attention
To other cities where this Is the practice.