Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-06
TEACHERS ARE AGITATINC
Want More Pay and Arc Working System.
atieAlly to se6ufs the Same.
SHIFTING OF OFFICES IN THE CAPITOL
Room in the Big State Building
Inadequate to Accommodate All
the OmciaIs and the Various
State Boards.
(From a Stan Correspondent.)


DIES MONIES, May 5.-(Special.) -Iowa
school men and women are starting a cam
paign for better wages for teachers and
more consolidation OF the rural schools.
They assert this is the only solution to the
scarcity Of teachers and the problems of
the country school When the commission
on the recodihcation OF the school laws
meets next year and when the legislature
comes together again they may find a
healthy sentiment manufactured by the
teachers of the state along those lines. In
one county alone as a result OF an in
vestgation by the superintendent ninety
seven teachers who were in the schools of
the county one year ago had disappeared
in the next This was in Crawford county
and County Superintendent Hoffman found
that Of the ninety-seven teachers twenty
two had been married. thirteen failed to
pass teachers examinations, twenty-four
left the county for better positions and
better wages elsewhere, thirty went into
other work than teaching and eight quit
because Of their health and for other
reasons. Because of this condition which
it is claimed prevails in many of the coun-
ties OF the state the teachers are proposing
TO take the matter up systematically and
make an EFFORT 10 educate the public TO
the question Of higher wages and better
conditions for school teachers, especially
those in the country. They find. too. that
many schools have but a few pupils and
that II is not economy to keep a school
open II It has less than ten. They will
therefore urge consolidation OF rural schools
as a further remedy for the scarcity OF
teachers. School teachers In the rural dis
tricts are being paid but S35 TO $40 a month
for seven months school and must pay
"A -
get at any price, while farm laborers get
as much with their board thrown In.
Must shift Omces.
Considerable speculation Is being INDUCED
In as 10 how the executive council will
shift around the state of11ces in the state
house. There is not enough room. There
are several grave problems on the hands
OF the council. Thus far the council has
done nothing toward the matter formally
and the employees about the building are
somewhat stirred up as 20 where they will
be landed. The legislature Is in the habit
OF passing bills creating commissions and
departments and ordering the executive
council to give them space In the state
| house. where, as a matter Of fact there is
| no space and things are already too much
| crowded. It is thought pretty likely that
the geological department will be moved
| TO the new historical building to make room
| for the new board OF parole that comes In
/ July /. The state veterinarian must be
| provided an once. He wants two rooms
| and may be given two rooms In the build
| ing across the street east OF the state house.
| II is a residence nat that stands on land
| bought some time ago by the state. The
/ dairy and food commissioner already &C.
| cupies half OF IL.
| Some OF the most serious problems how
ever. include that OF taking care Of the
| railroad commission. This commission has
two little rooms and for years the only
desk room had by the three members Is
a long table with four shallow drawers In
/ II, little more than a kitchen table. Now
| that the legislature has loaded the COM
mission with work and Il will be busy for
I the next two years up TO Its neck II is
| necessary 10 give Il room for desks OF de-
cent size for the members and for hear
inEs. the present rooms not being large