The Washington herald., 1912-03-16
Document Filed by Senator
Gallingsr Shows Capital
Leads in Expense.
MAINTENANCE BIG ITEM
Teachers Salaries Low, but Fuel,
Repairs, and Rentals Bring
Total Above Average.

Washington ranges well toward the top
of all American cities in comparative
cost OF school maintenance, according to
an abstract from the Bureau of Educa-
tons report filed in advance with the
Senate by Chairman Gallinger OF the
District Committee yesterday.
Fuel and rentals appear to be two OF
the biggest items Of expense in the re-
port, which was prepared for use in con-
nection with the District appropriations
bill. The high cost Of school maintenance
continues despite the fact that the sala-
ries of elementary school teachers and
the expenses Of the superintendent's Office
are low. or thirteen cities chosen ap-
proximating this city in size Washington
leads, and among l03 cities the National
Capital is fourth with 80 municipalities
below II.
Report Urges Economy.
The report says in part:
THE high cost Of school maintenance
and the relatively low percentage OF sala-
ries is an interesting situation. Either
the number OF pupils per teacher must
be unusually small or a large amount
must have been spent for purposes other
than teachers salaries.
Continuing, the report calls attention
to the fact that large percentage OF
supervision Of elementary and secondary
schools is unavoidable in this city be-
cause of the duplication of positions and
salaries in schools for white and colored
children. The report then adds:
school buildings OF Washington are
for the most part small buildings-eight-
room buildings being the most frequent
and this natura' increases the cost of
operation and maintenance. 1t would seem.
however, since repairs and fuel for the
elementary school buildings cost mC-e
proportionately than in any other city.
and since repairs of secondary school
buildings cost more than in any other
city but one. that economy could be
brought about in these particulars"
Comments on High Rentals.
Continuing this comment, the report
says that the same statement holds good
with regard to rentals. Baltimore, a city
notorious for its expenditures in this
line, is the only municipality whose per-
centage exceeds Washington's.
In recommending a reduction OF the
expense for maintenance. the report sug-
gests that an increase should be granted
the truant officers and elementary teach
ers Of the District, so that Washington.
may have IAN organization which ap-
the standards of other cities"
Tables which follow show Washington
TO be the leading city OF thirteen in the
expense per capita for school mainte-
nance. This Is the ratio OF school eX-
penses to the entire population. II is the
highest of thirteen cities in the expense
of fuel, and next to the highest in the
sum annually paid for repairs. Yet in
expense for the superintendent office
Washington stands third from the bot
tom among the thirteen cities, and Of I05
compared with II this city
is one of a group of fourteen, with two
below and eighty-eight above II.
The opinion derived from this report
Is that the present hot-air furnaces in
vogue in the District are of a type far
more expensive than in other cities. and
It is not unlikely that Senator Gallinger
will order an investigation.
Tables of Expense.
The general tables furnished at the be-
ginning of the report show this city to
be below the medium. as follows:
Salaries of elementary school teach
nrs, IA per cent: evening schools. LOi
per cent; payments to schools and insti- |
tutions, O.F per cent: truant officers and
police, o32 per cent: repairs and replace
IDcnI Oh SGHOOlSs
40 per cent; superintendent office, 0.23 |
per cent
Washington exceeds the medium as fol- |
lows:
Repairs to buildings in elementary
369 per cent; salaries to second |
ary school teachers, 365 per cent: sup
,rvision of elementary schools. l.62 per |
cent; rent. O.S5 per cent: textbooks sup
plies, stationary in elementary schools, |
lS5 per cent; supervision of secondary |
schools, OIL per cent; fuel in elementary |
schools. 0.75 per cent; apparatus, manual |
equipment in secondary schools. |
l23 per cent; repairs on buildings on sec |
q rnr