Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-20
Lively Debate in the House
Over Appropriations.
ITEMS ARE STRICKEN OUT
DR.. Davidson Not to Get Salary In
crease This Year.
TEACHERS LONGEVITY FUN
Amendment, Including Unexpended
Balance, Adopted-No Addition
to Chevy Chase School.

The provisions for the maintenance of
the public schools Of the District Of Co
lurnbia, during the next fiscal year. were
discussed by the House Of Representa-
tives yesterday afternoon, after The
Stars report closed. Democratic mem
bers made the usual charges Of cxtrava-
gance against the local school system and
were In turn reproached for playing
politics" at the expense Of the school
appropriation.
Immediately upon the reading Of the
paragraph appropriating for officers Of
the school system Representative I.obeck
Of Nebraska offered an amendment to
increase the salary OF Supt. Davidson
from 5000 to 5000 q year.
THE superintendent, who was engaged
to come here this year." said Mr.. Lobeck,
was under an implied promise that he
was to receive 5000 year. He left a
position that paid him the latter amount y
Demands to Know Authority.
WHO had authority to make that
promise or who did make it?' asked Rep
resentative Mann Of Illinois.
They probably took the authority, as
they do many things" Mr.. Lobeck re-
sponded.
do we have to carry out their prom
fses? demanded Representative Foster
Of Indiana.
TT was public talk in the press ut the
time" suggested Mr.. Lobeck.
But public talk does not bind the gov
ernment," commented Chairman Fitzger-
aid of the appropriations committee.
1t was In the public press. and that is
where I got IT. insisted Mr.. Lobeck. Il
did not get It from the superintendent of
pubic schools, for he has not even men,
toned the subject to me. But l only
state In fairness to this gentleman that
he ought to be entitled to the wages that
Says None Was Authorized.
Nobody was authorized to make such
a PROMISE" said Representative Burleson
Of Texas, in charge Of the bill.
Tho superintendent Of. schools is un-
doubtedly a very competent and worthy
gentleman, but he has just recently been
called to the District Of Columbia and
placed in charge OF the District schoo. s,
and the committee did not deem II nec-
essary at this time to make an increase
of this salary. NEXT year, when we have
an opportunity to receive the recommen-
dations made by the superintendent of
public schools
Mr.. Mann Interrupts.
"4And after the election is over" inter.
tected Mr.. Mann.
And know how he is managing and
conducting the schools, If IT is shown and
61v4 vp<,Ar 49, A. -
salary than he ought to receive. have
no doubbt that the committee on appro.
prfattons will then increase his salary
Mr.. Burleson then made point o,
order and knocked out the LObecl
amendment
Teachers Longevity Pay.
When the paragraph appropriatine
100000 for the longevity pay OF teach.
ers was reached Mr.. Carlin Of Virginia
said he proposed to demonstrate that the
appropriation would either create q de-
ficiency or deprive teachers of their sal.
aries. Mr.. Burleson interrupted by Offer
ing an amendment proposing TO reappro-
pirate the unexpended balance of S76,
O75.73 Of the logevity pay appropriation
$4,000 carried this year.
In 1909, explained Mr.. Burleson,
upon estimates furnished to the COM
mtttee on appropriations by the board
appropriated, for longevity pay. At the
end Of the fiscal year 1t was ascertained
that $15,317.56 of that appropriation re-
manned unexpended.
For tho fiscal year 1910 the school
board submitted an estimate to the COM
mittee on appropriations. through regu-
lar channels. for $4,000, which was
appropriated, and If that sum, $780,
1908 only was expended, leaving an
unexpended balance OF $1s,s4s.os.
another estimate, and an appropriation
Of $355,00O was made for longevity pay.
At the end of the fiscal year 1t was
ascertained that s76,o75.73 remained un-
expended
Changes in Conditions.
WAS there any change in the law in
that timer" inquired Representative
Gtllett Of Massachusetts.
Between the time that the estimate
was submitted and the appropriation
bill was finally passed." replied Mr..
Burleson. there were certain teachers
added to or advanced to certain classes,
which gave them increased longevity
nav. necessitating an increase of the
amount to be utilized for longevity pay,
but Notwithstanding that fact there re-
NAMED unexpended of this appropriation
s76.O7573, as stated to the appropria-
tions committee by the auditor when he
was called upon for data bearing on
this subject matter.
II will not go into the reasons for this
overestimate. / do not care to 4iscuas 1t.
II IS suff1cient to say that an overestimate
was made of the amount actually needed
Of S76.O7573. Consequently, when the
committee on appropriations considered
this item this year we reached the con :
clusion that we would seek other sources
NJ reformation Whereas the auditor of
ff,is District prior to this year did not
have fhc data upon which O Inmates
could be made, he was, at the request of
the committee on appropriations. put II
possession or put himself IN possession of
fine data. making card index IF the
teach,ne force Of this city, and he has
submitted to US an estimate which shows
that wa can easily make available the
amount of excess of appropriation made
last wear for the fiscal year 1913 and not
endan9er In tho slightest the pay OF a
single teacher within the confines of the
District Of Columbia
Balance Available Under LLw.
"rhe balance will understand that
under the law when an appropriation is
not fully expended the balance remains
available for two years. Consequently
this excess of $4,000 will continue ted
nm in the Treasury of the United Safes
ysuwxy <%%tN q Z