Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-18
Oral Arguments Made.

Oral Arguments Made.
Alonzo Tweedale, auditor for the Dis
trict, and DIR. Davidson later appeared be-
arguments in support Of the position
taken by the board Of education.
Controller Tracewell, i'm his opinion
handed down today, expains his reversal
of his former ruling by the fact that
there have been changes in the school
law enacted by Congress which have
created a different situation.
1T has since been provided" states
Mr.. Tracewell. ''by law, as above set out,
that teachers employed in the normal.
high or manuel training schools may be
placed in group A, class q. and receive
their longevity increase according to their
number of years of experience in teach
ing in accredited normal, high or manual
training schools.
Thus it is seen that the identical rea-
son upon which tina; decision was predi-
Gated as regards the salary of a teacher
on demotion, in so far as it affected the
normal high or manual training schools,
no longer exists. The reason no longer
existing, the rule should also cease to
exist. 1t was admitted in the decision
that the ruling was technical and inequi-
table. The law now permits Of an eQui-
table rule as regards promotions or demo
tions. and 1 am gratified to be able to
adopt such equitable rule
Four Propositions Presented.
Four propositions were presented to the
controller. all of which have been de-
cided in favor Of the board of education
They are the following:
First. That teacher when assigned to
duty on returning from an authorized
leave Of absence to a position in the pub
lie schools calling for the same class
salary she was receiving when her leave
of absence was granted is entitled to the
basic salary of that class without loss or
longevity increase pay.
Second-That a teacher when assigned
to duty on returning from an authorized
leave Of absence to a position in the
schools calling for higher class salary
than that which she was receiving when
her leave of absence was granted is en-
titled to receive the basic salary of the
said higher class and i'm addition thereto
a sufficient number of years of longevity
increase to make the salary received by
her at least equal to. and in no case in
excess of the salary step in the said
higher class next above that received by
her in the lower class.
Entitled to Basic Salary.
Third-That a teacher. when assigned
on returning from an authorized leave
of absence to a position in the public
schools calling for lower class salary
than she was receiving when her leave
of absence was granted. is entitled to the
basic salary of the said lower class, and
in addition thereto a sufficient number of
years of longevity increase in the lower
class to equal the number of years Of the
teaching experience which she has had
in the public schools of the District of
Columbia since the date of the adjust
ment of her salary under the operation
of the organic law of 1906 and its amend
ments provided always, of course. that
her salary shall not exceed the maximum
salary set for the position to which the
teacher is entitled.
Fourth-That a teacher, when reduced
to a position i'm the public schools CALI
ing for a lOwer-class salary than that
which she was receiving prior to such
reduction, is entitled to receive the basic
salary of the lower class and in addition
thereto a sufficient number of years of
longevity increase in the lower class to
equal the number of years of the teach
ing experience which she has had as a
teacher in the public schools of the Dis
trict of Columbia since the date Of the
adjustment of her salary under the op-
Grafton Of the organic law of 1905; pro-
vided, always. of course. that her salary
shall in no case exceed the maximum sal
ary set by law for the position to which
reduced.
Can Count Longevity.
Concluding his decision. after careful
analysis of the propositions. Controller
Tracewell states:
Answering your questions specifically
and for the reasons above assigned, 1
answer the first question in the affirma-
tive. 1 answer the second. third and
fourth in the affirmative. with the quail
fication that in placing teachers as there
in set forth you are empowered to count
their longevity experience in teaching
when promoted or denoted to classes not
included in the normal. high or manual
training schools, but not obliged to SO
count. but in group A, class 6, you are
obliged to SO count the longevity expert
ence Of said teacher"