Evening journal., 1914-05-22
SALARY increase
UP TO solicitor
Council Will Grant Teach
erS Request if Law Viii
Permit
SOLONS AGAIN
DISCUSS SUBJECT

teachers in the city public schools, who
are waging campaign for an increase
in their salaries under the classification
plan which was adopted in 1907, ap-
peared in Council chamber last night, to
show by their presence that they are in
earnest in their fight.
After considerable discussion upon the
legal right OF City Council to give the
Board of Education more than a 8 per
cent increase in their appropriation, that
the teachers salaries might be increased
it was finally decided to request City
Solicitor Hastings to appear before the
Council next Wednesday evening to see
if there is some legal way the increase
can be granted.
Councilman Stover, chairman of
the finance committee, brought up the
subject by remarking that the teach
ers had lived up to their promise by
attending the meeting of Council
every meeting night. He said he be-
Ieved every member Of Council favors
an increase of salary for the teachers,
but that one difficulty presented itself
in the matter of the law on the sub
iect. He said he had asked City So
licitor Hastings if there was any way
that Council could appropriate any
amount over and above the 5 per cent
increase to the Board as specified by
law, and Mr.. Hastings had inform
ed him that he knew of no way.
Under this 5 per cent provision the
maximum amount of increase that
could be allowed by Council would
be S7,146, while more than $4,000
would be needed to put into effect the
classification system. Colonel StOvor
remarked that if this amount be al
lowed this year that next year would
care for itself, but it would be neces-
sary for the teachers to wait twelve
months to get the increase and he did
not believe this was much encourage
ment to the teachers.
Councilman Haney wanted to know
how much had been appropriated tC
the Board of Education in the last
six or seven years, and Mr.. White in
formed him that only the two pei
cent. increase had been given the
body. Mr.. Haney wanted to know il
Council could not go back to those
years and give the board the Other
three per cent. that they had not re-
ceived. At this juncture all the
teachers in the room applauded Mr.
Haney's remarks.
Colonel Slower remarked that as fal
as he personally was concerned h'
was willing to vote to the board the
full amount asked for and take I
chance" but could not do so becaus'
some people in Wilmington are wait
ing for Council to make misstel
that might send the entire Council t
prison.
Councilman McDermott then movel
that City Solicitor Hastings be re
auested to appear before Council mex
Wednesday night, when the final con
sideration of the budget will be held
AS there will be a large amount o
work to be done that night, Mr.. Whit
suggested that the body meet at
O'Clock instead of 8 O'clock. Atte
some discussion Mr. Whites motion
prevailed.
During this discussion, Mr.. Kan
suggested that 1t would be a goo
plan to advance to the Board of Edu
cation the amount needed, and get
back next year, but Mr.. White state
that this would be a subject for tn
City Solicitor to settle.
Samuel H. Baynard, president {
the Board of Education, then remark
ed that he desired to plead not guilt
TO the charge of not having informe
Council of the need of the board yea
after year. He remarked that tn
Board of Education had requisite
Council for a reasonable expenditur
but Council had not seen fit to mal
It. "Hod they advanced the 5 per cen
In other years the teachers salari'
could have been increased" he e1
claimed. He then read sections fro
the law governing appropriations
Council and stated that while the la
restricted Council somewhat, yet tn
body had legislative power and had
right to raise revenue for any pu
pose needed.
Mr. Baynard remarked that Coun,
has raised sums in the past for variol
purposes without considering these 7
strictions and he believed. it could
done in the present case He belie'
that under the new assessment Il
Board of Education should receie an
creased appropriation. He remarked tn
even the per cent increase confer
plated would help wonderfully as wou
the 5 per cent increase next year.
believed that if a sufficient sum W
granted in the budget to give {
teachers the increase under the elias
fcation plan that 100 per cent of