Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-24
OUR RIVER.
burlington Hawkeye.J


building Of the Panama canal. In one
sense of the word, the Panama canal
is but an extension of the Mississippi
The great river drains the richest val
ley in the world, and much of the pro-
duce of this valley should be carried
down this river, and of this much
should find its way into the Pacific
via the Panama canal.
There is need of various things in
the valley. and among them modern
harbors and modern machinery at the
levees, modern boats and modern
methods of operation and finally the
improvement Of the river itself. Hav-
ing noted how European nations
cheerfully donate billions upon bill
lions Of dollars for the privilege Of
making war upon each other should
the United States hesitate to expend
hundreds of millions of dollars upon
real work Of peace, upon the sys-
temat.c and rational improvement of
the Mississippi. from the headwaters
Of the great river and its respective
tributaries, to where 1t returns to the
sea below New Orleans?
There could be no better time to be-
gin this great work than the present
floods nor "no water in the various
streams, the reservoir system will
have to be adopted. This has always
been the plan favored by some engi-
neers, and it has been opposed by
fluence to make their opinions pre-
vail
SQUARE DEAL FOR TEACHERS.
[Des Moines Capital.]
The recent decision Of the Des Moines
school board TO refuse advances in sal
aries 10 teachers who had been recon-
mended for advancement, comes as a
singing blow not only to the teachers
themselves. but to the people who are
interested in the welfare of the public
schools. The defense Of the board Is
that 1t wants to establish a reputation
for retrenchment
In refusing TO advance salaries the
board has violated custom that has
grown to be part of the profession.
1t is the "unwritten law that when a
teacher has Been efficient and has
shown the proper interest in her work
she shall receive a raise In salary OF s.
a month until maximum Of $50 has
been reached. Small as 1t may seem,
this hope of reward is a much coveted
goal for the teachers. They put forth
their best efforts day in and day out in
order to be placed upon the recon-
mended list
This year has been no exception.
Nearly half of the 500 teachers in the
city were in line for an increase, when
like a thunderbolt out Of a clear sky
the board announced that only fifty
five will receive the customary adj
vance. Small wonder that the teachers
are crushed and broken in spirit.
The contention of the Capital has al
ways been that the teaching profession
is undergrad We are more firmly con-
WINGED than ever that justice is not be-
ing done The minimum wage for a
teacher in Des Moines is $3.50 a year.
The lowest paid clerk at the city hall
receives $3.50 a year. 1t is pointed out
that less than half dozen teachers
get the minimum. Only one clerk at
the city hall gets $3.50 and the next
lowest is s720.
II the school board wishes to reduce
its tax levy, why take ii out on the
teachers? No work done by any city
is so important or So sure of return as
the WOIk Oh lHc puDIIC SCiioOis liz
teacher of today must spend years in
fitting herself for the work. The
standards are getting higher. The chill
dren Of the nation are intrusted to her
care ruring the critical periods Of their
lives. She is the molder OF future civ
ilization. And she il paid less salary
than the least responsible clerk in a
city hall.
1t is not too late for the school board
to rectify this blunder. Des Moines
wants a loyal staff of school teachers.
The only way to get them is by the
square DEAL
THORNE's WORK AND PAY.
ISioux City Tribune.]
The western freight rate hearings
have closed. There were forty lone rail-
roads represented in the fight for an
advance Of rates which. If granted. will
mean an increase In freight exnenses
to the shippers Of the west of $4e, oeC,-
900 to s50.0o0,0o0. To present their