The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-20

AYERS WAR BUDGET
HURT CLERKS CASE
"Militarism' Blamed for Small
Increase by Congress-
man Van Dyke.
MORRISON URGES UNION
A. F. Of L. Secretary Tells
School Employees They
Must Work Together.
MORRISON URGES UNION

Attacks on the preparedness pro.
gram as the reason the Federal EN-.
ployes dfd not receive a more substan.
tial increase from the House, and ex-
hortations to organize strongly, fea.
tured the mass meeting OF school EN-.
ployes at Central High School last
night.
That the preparedness movement
was. entirely responsible for the
small increase that the House voted
to Federal employees, instead OF a pro
posed 10 and 20 per cent increase. was
the statement OF Congressman c. C.
Van Dyke of Minnesota
"Had Il notbeen for the incresse ne
this year over the appropriation OF
last year fot the army and navy" he
said. there would not at present H.
the largest deficit that has faced Con.
gress since the civil war"
Congressman Van Dyke said he
could doubly appreciate the position
or the teachers. having formerly
taught school himself.
cites Need Of Increase.
That the cost OF living was much
lower when he was n teacher. som.
years ago, was his belief lie said
that one could get room and board for
$40 month, where he taught. Now
the scale has more than doubled.
The Congressman read a statement
OF the salaries paid to skilled laborcrs
In the West. and compared II with the
salaries OF the minor professions here.
The Westerners were paid far more
than the the workers here.
The need OF n. salary Increase for
the teachers was then pointed out.
- "rhore was no question In the
House today" Mr.. Van Dyke said.
whether the employe needs an In.
crease or not. The question was only.
can VIC afford 81? The most revenue
that Congress can hope to raise is
se95.o50,OOO. or this sum o. per cent.
or s9i7 ,523. $50. will be spent for mill.
tsrism. That, school employees. 10 your
answer"
Says Organization u Answer.
Declaring that organization was the
answer to the situation that Congress.
man Van Dyke explained, Frank Nor.
rison, secretary OF the American Fed.
Grafton OF Labor, urged that the va
riouR groups OF school employees work
together,
A few days ago. Mr.. Morrison said,
teachers had no organization 'worthy
OF the name. and Rr y result were
the lowest paid. hardest worked class
OF wage carncrs In this country. The
teacher was paid salary meant To
supply only the wants OF the indi.
vidual, since the great majority OF
teachers were women.
when labor IL organized, the union
endcavors To secure n salary that not
only viii support the individual, but
also the family, he said.
Teachers do the most difficult type
Of work OF all the wage earners In
the country" Mr.. Morrison declared,
'and deserve more money than most
classes. The only method OF procuring
more money and better working con.
ditions In by organizing.
McLarIn Voices Disappointment
". NJ. McLarin. president OF the
Federal Employees Union. declared all
Federal employees were rightly disap. |
pointed over the small increase that
the House voted TO give them. One
empioye figured that the increase he
would receive. provided tho bill be.
comes a law, would procure for him |
an extra can OF beans a day.
"The stupendous military program
70 the reason OF the small increase"
Mr.. McLarin said:
1--WE are forced 20 wonder what |
will happen IL the army and. navy II |
still built up. The $3.50 0OO.O 900 deficit |
that the country now faces repre- |
sents a little less than tho INCREASE
in the army and navy bill. Unless We
all get together, We are powerless.
Through the Federation OF Labor and
hA xayII ha N
plish something"
Letters were read from Congress.
man Henry A. Cooper, OF Wisconsin;
Samuel Gompers, DIR. Van Schaick,
and Trnest l.. Thurston. all express
ing the belief that the campaign will
be successful. and expressing their
sympathy with the movement.
Resolutions Are Adopted.
Following the speakers, a series OF
resolutions were read by q. n. Dewitt.
chairman OF the committee. The reso-
buttons approved the effort OF the
Federal employees to procure ade-
auate compensation, approved the
formation OF a central committee to
work for a salary increase for all
school employees, and pledged each
one TO work for the movement.
The appreciation OF those present
was voiced for the display OF in.
terest in the welfare OF school EN-
ployes by Congressman G. c. Van
Dyke and Henry A. Cooper, Frank
Morrison. II. II. McLsrin, Commits
sioner oliver T.. Newman, who Is
credited by the teachers with origin
ating the movement; DIR, Van Schaick,
president of the Board of Education,
and Ernest l.. Thurston, superinten-
dent of schools.
A vocal solo was given by Miss
Beatrice Randall, accompanied by
Mrs, Byram,