New-York tribune., 1919-03-13
Teachers Ask
Assembly for
Adequate Pay
Mrs. Forsythc Tells Legis-
lators She Saw Boy of 10
Heading Brooklyn Glass
Craig Opposes Increase
Appearing for Hylan, He
Asserts City Cannot AZ
ford to Raise Salaries
Craig Opposes Increase
staG Corrcspo,idence

Stpf Corrcrpo,idence
ALBANY, March IA small hoy Of
ten years and little girl OF eleven
In charge Of two classes Of small chill
dren in "A public school in brooklyn one
dav last month"; Such was the picture
drawn for tho legislators to-day by
Mrs. Timothy Forsythc. Associate
Superintendent Of Schools Of New
York city Mt tho hearing Of five bills
Increasing the salaries of teachers.
Nrs. Torsythc, who WAS Miss Gracc
strachan, told tho legislators THAT she
snw the ton and eleven ycar-old pedn-
goguos nt tho head Of their olasses.
oJust magiue what would havc hap
pened had there been fire. said Mrs
forsythc. GLOW could these more i'm
fsntz laye he'd out the li3llo oucs uo-
der their Charge Thus is only ono Of
the conditions attending fho shortage
of teacbcrs ia New York City. which is
due TO the low waeea paid. thot we ask
you fo remedy
Tcnchcra from nil nhr'H Of tho state
urged the puasase of the remedial log
slation, which, M addition 10 equal
zing salnuea, ttes minimum wage
based on living conditions. There were
five bills before the committee. and the
two VIII 'h received the gren(cst support
were the Downing Malone measure,
which has the backing of the State
Ieackers i ede1aNon and t0rty-nne
teachers organizations in AeW York
City and the Lockwood-tcrta bill. The
latter affects only New York city and
nal the support Of only four teachers
osganizr ions.
Controller Charles L. Craig of New
York City opposed all the measures en-
behalf of Mayor Hylan, and asked that
If any legislation were passed It be
frgmed so as to leave the fixing of
salaries in the hands Of the Board of
Estimate.
God help us exclaimed Frederick
e. Lewis president of the Teachers
Welfare League. "if the Board of Est-
mate is TO ix salarles.'
Controller Craig said that two bills
like the Downing-M Malone measure
would put New York City in such q
financial condition that it would have
20 reduce its Fire Police and Street
Cleaning departments.
THE Downing Malone bill would cost
S20000.G00 additional in teachers sal
aries in the City Of New York alone"
said Controller Craig.
where are we going to get the
money! Next year we VIII not receive
the SS,000000 from excise taxes which
the city got this year"
The Controller said there was no lack
OF power n the Board OF Estimate to
get together with the Department of
Education and find any salary sched-
ues that were right.
Stewart Browne, president Of The
United Real Estate Owners Associa-
ten, who preceded Controller Craig.
also opposed the measure, and said that
the next Hylan budget would exceed
the present one by $4,000 00o Con-
1roller Craig did not deny this
DR.. Henry Berg, Of the United Real
Estate interests, aroused the teachers
by declaring that not only were they
well paid and not entitled to more
money but that the best woman
teacher in the land cannot equal the
virility impaired to class by man
teacher"
This caused laughter which the
teachers kept up during most Of Dr.
bergs remarks
Assistant Corporation Counsel Ro-
land, OF Buffalo, also opposed the
legislation, as did william Capes, sec
retary of the State Conference Of
Mayors
James VI Holland. president Of the
State Federation Of Labor, said cor
sanzed labor wants TO see Legislation
enacted which viii give the underpaid
teachers living wage. Dr. Berg op-
poses ANYTHING that he can't get some
thing ous OF. Bat he did not tell you
That be Increased the rents OF his
tenants"
Others speaking for the teachers
were George D. Strayer, president of
!! 5. Wright, president Of tne New
York state Teachers Association;
Isabelle A. Ennis, Dr. Earnest l..
Crandall and Dr. Alfred G Bryan, Of