New-York tribune., 1919-01-20

d" 'he grammar schools, would tie
moderated
- On January 9. 1918. the Board of
Education directed that a committee
of three associate and five district
super'ntendents be formed to report
on he subject. The committee was
named; but. IN over q year, has made
little progress.
Teachers Salary Legislation
For some months various teachers
organ izations - the Teachers Union.
TIE Federation Of Teachers Assoca-
'lons' tho Teachers Interests Organiza-
tlon, and others-have been framing
schedules OF salary increases for pre-
separate bills are nov nearly completed
as the outcome Of discussions, often
heated and protracted. Rivalry is bid
ding for the support OF the mass u the
teachers who teach the grades below
the seventh, has resulted in proposed
Increases in some of the bills es.ma ted
20 mean adding twenty million dollars
to the sclCo1 budget.
Superinterdt Mt Ettinger presented to
the Board OF Education at its lass
meeting a letter in which he said:
81 consider it my urgent duty to
Greet YOUR attention TO the necessity
OF giving careful consideration to tho
matter OF making a study Of the need
OF providing adequate salaries for all
members OF the profes ssional. clerical
and janitorial staff within our school
system. think it is very es-
sentlal that VIC should supplement the
pres ent work of our teacher organiza
'iots by arranging for series OF con
terenccs with representative commu-
n'ty interests, such as commerce. real
estate and organized labor. in order that
We may discover the attitude Of these
groups toward proposed schemes"
Three members of the Board Of Edu
cation will form committee with
power to call in, representatives. of
community interests in en advisory
capacity. The committee hopes to con
so}idate the teachers bills and reduce
their p~onortions School officers say
that pny proposal to raise an extra
20 000 600 for teachers salaries will
Not be seriously cons sidered and that it
il anomalous that tf,chers should at
tempt 10 set the salaries o sheir SUI
och icr officers. The attitude Of the
BOARD Of Estimate is indicated by its
refusal 10 grant s3.500.0oo for salary
Road OF Education and it's suosttu-
tion Of q scheme Of adding 500 70 the
salaries o. those teachers who were re
ceiving 81 800 year or less
Ur to 1918 tho Mayer had the power
10 veto any state eg'sation affecting
teachers salaries; but by the law
which went into effect in that year.
the salary schedules for New York
schools were embodied in the general
education law. so that their amendment
does not need the approval Of the
Mayor. For no other cities OF the
state arc salary schedules embodied in
the state law. There is legal doubt
whether IL is constitutional to enact
sa'arv legislation which does not affect
all cities of the first class.
Budget Restrictions
The Board Of Estimate detailed il
the budget for 1919 the purposes for
which The 'neys might be expended.
Auditor Cook and Superintendent Et-
t'nger reported to the Board Of Educa
ton that chaos in the schools would
follow upon any effort to keep within
the lines laid down. The Board Of Edu-
cation has, therefore, authorized the
auditor to make out the January pay
rolls without regarding the budget re-
strictions and has authorized the two
officers to construct a new detailed
budget, keeping within the totals ap-
rropriated 1t is intended 70 request
the Board of Estimate to substitute
theEe details for the details of the Off