Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-13
BONUS AND RISE
GIVEN TEACHERS
Education Board Acts After Bit
ter Fight, Making Lump
Award of 5000
OTHER EMPLOYEES BENEFIT

The Board Of Education yesterday
awarded public school teachers n ia,
bonus of $500. and an advancement
of the present salary schedule.
The bonus will be paid Immediately
every employe of the board except o
gineers and janitors. The engineers AZ
janitors received an increase on a schc,
ule agreed upon at conference Of their
representatives and officials of the board
A bitter fight preceded the boards nc
ton. A ballot on the question received
less than the requisite two thirds vote.
Opposing factions finally united.
The trouble was precipitated Il
the report OF the finance committee
was read. That renort advocated the
use of the 1000. 900 acquired indi-
rectly by the sale Of bonds and author
lied bonus Of S135 ncr person.
Gratz for 5000
When the report was read Simon
Gratz, president Of the board, turned
the gavel over to William Rowen and
presented an amendment increasing the
amount Of the bonus to 5000. This
same amendment had been turned down
by the finance committee previously.
The money for this additional amount
is to come from temporary loan Of
S40O 900.
~ feel that we are justified in bor-
rowing this additional sum-" said Mr..
Grats, because our temporary hor-
rowing capacity is now restored unn
because we will receive more money
during 1921. There Is also the pros.
pect that Council will induce the earlier
payments of taxes, and In addition ]
am sure the State Legislature will,
early in the session. increase our tenn
porary borrowing capacity, IL needed.
THE teachers have been confident
that the board would give them at least
this much and I am sure many have
borrowed that much already in an
ticipation. II we fail to grant this
bonus we fail to hear the cry of the
great majority of the teachers"
Beeber Opposes
This amendment of Mr.. Gratz was
opposed by former Judge
Dinner Beeber, who offered as a sub
stitute the advanced salary schedule.
That advance would give the teachers
the salaries that would
normally be paid in January. 1922.
When the principal Of equalization was
adopted last March. 1t was arranged so
third Of the difference between theirs
and the mems pay each year. This
latest action of the board gives them
the remaining two thirds and accom-
plishes equalization Immediately. It
also raises the minimum salary to be
paid to new teachers to $1,000 per year.
The plan Of Judge Beeber had also
been defeated in the finance committee
The vote taken on Judge Beeber's
substitution passed to and the ad-
vanced salary schedule became an
amendment Of the finance committees
The opposition, how
ever. headed by Mr.. Graft, refused to
relinquish the 5000 bonus and the
recommendation failed to pass, as 1t re-
luired two thirds vote.
Edmunds Urges Action
At this juncture the whole plan to
help the teachers seemed to be q failure.
Mr.. Edmunds. In short and vehement
talk, urged the members not to leave
the room without coming to some agree
nent and doing something for their en-
ployes.
Joseph W. Catharine, a stanch ad-
vocate of the advanced schedule. then
proposed to compromise by giving the
300 bonus and the advancement. Mr..
iratz said he was willing to accent
he advanced schedule If Judge Beeber
would favor the higher bonus. Every
,ody was finally agreed and after a
notion to reconsider, the double plan
passed by unanimous vote.
Although this plan does not put into
operation the Finegan schedule as ad-
,ocated by the citizens committee, IL
loes satisfy them both, and is counted
/ victory on all sides. Board members
explain that the Finegan schedule is
yet incomplete and cannot be adopted
Until after Doctor Finegan has worked
,ut the details and presented them to
ne state Legislature.