The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-04-30
LABOR BACKS
TEACHERS IN
PAY REQUEST
Committee to Report Mon
day for Teachers Federa-
ton on Question-A of
Body Dissatisfied.
BOARD IS CRITICIZED

Developments of the teachers pay
question here Friday were two:
First, the increases in the budget
authorized recently by the school
board were characterized as unsatis-
factory by three-fourths of the teach
sers present at a federation meeting
Thursday evening.
Second, the Central labor council, at
e special called meeting, asked through
tresolutions for the resignation Of the
entire school board.
Vern Pentecost, president of the
central Labor council, said Thursday
nights meeting was called specially to
tdiscuss the question of increased pay
flor teachers.
Speaking for the council, Pentecost
said he felt there was no one in Rich
mond that would not gladly pay the
Increased taxation, providing city
schools were in the hands of compet-
ent instructors.
"Is Gross Injustice"
I'VE feel" said Pentecost, that the
Rction of the school board in granting
such a meager increase to the teach
ers, and the adding of another month
TO the school term, is gross injustice.
mot only to the teachers. but to the
school children and parents as we'll"
Approximately $500 homes are
represented in the Central Labor coun
Gil and it is felt that nine months is
sufficiently long for a school term"
continued Pentecost. 1--WE want COM
petent teachers in our schools. These
cannot be obtained unless a living
salary is paid
Pentecost asserted the action of the
council was not antagonistic. 1t is
merely a move whereby teachers may
obtain a fair wage and not have to
work an extra month to obtain it.
Won't Sign Contracts Vet.
decision not to sign contracts until
after the report of an appointed COM
mittee the first of the week, was
reached at conference of the Teach
er's federation in the high school
building Thursday afternoon.
This was followed by standing
vote of all teachers satisfied with their
contracts The ffirmative vote brought
only five to their feet. One of these
protested the question unfair, on the
ground that many had not reached a
decision. The negative vote brought
fully three-fourths of the number to
their feet.
Aeironimus Heads Committee.
The committee appointed to ascer-
tain the percent of increase of sal
aries of all members of the federation
are: H. c. Heronimus, chairman;
f. C. Cline, Miss Flora Broaddus, Miss
Anna Bradbury, E. E. Rice and H. F.
Ross. Two others will be appointed
later.
The school board will furnish the
percentage of increase granted to
teachers and all other information pos
sible The committee will be notified
to obtain data on the cost of living for
the last year and also the monthly
living increase.
Byram C. Robbins, attorney for the
federation, reviewed the activity of
the committee appointed to try to OBJ
tain the advance in salary. His dis
fcusson took in all steps of the nego-
tiations up to Thursdays meeting. The
figures Of the school board, quoted by
Robbins, showed city teachers had re-
.ceived an average Of 20 per cent in
crease in wages since 1914, while the
cost of living has advanced about 125
per cent.
Increase 25 Per Cent.
Robbins also said that the $46.525
authorized as an increase in salary
meant an increase of 25 per cent in
the teachers pay roll over that of last
year Computing this on nine
months term, however, the increase
is only about II per cent.
Robbins said the school board has
no money to meet the fiat $500 in
crease asked In fact, there is not
enough money to meet the increase
already granted. But the school board
has power to borrow money and to
issue bonds to cover the increased
budget
To meet the increased budget result
, ing from the increase granted, addi-
tional taxes will have to be levied
This will not happen until September,
however. He quoted several promin-
ent Richmond men as being absolutely
in favor of paying the teachers more
money. The men represent some of
the largest tax payers in the city.