New-York tribune., 1920-04-12
Compers Urges
n. Y. to Raise
Teachers Pay
Labor Chief Writes to
Governor Advocating the
Immediate Passage OF
Lockwood Donohue Bill
Indorsed by A. F. of L.
Declares New York Lowest
Among Sixteen States in
Education Appropriations

From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE sup
port of the American Federation of La
Dor was to-day given to the Lockwood
Donohue education bill now before the
New York State Legislature. In let
Ter to Governor Smith Samuel Gompers,
president of the Federation, speaking
in his capacity as head of the labor
unions of the country and as a citizen
Of the State of New York, urged rne
immediate passage of the bill.
"A living wage for teachers is ad-
mittedly a necessity" Mr.. Gompers
wrote Governor Smith "The objections
raised to the salary bills are almost
solely questions of ill-advised expedi-
ency and practicability. The most ex-
pensive and disastrous policy New York
state could maintain is the policy of
starving out the educators OF future
citizens
MIR. Gompers's letter called Governor
Smiths attention to tie steps taken by
other states in providing adequate pay
for teachers.
New York Lowest in List
among sixteen representative states
throughout the Union" Mr. Gompers
informed Governor Smith, "New York
State in 1918 stood lowest relatively in
the amount which the state as such
contributed to the support of education.
A little more than l8 per cent of it's
devoted to education. while in all the
remainder none expends less than 81
per cent and six more than SO per cent
for this purpose.
'In this group are to be found New
Jersey, Georgia, Texas, Utah and Wash
ington. New Jersey actually appro-
priated nearly million dollars more
than did New York, yet New York had
$4,000 900 of property, as compared
with less than $4,000, 100000 in New
Jersey. The latter laid direct tax of
4.32 per $1,000. as compared with the
80 rate of New York.
"The sources of increased taxation
are largely matter of political ex-
pediency. From these and other forms
Of taxation additional funds can be de-
rived. 50 long as New York state pro-
yides less money for the support of
education than New Jersey and so long
as the per capita cost of instructing a
child is higher in Newark, Boston, Los
Angeles and Minneapolis than in the
metropolis, it cannot be said that the
Empire State has lived up to it's re-
sponsibilites in the sense that it's less
wealthy neighbors have done. What
ever may be the source from which
the funds are derived, it is not open to
dispute, that the schools must be kept
going and the children taught by COM
petent teachers. The alternative is
unthinkable.
Labor for Education
THE organized labor movement has
for decades fought for greater educa-
iienal opportunities in public school
indeed. to their efforts is due the
present system of public education.
Workers of the state will regard as
malignant attack upon tie welfare
Of labor policy that tends to destroy
or even contract public educa tional in
s.ltutions, for such policy would deny
their children and workers of the
iltare opportunities for better think
ing ano better living.
Not only as president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor but as a citi-
zen OF the State Of New York I ear
nestlv urge the imme diate passage of
the Lockwood Donohue bill"