The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-06-01
CLASH occurs AT
Joint DISCUSSION
Of TEACHERS PAY
:. M. Guthrie and W. c. Ed
mondson Principals in Row
When Judge Asks Itemlzed
Statement.

clash between members OF the
citizens committee and the ooatu "
education, featured q joint meeting OF
the two bodies. held Monday night 70
reach n decision upon what action ~
necessary owing 10 the refusal or Mayor
Paine 10 deal officially with the com
mittee, which had been appcinteu pS
the board TO present a plant OF GlAa-
ton 70 the city commission 10 care
for the increase in costs OF operating
the city school system under Isufes
complied by the auditors IN RCcotuahCc
with the federal survey schedule.
The controversy arose wren Luuse
tee, requested that the board have an
itenized statement of discrepancies over
the original budget prepared hY NV
board OF education tho first OF the year
and submitted to the mayor for acton
40 shown by the auditors report COM
piled In accordance with the federal
survey schedule which has been ON
cially adopted by the board, lndlgnaht
refusal was flung at Judge Guthrie ny
w O. Edmondson, member of the board
who shouted. No. We won't 90 any
thing like that What do you think we
are here anyway, a bunch Of crooks
''Why, no." said Judge Guthrie, win
look Of surprise, IF thon aH ''a''
Further developments, however,
showed that Mr. Edmondson did not
voice sentiments of the majority OF inc
board as proven when their consent was
given, AT the direction Of Hardwlg
Peres, president, who ordered the audi
tors 10 go ahead with the itemiEed
statement. 1t was finally understood
that no effort would be taken on inc
part OF the city commission to levy
taxes to take care Of the increase, un-
I'll official action was taken by the
board, in submitting the total increase
necessary to keep the schools in run :
ming order, together with the itehiZeu
account OF discrepancies.
Following the disagreement between
the two factions. II was found neces-
sary TO separate the board retiring
behind closed doors to allow the com
Ynittee to confer without INTERRUPTION;
THE situation was thoroughly thraShed
out by the committee who were recon
cIled. In n measure, after the consent OF
the board to take up the matter where
the committee was forced to leave OIL
by submitting the fun budget TO the
city commission as required by Mayor
Paine, 1t was announced that nc
mayor was willing to call speclai
meeting as soon as the board decided
10 take action in the matter IL was
decided to request hearing Wednes-
Contrary to the announcement Mon
day that no other detail in the report
would be discussed except that OF the
teachers increase general summary
OF the whole budget, including proposed
increases for principals, SUPERVISORS ana
ianitors, was made.
Speculation was riot as to what &C
ton the city commission would take
when confronted by request for moro
than 100000. Fear that the sum
will be too much and that the city Will
eliminate some of the money required
to keep the system in running order
which will naturally cause discord be-
tween the favored ones. and those neg
lected was expressed by several mem
hers OF the board 1t was generally
understood. however that the city com
mission would take care OF the teach
ers' Increase in pay, which Is due from
January /. Special stress upon this
obligation, will be laid at the meeting
between the mayor and board OF edu-
cation