New-York tribune., 1920-04-16
State to Grant
W age Increases
10 IoAHTeachers
Bill Which Allots Raise of
5000 in Greater City Ap-
proved at Albany; Will
BE Introduced To-day
Local Advance Optional
Mandatory Plan Dropped ;
Direct Tax of / Is Mills to
Cover Estimated Expense
From a Staff Coryesnou5o,,t >,

ALBANY, April 15.-Lecislative 1ead-
ers decided to-day to grant the de-
mahds OF school teachers for salary
increases. The cost will be met in
part by direct state tax of ~ mills.
lhls agreement was reached after q
conference, at which it was determined
TO create special joint committee to
investigate the educational system and
report to the next Legislature.
Inc Dill to provide fer salary ad-
vances will be introduced in the Sem
ate tomorrow by Senator Charles c.
Lockwood, Republican, and in the As
sembly by minority leader Charles d.
Donohue. 1t will not carry any pro-
vision for mandatory increases to be
made by the cities in ad dition to the
advances granted by the state. The
tax of Ia mills will raise approx
mately $20.25O,oO0 To this will be
added the s5,ooo,OOo pro ,idcd fer in
the bill passed last year and the s5,-
$4,000 already appropriated, making a
total of $30,S50,0OO.
Greater City Gets s16,s00,000
New York City's share will be about
Sl6,so0,o00, while its contribution to-
ward the increase will be approximate
ly S13,50O, 900, thus bringing the amount
to be received by the city $4,000 900
above the cost to the taxpayers. The
allotments to be made to the cities are
as follows:
New York City, $500 for each
teacher; Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse,
Ionkers and White Plains, $3.50; ali
other second class cities. $45O; third
class cities, $3.50; village and rural
schools, $500 and $3.50
1t is believed the original increase
provisions in the LOCKWOOD -Donohue
bill can now be carried out, so far as
New York City teachers are concerned
This will mean 40 per cent increase
for those getting less than $2,26O, 30
per cent for those between S2,26O and
$1,000 and 20 per cent for all receiv-
ing more than $4,000.
The schedule is being perfected by q
committee comprising Senator Lock
wood, Minority Leader Donohue, Sena-
tor Barnard Downing, Miss Margaret L.
Smith and Assemblyman Joseph V. Nc
Kee. This plan will not stipulate man
datory increases, because most Of the
cities already are up to their debt limit.
There is nothing, however, to prevent
voluntary salary raises on the part of
municipalities.
New Minimum for All Glasses
In second-class cities outside of
Westchcster County the minimum for
elementary teachers is to be raised
from $500 to 81 200 and for high school
teachers from 81 900 to 81 400. In third
class cities the minimum for ele-
mentary teachers will be $1,100, and
sl,l5o for high school teachers. In
union free schools elementary teachers
will have a minimum of 5000 and high
school teachers $1,000. In rural and
village schools the minimum pay will
be $3.50.
To-days decision crowns with sue
cess the campaign conducted by the
various teachers organizations for the
last month. A few days ago it seemed
that Speaker Sweet and Senator Henry
NJ, Sage would have their way and that
the Legislature would vote to impose 81
tax of only one mill to meet the de-
mands for pay increases.
Mrs Grace Strachan Forsythe, prcsi-
dent of the New York City School
Teachers Association, in commenting
on the agreement reached by the legis-
lative leaders, said:
This is splendid We all felt that
the Legislature would eventually see
the justice of our demands. We are
highly satisfied"
The joint legislative committee is to
consist Of four Senator'S and five AS
sembiymcn. It will investigate the
wages Of teachers, the equipment of
schools and their systems Of govern
ment and instruction, as we'll as cali
those questions affecting and prom otine
the education and mental, moral and
physical bettcrmcnt of the people"
The resolution creating the commit
tee was passed in the Senate this after
| noon 1t carries an appropriation Of
s25 900.