The Washington herald., 1921-02-25
DC. NIGHT SCHOOL
FORCE LOSES PAY
FROM JANUARY 2S
Congress Fails to Provide
Money to Make Up
Salary Account.

Two hundred and seventy teach
ers in District night schools will
receive only 81 for the period be-
tween January 2S and the time
when the deficiency bill is approved
by the President. through failure of
Congress to enact legislation pro-
viding for regular payment during
that time.
The night school appropriation
for the current fiscal year was ex-
hausted on January IS. The teach
ers agreed towork for the nominal
sum of 81 from the time of the ex-
haustion of the appropriation unrI
the deficiency bill would become
law.
Occurs Annually.
This agreement has been custo-
mary for several years. since pre-
mature exhaustion of the night
school appropriation is almost an
annual condition. In past years.
however, Congress has provided for
the payment of the teachers during
A"S W PCAAOo vIel1a me
deficiency bill for The hack pay -
Although requested by the Com
missioners to include the item this
year. Congress failed to act, pro-
viding $4,000 as a deficiency appro-
priation for salaries in the night
schools TO supplement the initial ap-
preparation of $4,000. The de-
ficiency appropriation may be useG
only for the firna af h. -
approved and cannot be made retro
active as of January 2S.
The night schools monthly paw
roll is approximately $4,000. This
means that the schools will be kept
openu probably, until April l.
kramcr's Opinion.
Acting Superintendent ~ Schools
stephen L. Kramer last night char
acterized the condition as regret
able"
The school authorities tried to
convince Congress" he said. that
this is not a question Of additional
expenditures; it is a question of
Eaying people for services rendered.
The Board of Education recommend
ed the payment of the teachers to
the Commissioners and the Commis-
sioners recommended I to Congress.
The Board of Education, Of
course, made no guaranty TO the
right school teachers that they
would be paid, but the agreement
was made in good faith. The school
administration is disheartened at the
failure Of Congress 10 provide nee
essary money. We encountered no
such trouble in past years"
schools Popular.
W. B. Patterson, director of night
schools, said he would try to keen
the night school at Business High
open after the others, since il ac-
commodated the greatest number of
pupils. The crowded schoolrooms.
with every desk occupied and pupils
sitting on tables, he said. attested
to the popularity of night schools.
Representative James w. Good.
chairman OF the House Appropria-
tions Committee. said last night that
the bill had been passed in the lam
guage in which it had been pre-
sented by the Commissioners. His
attention was not called TO the
night school feature. he said. until
the bill had gotten beyond his ju-
risdiction.
One Chance Left.
Chairman Good said il was prob
able that another deficiency measure
would be presented before July /,
and that provision for the back
pay of the teachers might be in.
cluded in such a measure.
The teachers should be recon-
pensed for their services, said
Chairman Good. TT is possible that
the school administration spent the
initial appropriation faster than
they should, but they cannot be
blamed IL they did, since the pub
lie takes SO much interest in the
night schools"