Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-27
LEGISLATURE HOPE
OF CHICAGO TUTORS
Mayor Says Banks viii Aid
When Law Is Passed Fore.
Ing Tax Payments.
BY the Associated Press.

CH1CAGO, April 27.-Out Of the
whirlwind Of their militant activities
there came to Chicago's unpaid teach
ers today q new ray of hope that their
financial privations may come to an
end through legislative action.
1t came from Mayor Edward j. Kelly
after two days Of near riotous condi-
lions, which reached peak yesterday
when militant teachers beat against
the barricaded doors of the Chicago
Title g. Trust Co.. besieged the First
National Bank, and marched on the
City Hall, making verbal charges that
the city's bankers had refused them aid
by failing to purchase tax warrants.
II have agreed with the bankers to
act to cut expenses of the school
board" the mayor told them when
this is done and legislation is passed
to force tax payments. the bankers will
advance q substantial amount Of
money"
In Springfield today the mayor hopes
for progress before the Legislature, with
his program, which provides for dras-
tic retrenchment Of school operating
expenses and action by the General As
sembly to break tax strike in Chicago
which has been one of the stumbling
blocks toward pulling the school sys-
tenn out OF the financial quagmire IT.
which 1t has been struggling the past
few years.
Many Schools Involved.
parently hinges the fate of 800 ele-
"a high schools and colleges. employ
ing in the neighborhood Of $4,000 teach
ers, who for months have been payless
except for the occasional receipt Of
part payments Of their wages. A pro-
posal to close the schools, meanwhile.
is being held In allegiance, peace de-
scending temporarily, at least, pending
final showdown.
There will be no further demonstra-
lions for a week now that We have q
guarantee Of aid" said John M. Fewkes,
a teacher who led the demonstrators
numbering about 5000 in yesterdays
march which resulted In general
melee. tying up trafiic and catching the
police temporarily of their guard. They
finally brought about order. but not
until their uniforms had been torn.
About five teachers had been injured.
None was seriously hurt.
Before leaving the First National to
march on the City Hall the teachers
heckled vice president into silence,
repeating tactics they employed the
previous day when Gen. Charles G.
Dawes shouted, Ito hell with trouble
makers" while he was attempting to
explain the bankers viewpoint Of the
school crisis. which Is the outcome Of
conditions that began back in 1927.
1t was then that q decision to revise
property assessments for taxation was
made-a job that took two years dur
ing which taxes piled up Many prop
erty owners. caught in the 1929 f1nan-
cial recession. had failed to budget their
taxes and were hard pressed. Efforts to
collect two years taxes in IL months
were made. but failed, the pressure be-
coming so great that property owners
began suits to annul the new assess
ment Collections were delayed by in
functions.
Injunction and Foreclosure.
Other tax payers saw their neighbors
under protection of injunctions escape
payment and went on strike. The in.
functions have long since been void,
but meanwhile many small home own
ers have lost their properties by FORE
closures. Receivers refused to pay I'M
til titles should be perfected Many
other small home owners. however, paid
unless they couldn't becaueS of the
depression.
The financial recession, however,
added to the general confusion. In ad-
dition it was charged there had been an
orgy OF spending by all municipal de-
partments, including the School Board.
There were allegations that school pay
rolls, aside from the teachers had been
that excessive prices were paid
politicians for school sites, and that
other wasteful practices had been in
dulged in.
When the till finally ran dry tax war
rants were issued and for q Time the
pedagogues found but little difficulty
In cashing them at slight discounts, but
the merchants. unable to refinance them,
finally stopped taking them altogether
or demanded larger discount margins.
For year the banks handed out money
on the warrants, as they were certified
against actual taxes due and legally as
sessed, but in recent months the ques-
ton Of ability to collect taxes compli-
Gated the situation. Attempts were made
to induce the Reconstruction Finance
CORPORATION to take the paper, but it
declined unless the banks gave their
notes as guarantee. The late Mayor
Anton j. Cermak went to Miami to talk
with Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Pres
ldent elect. but an assassin. firing at
Mr.. Roosevelt fatally shot Mr.. Cermak
Federal assistance was sought at
Washington by members of the School
Board. the teachers and even students.
All got the same advice. It was:
Go home and collect your overdue
taxes"