Evening star., 1934-09-05

Distribution of more than sac, 900 900
In Federal cash among the school
teachers of Chicago is viewed by the
country as a remarkable exhibition.
Lack of funds in the treasury of the
city made it necessary for the Fed
eral Government to provide money as
loan to the municipality. Admira-
ton is expressed for the tradesmen
and other creditors who were carrying
the victims Of the months Of payless
days.
"a salary drought that has persisted
for ten months was broken" says the
st. Louis Globe-Democrat, "and Chi
cago trade channels ran with money"
The Globe Democrat adds: Salary
defaults in that city, especially as they
concern teachers and employees of the
school system, have not been infre-
quent in recent years Of wide tax de-
faults and reduced municipal incomes.
But the elimination Of distress has
been in effect since last November,
when pay for the teachers was set aside
as impossible. Since that time most Of
the unpaid teachers have specialized
in studies In economics and economies,
budgeting and credits, to the end that
they have survived the salary drouth
and lived to enjoy the flood Of long
delayed checks. Many Of the teachers
and other employees could not have
won through save for the long-suffer-
ing cooperation of the butcher and
baker and candlestick maker, to say
nothing of the hardihood of landlords
and other harried creditors, who have
stood their part Of the burden because
they could do nothing else under such
distressing circumstances. So these
tradesmen and proprietors gain, too,
by the release of funds that have been
held In suspension, as their accounts
are balanced or sharply reduced"
"The news is received with gladness
by the whole country" declares the
Savannah Morning News. "Owing to
q tax tangle they have been paid only
intermittently over period Of three
or four years. Their last pay day was
ten months ago. It has been the won
der Of the Nation how these teachers
have managed to exist in the face of
the hardships which they have been
forced to endure. Many tragedies, Of
course, have resulted, but as a body
they have been giving the general
public an example Of >fortitude, cour-
age and devotion to duty In the face
Of the seemingly impossible"
The Austin (Tex) American quotes
an estimate that probably more piled
up personal debts were paid from this
fortune in salary checks than at any
like period in Chicago history" That
paper also gives a summary of recent
conditions in the Middle West metrop-
oils: Thousands of ng-suffering but
patient Observation-Disclosures, grocers,
milkmen, clothiers, utility concerns
and divers others-'dipped into the So
called rich currency stream Back
taxes where paid, whereby State and
city employees will receive their regular
pay. Chicago is the wonder city of
America. Its Century of Progress Fair,
repeated this year, has been a wonder
full success. Millions of tourists have
poured into the city on the shore of
great lake and poured out their coin.
Thousands Of delinquent taxpayers
have placed their tax money on the
barrelhead. A hundred business men,
including financial leaders, merchant
princes and manufacturers, made the
Century Of Progress Fair possible
They were underwriters of the millions
advanced and they have made 1t pos
sible for the people and all the indus
tries to score q comeback"
The Rutland Herald wonders If all
the creditors received their money, as
it quotes the report Of one teacher,
who says he has ordered a new suit
and overcoat and may get new car"
The Tampa Daily Times sharply criti-
cizes the cause Of the delay in pay
ment, with the statement: Chicago
as whole benefited and will benefit
from this extraneous injection Of cold
cash, all Of which is undoubtedly q
good thing. But the fact that Chicago