The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-28

Successful passage OF Bill No ga
b. the state legislature will consti-
tute q. moral victory for the wo-
men teachers of Waterbury. The
bill, introduced by the Connecticut
State Teachers association and
passed out Of the legislative educa-
ton committee with favorable
report. provides for equal pay for
the women's teachers of the state,
where there exists an inequality
such as the current one of 5000 in
Waterbury.
The bill likewise provides for mu-
inequalities, so affected by its terms,
to spread over a short period OF
years the necessary payments re-
Quired to eventually equalize the wo-
mems pay with that Of the men
teachers. AS in the case of Wa
terbury, q $3.50 annual increase may
be effected the first year (particu-
larly because the prosperous times
may fade out as fast as they APP
peared) and the remaining $3.50
necessary to comprise the total $500
could be met by a SIS annual in
crease the second year and the
third year with the final SIS.
Waterbury's women teachers have
Waged a vigorous and fair campaign
to have abolished the salary differ
entail existent here and it is to
their credit that they have sought
such local legislation solely on its
evident merits. Although they have
been denied their request locally,
the successful passage Of the state
bill will provide all for which they
have campaigned.
Equalization Of the salaries Of the
women teachers with that Of the
men teachers is devoid Of selfish
gain and contains merits so self
evident that the bill is one Of the
few offered to the legislature with
out need for qualifications or con-
siderations Of individual pressure
groups or parties. It's only conces-
sion Is that Of permitting munich
panties to ''pay-as-they-go" within
a period Of time, and the very
fact the proponents Of this bill in
cluded such measure is indicative
Of their altruism in seeking only
that which Is rightfully theirs -
and no more.
We have always failed to under
stand the opposition shown by some
within the local administration, to
the proposal. Fine analysis has
never revealed it to be based on
political expediency, financial or
economic necessity or any other per-
tinent factor. It has always ap-
peared as adamancy on the part
of individuals.
For the past two years, at least,
the city has been financially and
economically capable OF assimilating
the equation Of pay equalization
and the city's general fund. Former
city budget director T. E. Olsen had
been a strong acknowledgements
advocate Of teachers equalization.
It seems regrettable that Water
bury has failed so far to advance
with the times on such a measure
as this. New York state now has
on It's statute books an equalization
law for all women workers Of the
state other than farm labor or do
nestle help. Other states have
adopted similar measures. Local au-
thorities have made plans for the
postwar era all Of which still are
intangibleS insofar as actual con-
styuction is fact, and yet they have
failed to provide for progress on q
matter that Is with us now and
Is equally indicative Of equitable
and progressive government--name-
~ equalization. Planning should
never ignore the immediate.
House Bill sos. an act concerning
youth correction authority is one
containing considerable merit as at
fecting the youth OF the state. The
bill is being supported by 1t. Gov.
Wilhert Snow and was introduced
by Rep. Sullivan. The purpose Of
the act iss the protection Of society
By such treatment 20 WaN most q.