Evening star., 1945-06-24
Randolph Urges
.$100 Increase
For All Teachers
Pay Bill Amendment
Receives Support
Of Education Boord
BY DON S. WARREN.

erS pay bill so as to assure an
immediate increase of 500 for all
teachers, including those now at
the top Of their present grades,
was proposed yesterday by Chair
man Randolph of the House Dis
trict Committee and formally
approved by members of the Board
of Education.
The change was suggested by
Mr.. Randolph, sponsor of the bill.
because of protests which had de-
veloped that while the bill would
grant higher basic pay levels for
all teachers and officers there would
be no actual increase in the next
year for those at the top of their
grades above present earnings.
The revision, however, would not
alter the proposed new basic pay
grades contained in the Randolph
bill.
$225,000 Involved.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, presi-
dent of the Board of Education.
wrote Mr.. Randolph the change
would not raise the overall" cost
OF the bill, but it was brought out
that for the next year the outlay
for salaries would go up by not
more than $225,000.
The fact that top-of -the-grade
teachers for the next year would
have received no increase in their
actual pay was one reason WHY
agents of the Teachers Union pro-
posed a substitute bill to grant a
temporary pay boost for another
year pending further study of new
basic scales. Senator McCarran.
Democrat, of Nevada has intro
duced such a stop gap" plan in
the Senate.
There were indications, however,
that Chairman Bilbo of the SEN
ate District Committee will await
House action on the teacher pay
bill before bringing the question up
for action by his committee.
Hopeful of Action.
Mr.. Randolph yesterday drew at
tentlon to the point that the tenn.
porary $500 bonus granted to
teachers will expire July l. If the
new bill is not enacted by that
time. or some substitute passed, the
teachers will face an actual paw
cut.
i am very hopeful favorable ac-
ton will be taken by Congress on
the bill before it adjourns for the
summer" said Mr.. Randolph. "I
Will call meeting of the full COM
mittee to act on the measure as
soon as the subcommittee In
charge have concluded their hear
lngs and reported their recon-
mendations."
Hearings are to be resumed Tues
day morning before the Education
Subcommittee, headed by Repre-
sentative Feighan, Democrat. Of
Ohio, and the Fiscal Subcommittee,
headed by Representative Murphy,
Democrat, of Pennsylvania.
Suggested by Representative.
Revision of the bill was suggested
by Mr.. Randolph in a letter to Mrs.
Doyle, in which he said: 81 feel,
in view of statements made by rep
resentatives of the teachers organ
izations and the attitude expressed
IN communications from individual
teachers, that an amendment prop
erly could be offered which will inn
mediately benefit teachers and other
employees who now are at the maxi
| mum salary of their grade and who
would not receive any increase in
salary under this proposed legisla-
ton for 1916.
DO you feel that such an amend
ment can be offered which would
be acceptable to the Board of Edu-
cation? I am deeply interested. as
are all members of the House Dis
trlct Committee. I shall appreciate
it If you will discuss this with the
board and inform me of their &C
ton"
Recommends Change.
Mrs, Doyle yesterday replied:
The board and the officials have
given serious consideration to the
question. We believe that the bill
should be amended to give teachers
and other employees covered by the
bill. who are now at the maximum,
an immediate increase of s10O, ef-
fective July l, 1945.
Therefore, we would favor A
change on page II, paragraph (b),
section 4, increasing $500 to s400.
This would benefit the group of
teachers and other employees who
have given many years of splendid
service. The change would not
increase the overall cost"
AS the bill now stands the first
years cost has been estimated at
1,118,4 400 above present basic SAL
aries, but only 1904 above present
pay, including the $500 bonus. The
ultimate cost. when the annual
step ups within grade have taken
full effect, has been estimated, on
a net basis, as $1,143,600.
Spreads Out Cost.
A. w. Heinmiller assistant super.
intendent of schools in charge of
its budget, has explained to the
commmittee the bill was drawn to
exempt top-of- -the-grade teachers
and others from any increase for
the next year only to spread the
cost over a period of years. This,
it was said, was done at the sugges-
tion of the Commissioners and their
agents.
Mr.. Randolph said yesterday he
believed the Districts financial pros
poets were adequate to meet the
added costs next year, including the
proposed amendment. Z !.
What would be the reaction Of
the Commissioners and Budget Off,
Ger Walter L. Fowler was not indi-
Gated yesterday.
Mr.. Randolph indicated this
amendment was the only major
change in the bill he favors.