Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-08
Commissioners Offer
Substitute Proposal
On Teacher Pay Raise
By John w. Thompson, Jr

The Board of Education today has
before it substitute proposal by
the Commissioners for the boards
request for legislation giving a fiat
$500 pay raise to the city's more
than 5000 teachers.
The city heads said they would
support IA per cent increase for
the teachers similar to that pend
ing for the classified employees and
the police and firemen with these
differences:
Where the classified employees will
receive a minimum of $3.50 under
the pending Federal Pay Act, the
Commissioners proposed $3.50 min
imum for the teachers, but also said
they would support no increase
that would raise a salary above
$4,000.
Alternative Offered.
In letter to Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle, president of the School
Board, the Commissioners said they
had arrived at the alternative solu-
ton after careful consideration of
the effect these various pay in
creases will have on the city finan-
cial structure.
They pointed to a Significant
difference" between the legislation
for Federal pay increases and that
for the District in that st will be
mandatory on the Federal depart
ments to reduce personnel mate
rally, which will have the tWofold
effect of vast savings and reduc-
ton in opportunity for employ
ment"
The proposed alternative program
for the teachers will cost the Dis
trict an estimated $1,500,0OO as
against the s2,1OO,oOO of the $500
fat boost.
Plan Received Coolly.
Reception of the counterproposal
In the ranks of teacher group leaders
was generally cool.
Mrs Emily Gosling of the Teach
ers Advisory Council said the teach
ers appreciated the consideration
given their pay troubles by the
commissioners and would welcome
any increase in pay, but that the
proposal of fiat $500 for each
teacher had been worked out>on the
basis of the high cost of essentials
of living She added that the Com
nlssioners' plan carrying $3.50
minimum was better than the pend
ing McCarran teachers pay bill as
originally drawn.
The teachers are still standing on,
their original decision that the fiat
increase is the most equitable
method of meeting the rising cost
of living, said Mrs. Mary Resi-, head
of the Joint Legislative Council rep
resenting 43 teacher groups. She said
the Council will meet Monday or
Tuesday afternoon to consider the
situation in the light of the Com
sioners' counterproposal.
"Of course we want an increase"
Mrs. Resi- said, but the percentage
raise gives the greatest benefits to
the higher paid"
Compromise Suggested.
Adelbert w. Lee, chairman of the
Board of Education's Legislative
Committee, said the fiat increase
was the composite thought" of the
teachers and the board but that he
would recommend to the board a
meeting of his committee with the
teachers to see if compromise
could be worked out
I'VE should go to the Capitol
with a united front with the Com
missioners if possible" he said.
The pay acts for the classified
employees, teachers and police and
firemen last July added this year
more than 100000 to the city sal
airy bill. which has gone up $9,OOO,-
900 since the fiscal year 1941. The
prospective increases this year, in
Guiding boosts for the several thou
sand per diem employees, is expected
by District budget officials to reach
another S6,000,0OO
The city now has roughly 10000
employees who next year will cost
the taxpayers about S45 100000 in
salaries alone if the various pay in
creases become law, it was Indicated
The S45,000000 will be more than
half Of the entire 1947 District budg-
ct of more than $79,000,000 as it now
awaits action in. the Senate.