Evening star., 1947-02-19
S2,4O0 Teacher
Minimum Asked
|AsCounltySca|e
Fire, Rescue Squads
In Prince Georges
Cut Budget Requests

WI DooSSt NSSuCStS
An increase in the salary scale for
teachers to provide for an annual
minimum of $2,4O0 and maximum
of $4,000 was under consideration
today by the Prince Georges County
commissioners.
Also taken under advisement yes
terday at Upper Marlboro were
two budget requests for the 1947-
48 fiscal year to appropriate total
of $51 900 for county volunteer fire
departments and rescue squads and
$23 900 for operation Of the county s
youth recreation program.
The teacher pay scale request was
submitted by special joint salary
committee of three representatives
each of the teachers, the County
Council of Parent Teacher Asso-
Citations and the Board of Educa-
ton.
Yearly Raises Proposed.
The delegation, led by Wesley
c. Darling, chairman, and Paul D.
Cooper, county supervisor of school
construction, also asked that 500
pay raises be provided each year
until the top pay of $4,000 is reached.
The recommendations, the group
pointed out, were based on teachers
having bachelors degrees. Others
holding masters and doctors degrees
would receive more depending on
their qualifications, it was explained
Those with certificates only would
get smaller raises.
Under the proposal, the 725
teachers in the county would be
placed on the new scale over a
period of five years.
Mr.. Cooper told the commissioners
the increases would cost the county
about $175,O00 the first year, unless
State aid is made available. Legis-
lation now is pending before the
General Assembly, he said, to raise
the State minimum from 81 500 to
81, 200 and the maximum from 81, zoe
to $1,000.
Prince Georges teachers now re-
ceive $400 more each year than pro-
vided in the existing State scale,
Mr.. Darling said. If the legislation
is approved, he added, no additional
funds, and in some cases less, will
be. required from the county.
State Program Endorsed.
The commissioners, meanwhile,
went on record as indorsing the
proposed State program. William A.
Carson, chairman of the board, an
nounced he would attend a hearing
on the bill at Annapolis at II am
tomorrow.
The fire department request was
sought by the County Volunteer
Firemen's Association and marked a
deduction from the groups previous
request of January Is calling for
$4,000 for each company and $500
for each rescue squad.
John M. Brown, president, and E.
Earle Wyvill. chairman of the asso-
ciation's legislative committee, asked
that $500 be appropriated for each
of the 27-member fire departments
and seven rescue squads. The Silver
Hill Volunteer Fire Department,
added to the groups membership
last Wednesday, is included in the
request. A total of $4,000 was ap-
propriated last year.
Funds for 80 Centers Asked.
C. Paul Barnhart, principal Of
Bladensburg High School and direc-
tor of the county youth recreation
program, submitted the budget re-
quest for operation of Is recreation
centers for white persons and seven
for colored. The largest portion of
this, $20,940, would go towards sal
aries of ST recreation leaders, he
said.
Paul H. Kea, Hyattsville architect,
was appointed to draft plans for the
proposed increase and revisions to
the County Courthouse at Upper
Marlboro and County Service Build
ing, Hyattsville. A new Board of
Education building at Upper Marl-
boro also will be included in his pro-
gram. Legislation authorizing is
suance of bonds up to $500,000 for
funds for such work is now before
the General Assembly. In prelimi-
nary recommendations, Mr.. Kea es-
timated the project could be COM
pleted for $365,000.
Policemen Commended.
County Policemen Charles F
Caldwell and William Wiseman OF
the Hyattsville station, were COM
mended in letter to the commits
sioners from j. Bond Smith, attor-
ney for the Maryland-National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
for their efficient and prompt serv-
ices" in recovering an automobile
stolen last Saturday in Takoma
Park.
Appointment of Lingan D. Soper,
of Mount Rainier, as a forest warden
was approved. Also granted was
permit renewal for the Prince
Georges Gun Club to operate rifle
range at the north end of Fifty
second avenue, Edmonston.