Evening star., 1947-05-01
City Heads Told
To Record Stand
On TeachersPay
Senote-House Unit
Orders Criticisms
Put in Writing
By John w. Thompson, Jr.

The District Commissioners today
began putting their opposition to
the new teachers pay bill into writ
ing for submission to a Senate
House Committee.
They gave their position orally to
the joint committee late yesterday
at closed session, but were asked
by Chairman Caain TO submit it for
record as soon as practicable.
Senator Cain told newsmen after
the session the opinion of the city
heads on the measure was Con
troversial' and indicated they had
expressed dissatisfaction with some
Of It's provisions.
Earlier the Commissioners had
given general approval to the bill
provided the $3,000000 1t will cost
Is not obtained by funds allocated
in the budget to other city depart
ments. This will be their first de-
tailed analysis of the measure, how
ever, at the request of the COM
nittee.
Teacher Pay Provisions.
The bill provides a $3.50 across
the-board increase for teachers on
top Of the $3.50 temporary increase
they have this year. 1t also estab-
fishes single salary standard of
equal pay for equal training and
experience regardless of whether
the teacher Is in an elementary or
high school.
In addition to the teacher pay
problem, the Commissioners used
yesterdays session:
l. To present an outline of new
construction items they want be-
tween 1948 and 1852 at total cost
Of s96,447, 900.
2. To try to sound out the COM
mittee on what 1t has in mind
about new taxes.
The projection of the building
program was asked for by Repre-
sentative Bates, Republican, of
Massachusetts, co-chairman of the
joint group. Mr.. Bates explained
to reporters after the conference
yesterday he hoped to find a means
OF levelling off the needs so that
no great concentration of items
would appear in any one year.
Sees Bunching of Items.
He said preliminary scrutiny of
the report showed a punching of
items mainly in the highway build
ing program, This. however, is now
made necessary by the 3-year post
war Federal aid program in which
the city matches Federal funds on
projects.
Both Senator Cain and Mr.. Bates
said they were going to ask the
Public Roads Administration if
there is any way in which the
grants to the District can be dis
tributed over greater number of
years.
Both also thought it might re-
quire national legislation to change
present procedure but felt other
communities in the country might
also be benefited by the extension.
Among the things the Commits
sioners sought to learn from the
committee was what chance there
was of revision of the income tax.
They have already submitted to
Mr., Bates a draft along lines sug-
gested earlier by Mr.. Bates which
would give full credit against the
District tax for any income tax paid
in another State by a District resi-
dent. The earlier plan of the city
heads for reciprocal credits was
unacceptable to the committee.
1t is understood they got no
definite answer.
Bill Soon to be Drafted.
Mr.. Bates. however, said the
committee information is now at a
stage where the members can begin /
drafting q tax bill. He predicted |
the draft would be begun, perhaps
next week.
Present indica tons were that the
committee program will include:
/. Some form of increased Federal
payment.
2. An increase in the real estate
tax rate.
3. Either a sales tax or a revised
income tax
While there are other taxes sug-
gested by the Commissioners, Mr..
Bates has indicated the committee
will concentrate on several major
sources of income rather than
number of smaller ones.