Evening star., 1947-01-31
|kcCarran Seeks
To oLiberaIize
Teacher Bill
To Ask D. c. Starting
Minimum Of $500,
$500 Annual Stepups

A fight for a more liberal teach
efs' pay raise bill than that ap-
proved by the Board of Education
is planned by Senator McCarran,
Democrat, Of Nevada.
The former chairman of the
Senate District Committee an
nounced last night he would seek
approval Of $4,000 as starting pay
for teachers, instead of $2,500, rec
commended by school authorities.
In addition, he said he would urge
another change to provide annual
stepups of $500 a year instead Of
the proposed 500.
Senator McCarran said he had
held the conviction for some years
that teacher pay here, as well as
elsewhere in the country is too low,
particularly at the beginning levels.
Author. of National Bill.
He Is the author of a measure
which would raise teachers pay
throughout the country. This calls
for increases ranging from $3.50 on
a 81 900 annual salary to a top boost
Of $3.50 on salaries of $4,000 or
more.
Senator McCarran said any such
increase applied to the District
should be placed on top Of the pres
ent pay levels, which include fiat
$3.50 pay raise granted to teachers
here for the current fiscal year.
Just what District units on Capitol
Hill will handle the teachers pay
bill is not yet determined. The bill
as recommended by school authori-
ties calls for an outlay of $2,500, 600
for the first year Of its application,
or about 100000 above the present
cost which includes the $3.50 fiat pay
boost.
Bates Seeks Bill.
Because Of the financial aspects
Of the question, Representative
Bates, Republican, of Massachusetts,,
said he would ask that the bill be
referred to the Fiscal Subcommittee
Of the House District Committee
which he heads.
It had been thought the bill would
go to the Health, Education, and
Recreation subcommittee, headed by
Representative Miller, Republican,
Of Nebraska, since the bill proposes
new basic pay scales.
Chairman Miller agreed the cost
Of the pay raise should be considered
by the Fiscal Subcommittee and in
dicated he would have no quarrel
over reference of the bill to the fiscal
group. He suggested, however, the
question might be studied jointly
by the education and fiscal groups.
Representative Dirksen, Republic
can, Of Illinois, chairman of the full
committee, said he would consult
with both Mr. Bates, and DR.. Miller,
as to the best way of handling the
measure.
Would Compare Scales.
DR.. Miller said he was convinced
teachers generally had been UNDER
paid but withheld any detailed COM
ment on the District scales until he
had chance to compare the present
and proposed Washington rates with
those of cities of similar size.
Chairman Buck Of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, said the anticipated
cost of the teachers pay measure
should be considered as part of the
overall District financial problem.
Broad questions as to the Districts
financial plight are to be discussed
early next week at the first meeting
between Senator Cain, Republican,
of Washington, who heads the fiscal
subcommittee of the Senate District
Committee, and Mr.. Bates, head Of
the companion unit on the House
side. Arrangements for joint hear
ings on the Districts tax and rev.
enue problems will be discussed.