Evening star., 1951-02-24
Teacher Salary
Letters Flood
Annapolis Mail
Appeals Directed
From Prince Georges
But Not Montgomery
BY stoff Correspondent Of The sior


ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 24.2Th e
Prince Georges County delegation
is being flooded with letters urg-
ing the group to support the State
Department Of Education's pro-
posal for $500 annual teacher
salary raise.
Most of the letters are from
county teachers who say they "re-
sent" Gov. McKeldin's opposition.
The Governor announced early
this week the State could not af-
ford such q program, explaining
it would cost nearly So million a
year.
Delegation members said they
have not yet considered the ques-
Etion.
Increased Costs Cited.
One of the letters to the Prince
Georges delegation came from
Miss Sarah L. Letter, president Of
the county Teachers Association.
Another was signed by Russell
o. Eckert, who said the increase
is necessary ito attract and keep
competent teachers so our Mary
land educational system will not
suffer in this emergency as 1t did
in recent war years."
Other letters cited increased
taxes and higher living costs as
reasons for more pay.
The Montgomery County dele
cation. strangely enough, reported
that 1t had received no such let
tiers. One Montgomery delegate
said that probably was because of
the relatively high teacher scale
in that county.
The executive committee of the
Montgomery County Council of
Parent-Teacher Associations. how
ever. has gone on record in favor
of the proposed increase.
Criticize Governor.
Meeting in special session with
the County Board of Education at
Rockville on Wednesday, the COM
mittee criticized Gov. McKeldin's
firm opposition" to the higher
scale. Members of the Board of
Education observed that the pro-
posed State scale would not auto
matically increase the pay received
by Montgomery County teachers
because the county scale is above
the proposed State schedule. How
ever, State contributions to the
county's school budget would be
increased.
Meanwhile. Senator Edward
Turner, Democrat. of Queen
Annes County. chairman of the
Senate Democratic Steering Com
mittee, said his group would not
consider increasing salaries until
teachers themselves or the State
Department of Education pre-
sented tax program.
Compromise Offered.
Senator Turner disclosed that
members of the State Teachers
Association have delivered a
compromise" program to Major
ity Leader Louis Goldstein, Demo-
|crat, Of Calvert County. - 81
"We will be delighted to con-
slider any proposal that is accom-
panied by some reasonable tax
program" Senator Turner said.
Earlier. the House passed and
sent to the Senate a bill to elimi-
nate the $2,5oo-a-year job OF
commissioner of tobacco mar
keting.
The measure. sponsored by the
Calvert County delegation and
Delegate Horace Whitworth, Re-
publican, of Allegany County. is
aimed at Herman L. Hewitt of
st. Marys County.
The sponsors contend Mr..
Hewitt's duties were abolished in
1947 when the General Assembly
set up the State Tobacco Author
ity.
Pension Bill Passed.
The House also approved and
sent to the Governor a bill by Sem
ator Dewitt S. Hyde, Republican,
OF Montgomery County. authoriz-
ing towns and counties to set up
pension systems for fire depart
ment and public library employees.
Among bills introduced in the
House were:
l. By the Calvert County dele
cation, to set the maximum per-
missable width of vehicles loaded
with tobacco hogsheads at 103
inches.
2. By Delegate John F. Nc
Nulty, Democrat, of Anne Arun-
del County to prohibit the sale
or gift of .22-caliber rifles to
minors under Is years of age in
the county.
Would Allow Deputy.
3. BY the Prince Georges dele
cation, to authorize the States
Attorney to appoint deputy at
$4,000 year.
In the Senate, John r. Fletcher,
Republican, of Prince Georges
County introduced a bill to per-
NIT incorporated towns to bor-
row money without advertising
for bids.
Senator Jacob Ramsburg, Re-
publican, of Frederick County in
troduced a bill to authorize the
county to increase it's annual
appropriation to the c. Burr Artz
Public Library from a maximum
of $4,000 to not more than $15,-
900 annually.
Alexandra Appoints
Now Tvaf{ir Enninnov