constantly, it seems to me, when we want to help the world, want more and more for doing less and less, and we have to quit it. That is all there is to it. I like for you to be enthusiastic about your business and you are. Miss Ross. I would like to reinforce our point about giving an average salary so people will go ahead and work on their jobs. If they get adequate salaries they do not have to teach summer school to pay for the house or work a few hours during the winter to supplement their salaries. Senator CAIN. It is a tough job. Coming out of the funnel somewhere may be something. If we come out of all these hearings not having lost any money for you, you ought to agree that we are all right. Mr. MURRAY. I would like to know if you would like to hear from Miss Ross, if Miss Ross has anything to add. Miss Ross. This is just reinforcing something that has already been said. If the elementary junior high school teachers can stay at their level, and do not have to go on to high school when they get the advanced training, they in turn will give better teaching to those children as they go from one to the other. Senator CAIN. Are we right in our assumption that that is a problem in administration over which this committee has no concern at all? Miss Ross. That is what the single salary scale will do for us, as shown in the bill, except we would like that additional incentive for the high school teachers to go on beyond the master's degree and there is no reason why elementary and junior high school teachers should not have it also. It would not be single salary if they do not. Mr. MURRAY. Would the committee be willing to consider the amendments along the lines that we have suggested, if we submitted them to you in writing? Mr. BATES. You submit them and they will be included in the record. Mr. MURRAY. We will furnish those for the record. (The information is as follows:) SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO S. 1088 (Submitted by Donald Murray, United Public Workers of America CIO) (Each of the following provisions were approved by the joint legislative conference representing all teachers organizations, but were omitted by the superintendent in his report.) TWENTY-SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS MINIMUM SALARY In group A under title 1, article 1, classes, 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, and under title 1, article 2 classes 32 33, and 34, strike out the figure "$2,500," and in lieu thereof insert the figure "$2,600"; also strike out the figure "$3,700," and insert in lieu thereof the figure "$3,800." NOTE. The effect of this amendment would simply be to establish a minimum entrance salary for teachers of $2,600 and thus bring the entrance pay for teachers in line with the entrance pay in Government departments for persons required to have college degrees. The maximum for group A would be raised by $3,700 to $3,800 per annum. Additional salary class for masters degree plus 30 semester hours training Group C: A basic salary of $3,500 per pear, with an annual increase in salary of $200 for 6 years or until a maximum salary of $4,700 per year is reached. Group D: A basic salary of $4,800 per year, with an annual increase in salary of $100 for 4 years or until a maximum salary of $5,200 per year is reached. Amend title 1, article 1, classes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 by adding at the end of each the following: Group E: A basic salary of $3,500 per year, with an annual increase in salary of $200 for 6 years or until a maximum salary of $4,700 per year is reached. Group F: A basic salary of $4,800 per year, with an annual increase in salary of $100 for 4 years or until a maximum salary of $5,200 per year is reached. Amend section 8, page 17, line 18 by striking out the comma after the letter C and inserting the words "or group E". Amend section 8, page 17, line 20, by inserting after the letter "D" the words "or group F." NOTE. The effect of this amendment would be to provide for high-school teachers an additional salary class as a reward for further study. Highschool teachers must now have a masters degree to secure appointment, and no promotion for further study is allowed. If the amendment were approved they would be eligible for promotion to classes C and D for which the requirements would be administratively established as a master's degree plus 30 semester hours of additional training. Under the single salary scale principle the same promotional opportunity is afforded (under this proposed amendment) to elementary and junior high school teachers but in practice it would benefit the high-school teachers primarily. Increments are made to conform to the pattern proposed below. It should be noted that the new maximum which would be established would be only $500 per year higher than the present one, due to the overlapping of schedules. $200 ANNUAL INCREMENTS IN GROUPS A AND C In title 1, articles 1 and 2, classes 1 through 6 and 32 through 34, in groups A and C under each of the afore-mentioned classes, strike out the words "with an annual increase in salary of $100 for 12 years" and insert in lieu thereof the words "with an annual increase in salary of $200 for 6 years." NOTE. The effect of this amendment would be to provide $200 annual increments instead of $100 annual increments for teachers in groups A and C. The annual increments in groups B and D, which are merely extensions of A and C, respectively, are left at $100 per annum. Salary advancements in both private industry and in government are much more rapid than the $100 per year now provided for teachers in all groups under S. 1088. If the amendment were adopted it would permit an elementary teacher, for example, to go from the beginning salary of group A to the top salary of group B in 10 years, whereas 16 years would be required under S. 1088 as it is now written. In the long run, of course, the cost would be negligible, since minimum and maximum salaries would be unchanged. Senator CAIN. Mrs. Merle Whitford, chairman of the legislative committe of Washington Chapter of the ADA. STATEMENT OF MRS. MERLE WHITFORD, CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, WASHINGTON CHAPTER OF ADA (READ BY MRS. FRANCES ADAMS, MEMBER OF THE ADA) Mrs. ADAMS. My name is Mrs. Frances Adams, and I am testifying instead of Mrs. Whitford, who could not be here today. Senator CAIN. I think it should be in the record that she is replacing and speaking for Mrs. Whitford. If you have a title, would you be so kind as to give it? Mrs. ADAMS. I am a member of the ADA. Mr. BATES. What is the ADA? Mrs. ADAMS. It is the Washington chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action, which is an organization of some 400 persons and has recently been represented before this committee with testimony 99538-47- -65 on the various revenue bills under consideration with special reference to the sales tax. We would like to preface our remarks with an expression of our appreciation for the generous attitude and the sincere interest in the problems of voteless District of Columbia evidenced by Senator Cain and Representative Bates in their careful consideration of citizen expression on the sales tax and other considerations important to an adequate fiscal program. We are happy to have the opportunity to appear before you again, this time in connection with the bills H. R. 2976 and S. 1088 to amend the District of Columbia Teachers' Salary Act of 1945. We heartily endorse the single salary principle as representative of the best in modern educational trends in the United States. We are in favor of the revised salary schedule stipulated by these bills as a start toward the kind of remuneration needed, although we would like to see a higher minimum. Nation-wide publicity has revealed the appalling lack of qualified teachers. We are coming to realize that low pay is at least in part responsible for this situation. Members of the ADA wish to stand for the best kind of teachers with pay comensurate to qualifications. We support a strong program for the prevention of juvenile delinquency and to that end we recommend full participation of the staff of the attendance department in leave and other provisions for salary benefits. We have previously stated our belief that the District of Columbia needs a larger budget than $77,200,000 for 1948 to avoid skimping on such essential public services as education, and we have outlined our suggestions for augmenting this amount by the increased yield from an adequate well-defined income tax plus additional Federal payment according to formula similar to that embodied in S. 215 without resort to a sales tax. Senator CAIN. Is this a fair question: Both Mr. Bates and I remember with pleasure the testimony of a gentleman representing the ADA. He was in positive opposition to the sales tax. He did make the recommendations you have outlined. He placed particular emphasis on a larger Federal contribution. You and I know we do not know what contribution we will get. We do know we need increased salaries for the teachers. If we cannot get a larger Federal contribution, what is your thinking about a sales tax, if only through a sales tax can we provide the assistance that we are hopeful of getting? Mrs. ADAMS. We are unalterably opposed to a sales tax. We feel that by making an equitable income tax in the District, where residents in the District pay a tax, we will be able to raise revenue needed. However, we do recommend, in addition to this, Federal payment for services rendered in accordance with that formula. Senator CAIN. If we do not get more money from the Federal Government, it is apparently obvious but not conclusive that this District is not going to get the essential services expanded as is hoped without recourse to the sales tax. Mrs. ADAMS. We believe it will not be necessary to resort to the sales tax if there is an equitable income tax, plus our other recommendations. That is our stand. Mr. BATES. I do not think, if you examine the facts, that you will find, if we doubled or tripled the income from income tax sources, as recommended by the District government today, and even doubling the amount of the Federal contribution, that we will by any stretch of the imagination meet the requirements of the budget plus the additional requirements of the teachers' salary increases. I think that is quite an obvious condition. Senator CAIN. Now as we read, Mr. Bates and I, this record, when we try to draw certain conclusions, and we see where some very intelligent people could make a fine presentation against the sales tax and we decide not to go to the sales tax, not to recommend it, and in not recommending it, we do not get any increases for the teachers, that is why I asked that question. Is there any latitude in the minds of the organization which you represent concerning that sales tax? Will things be so rigid that if that needs to be imposed they do not want it imposed regardless of any services? Mrs. ADAMS. You will notice from our statement on the sales tax we believe it is an unfair tax and taxes those most who are least able to pay, and we believe that if we do get the three-quarters of the people living in the District to pay income taxes who are not paying them now because of a poorly defined law that we will have adequate funds. Of course we do count on the Federal payment. Senator CAIN. We think you are wrong, but we are not certain yet. Mrs. ADAMS. I trust that our previous testimony will be examined. I do not believe there is any point in going into detail on it. Our thinking, which has been going on all during the past year, has been equitable taxation. We feel that the District is not in such a desperate plight as may be thought by some people, that we can work out an equitable tax system that will not tax those least able to pay. Of course, I have a child in school myself and am interested in seeing that teachers are fairly paid, but I cannot go back on the sales tax. Mr. BATES. I just want to summarize again, because I think you will understand by the discussion that we have given a great deal of thought to the question of revenues, the question of Government requirements, the question involved in assessing, doing something to raise the level of teachers' salaries in the District, but I think the corporation counsel would tell you, even if this bill became law, it may at the outset raise 4 or 5 million in excess of present revenues. We are dealing with an estimated deficit of $13,000,000 in the 1948 budget, plus the addition that would be created by this bill, so that we are probably facing a $15,000,000 to $16,000,000 deficit, so that if we do pass the type of bill that is recommended it will bring about $4,000,000 to meet the $15,000,000 deficit. In addition to that, if we should double the Federal contribution of $8,000,000 and make it $16,000,000, that is 8 plus 4, $12,000,000, to meet a $15,000,000 deficit. Mrs. ADAMS. We do not feel that that is exactly a contribution. We feel that that is a payment for services. It does make a lot of difference, I think, to us in this voteless area that we are getting payment for services. 11 Mr. BATES. I am dealing with figures, not with principles. That is only $12,000,000 to meet a $15,000,000 deficit. Neither you nor Senator Cain have talked about the real-estate tax that I am very much interested in. What have you to say about that? Mrs. ADAMS. When you study that, our testimony here Senator CAIN. I remember exactly what he said; he did not want it. Mrs. ADAMS. We have a number of items that we would support for taxation. We would support a tax on various items that you are proposing to tax. Mr. BATES. We are not proposing. We are studying proposals made to us. Senator CAIN. Mr. Bates is merely making one comment, I think, and that is that the proposals that your organization very properly said they will support, will not in themselves accomplish the expanding of the essential services that are of such grave concern to everybody here. Mrs. ADAMS. They would if the Federal payment were sufficient; is that not granted? Senator CAIN. I think you have a complete answer to our whole dilemma, if it worked that way. I could resolve this difficulty by changing places with the witness. Mrs. ADAMS. Also income tax, if we could work that out. Senator CAIN. You are answering very fairly from your point of view, your position. You think and are convinced that this whole problem can somehow be reconciled without recourse to the sales tax. It is very fair for us to establish that position. We want to know from what sources we can derive support and understanding with reference to the sales tax if it becomes necessary, and it is not with prejudice to you at all. We have enjoyed your being here. Mrs. ADAMS. Thank you. Senator CAIN. I do not think there is any particular significance. to the fact that the next gentleman, who is the chairman of the physical education teachers coaching interscholastic sports has been placed under adhesive tape on my list of witnesses. Anyhow, that is where he is. Mr. Lund, if you will sit down and proceed as you see fit, we will appreciate it. We have probably been reading about you in the newspapers on the sport pages. There has been some talk about your problem. STATEMENT OF ROLLAND J. LUND, CHAIRMAN, PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS COACHING INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Mr. LUND. I am the elected chairman of the men's physical education teachers for the District of Columbia public high schools in divisions 1 through 13. They have felt that in lieu of a study being made on the inequities of the 1945 Teachers' Salary Act, that the men, the physical education teachers, who are coaching interscholastic teams, should be compensated in money for this extra service. |