Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 17, Number 16, DeMotte, Jasper County, 7 March 1947 — MINIMUM OF $1,800 AGREED TO IN BILL [ARTICLE]

MINIMUM OF $1,800 AGREED TO IN BILL

Estimate State to S"h o u 1 d e r 85 Per Cent of New Pay Scale Indianapolis, lYfarch 7. The House approved an SI,BOO minimum salary for Hoosier school teachers today after a previous schedule calling for $1,700 brought hundreds- of protests. Acting on a recommendation of the ways and means committee, the House adopted the new pay schedule increasing the minimum pay of teachers iby 540 a year over the present level. However, the action came only after the lower house had ap- 1 proved another measure which would limit the state’s obligation in the payment of teacher salaries to 39,500,000 a year. It was estimated that the state’s share would pay 85 per cent of the new scale. Under the amended bill a beginning teacher with two years of professional training would receive 1,800 a ye!ar for a ninemonth term. The schedule would increase until a beginning teacher with five years of training would receive ai minimum of $2,400. Automatic increases each year are provided in the schedule. The figures all are based on ninemonth terms, and would be increased or decreased proportionality with longer or shorter terms. ;j Rep. Jess Andrew (R.-West Point), chairman of the ways and means committee!, said the new schedule was agreed upon by the committee working in cooperation with Governor Galtes. He said the new schedule was identical to the one approved by the Republican policy committee and the Indiana; State Teachers’, association on Feb. 17. The schedule approved by the House and advanced to third reading would increase, the state’s participation by annually. At, present Indiana is paying $29,000,000, which is 100 per cent of the minimum salary schedule.

The ways and means committee last week had recommended that the state limit -its participation to $36,008,000. This would have given a minimum oi: $3,600 a year. No More Caucuses A short time before the House’ action Governor Gates had said the problem was to be left with the legislature. ; “I’m not backing away but I don’t expect to attend any more caucuses this seslsion,” the governor said. Meanwhile, thu fate of a bill calling for a slola-year bonus for life for veterans of World war II appeared uncertain when it was not called down for third reading today as scheduled. The bill would give each veteran a $lO net exemption on gross income tax. ; The Republican policy committI ee, which yesterday approved the bonus, reversed - itself today and j! turned thumbs down on the proposal. It was believed a bonus i referendum measure which had the teeth removed from, it by 1 amendment in the House today \ would get administration support | instead. The bonus referendum bill would give Hoosiers a chance to ballot :in the 1948 election on whether they want a borius paid. Of the total $3,000,000 was set aside to reconstruct, repair or replace any state-owned building which is destroyed or damaged by i fire or any other, disaster.