NO MONEY TO RAISE SALARIES

The Harvard Endowment Fund Committee points out that among the chief reasons that the University, with capital and invested funds of over $30,000,000, cannot increase the salaries of its teachers and professors, is that the money was originally given for special purposes and therefore cannot be used for salaries. Of the annual income from the $30,000,000 capital, only $425,000 is available to meet the College salary and expense item of $1,020,000. Of course the discrepancy is made up from tuition fees and other income, but this goes to show that the University is in this respect exceedingly poor. It is so poor in funds available to meet running expenses that over a period of 11 years, when general wages and commodities rose some 60 per cent., it was unable to grant any increase in teaching salaries.

The chief hardship caused by this condition appears to fall on the younger men, for the young teacher is not able to earn $2,500 until appointment as an assistant professor. If he rises to the top of his profession, he is earning $5,500 by the time he is about 55 years old.

The salary of the teacher compared with that of the business or professional man has always been meagre, but the general scale of salaries is such that were it to continue, the College could hardly expect to attract teachers dependent for their support solely upon their earnings.

Moreover, according to the statement of the Fund Committee, "the competition of other colleges must be met. Of all its equipment, Harvard's teaching force is the most precious. The position of the College today is due not so much to its age, traditions and able administration as to its noble line of teachers. The reputation for the highest grade of instruction must be retained at all costs. Even with plenty of money this will be no easy task, as the recent losses in the Philosophy Department indicate; but at the present time even funds are lacking. The Endowment Fund aims to help the present staff to meet the rising cost of living and to provide adequate funds for the maintenance of Harvard's traditional high grade of instruction.