The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-25

urge IL Favorable RecOmme nda-
ton of the Bill, but IL Majority
Are Opposed to Allowing Them
to Put Their Money Into Fund
MIR. Wheaton's Bill.
The committee on general legislation
at meeting last evening decided to
recommend for indefinite postpone
lnent the bill creating a retirement
fund for public school teachers. The
motion to recommend the bill for pass
age was defeated by a vote of to 7,
those voting for the bill being Messrs.
Sloan, Simonson, Stivers, O'Connor,
Dwinnell, Donohue and O'Neill. Those
opposed to the recommendation for
passage were Messrs Laybourn, Schur-
man, Mausten, Truwe, Fosnes, jack
son, Nelson and Staples. The two alb
sent members of the committee were
HaZlett and Medicraft. The motion to
Indefinitely postpone the bill was then
put and on V1ve Voce vote declared
carried.
Previous to the action taken by the
committee the members were favored
with brief arguments on the merits
and purposes Of the bill by a delega-
ton of teachers from Minneapolis and
this city.
Miss Weston, representing the teach
erS OF Minneapolis, said the vital points
of the bill were that its adoption was
optional by boards of education and
teachers. 1t provided that l per cent
of the salaries of teachers be paid into
the retirement fund and allowed teach
ers permanently disabled to be retired
on half-pay not to exceed 5000 per year.
PROVISION was also made for the re-
tirement Of teachers after twenty
years of service at half-pay and after
ten years of service on a less amount
Eighty per cent of the teachers in the
Twin Cities favored the bill, and it had
been introduced and given a practical
test In some dozen cities in the country.
The success Of the plan was an assured
fact, and as the teachers raised the
fund by paying per cent Of salaries
into the fund there could be no obiec-
ton. The attention Of the committee
was called to the fact that for the past
two sessions of the Pennsylvania legis-
lature $4,000 had been appropriated
for the benefit Of the teachers fund in
Philadelphia.
Miss Flint, a st. Paul teacher, called
attention to the movement in various
cities to provide a fund fer teachers
who became worn out. The passage of
the law would not only meet this de-
mand, but make teaching more of a
profession. 1t would also prevent
teaching from being a stepping stone
to some other employment or vocation.
Miss Trivett, OF MINNEAPOLIS, cited
the fact that disabled soldiers were
given pension by the government,
and If this was the case why should
not the teachers, from a fund Of their
cwn, be allowed to secure retirement.
The plan had been tried in Germany
for 100 years, and a fund similar to
What was sought TO be established had
been in effect for ten years in a number
of American cities.
Supt. Smith, of the ST. Paul public
schools, denied that the law was class
legislation. All legislation was more
or less class legislation, and if this was
the teachers paid for it. 1t was a ques-
ton often discussed as to why the
teachers, who were paid good salary,
did not save money. The very highest
talent was now required in teaching,
and however large the salary, a large
portion of it was used by the teacher
to prepare for the high standard de-,
handed
E. E. Mcdonald, of ST. Paul, said he
was not in favor of pension systems,
but this was not in the nature of a
pension, as the teachers created the
fund themselves. The proposed legis-
lation was wholesome and needed. The
taxpayers had no ground for COM
plant. 81
Senator Snyder of Minneapolis, ia
vored the bill, the only question with
him being as to whether the plan
would work out in a financial way.
AS to the law being compulsory on all
teachers in the places in which it was
adopted by the board of education. it
would do little harm, as the amount
paid into the fund was small, being on
the average not over S. per year.
In reply to questions, Prof Farms
worth, of st. Paul, stated that If all
the cities in the state having a popula-
ton of over 10000 should take advan-
tage of it about LOO teachers in all
could come under it,
The teachers delegation then with
drew and the committee discussed the
bill. Mr.. Jackson Rep.), of Ramsey,
was opposed to the BILL on the princi-
pie that it was class legislation and
compulsory on all teachers to pay into
the fund. He feared that a number of
the teachers were obliged to say they
favored it, owing to a desire to be in
accord with the principals
Mr.. Staples (Rep), of Dakota. said
the law would mean in the end a pen
sion, and the statement of one of the
representatives of the teachers. that
pennsylvania appropriated $4,000
every two years for the Philadelphia
fund, was an indication of what future
legislatures in this state would be
called upon to do.
Mr.. Stivers (Dem.), of Crow Wing.
thought there was no need of worry
ing about future legislatures. All the
present Legislature was responsible for
was it's own acts.
Mr.. Dwinnell (Rep), of Hennepin.
had no fear that the law would be the
starting of pension fund. Eighty per
cent of the teachers in both cities ia
fored it, and the measure should pass.
The vote was taken, as mentioned
above, and the bill will be recon-
mended by the committee for indefinite
poStponement
Mr.. Wheaton Rep), of Hennepin.
discussed his civil rights bill. and in
flight of oratory stated that the recent
decision of the supreme court was
party measure. The decision he re-
ferred to was one made by Judges
Canty, Buck and Mitchell, in which
1t was held that under the present civil
rights law colored men were not en-
titled to privileges in saloons, the law
not mentioning these resorts among
the number
Replying to questions by the commit
tee, Mr. Wheaton stated that the only
amendment his bill made to the pres
ent law was to include saloons among
the resorts where there was to be no
discrimination as to race, color or pre-
vious condition
The bills of Mr.. Guttersen Rep.). of
Blue Earth, H. F. 81 and 80, putting
telegraph companies under the power
of the railroad and warehouse COM
mission, and requiring common car
riers to pay for the internal revenue
stamps On bills of lading and telegraph
messages, We're postponed until Tnes-