Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-13
ANNUITY BILL Is DEAD one
School Teachers Pension Measure Has Gone
alimmsring,
GENERAL SIGH OF RELIEF GOES UP
Many of the Teachers who signed
the Petition to the LeRisla-
ture Afterwnrd Regret
Their Action.

Several hundred teachers in Omaha Will
heave a sigh of relief wnen they hear that
the teachers annuity bill has gone glim-
mering. 1t suffered the fate of many
other measures which came under the
scrutiny of legislative committees
The petition sent to the legislature for
the passage of this measure was a skillful
document prepared by teachers who were
particularly interested in having a pension
law enacted 1t bore the signatures of a
majority of the teachers, but fell far
short of expressing the sentiment OF teach
ers on the pension question.
When the bill was first discussed a peti-
tion was prepared for the signature OF
all Omaha teachers who cared to avail
themselves OF the proposed annuity sys-
tenn. Eighty signatures were secured after
weeks of coaxing and explaining. Another
idea was then adopted. "A petition was pre-
pared for the signature Of teachers who
thought the annuity system a good thing.
The bill was changed SO that no teachers
who are now in the schools would be COM
PEELED to avail themselves of the annuity,
but 1t was to be compulsory with all teach
ers entering the schools after this year.
sign for sake of Harmony.
Teachers signed this petition. 1t could
work no hardship on them and they gave
but little thought TO the welfare of new
teachers who are to come into he schools
in later years. Many principals and ex-
perienced teachers who have wide influence
and but few additional years of active
service advocated the bill, and young
teachers signed the petition for harmony S
sake.
In several OF the schools the principals
refused to allow the petitions to be circu-
lated. One young teacher, who signed the
petition after being told that 1t could not
affect her. remarked after thinking the
matter over:
II would not sign another document Of
that sort. I did II without thinking what
an injustice the annuity association might
work on teachers who come into the schools
after this year and can have no choice in
the matter. I know of many teachers who
do not approve of the bill, but signed the
petition rather than refuse to comply with
the request OF a principal"
A similar bill recently considered by the
Chicago teachers was shelved after con-
sultng actuaries and discovering that the
pensions which were to be paid the retired
teachers could not be had without placing
great burden on young teachers AL
though the bill was about ready to go to
Springfield, the teachers decided to aban-
don II. They were convinced that II was
an effort to get something for nothing.
Provisions of the BiiI.
The measure prepared by the Omaha
committees provided that all members OF
the association drawing a salary OF not less
than $40 a month should pay SIS into the
association each year. Teachers were to
be allowed to retire after twenty-five years
OF work, two years of which time were
spent in the Omaha schools. No teacher
was to be allowed an annuity until she had
paid 1915 into the association and no an
nuty was to exceed S40O.
All funds were to be cared for by the
city treasurer and board of directors was
to have charge OF the money and regulate
the pensions according to the financial con-
dition of the association.
There are about 425 teachers in the
| Omaha schools. Eighty teachers. or one
| fifth OF the whole number, were willing to
become members of pension associa tior