The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-12-30

MISS ALLEN ASKS
INVESTIGATION
General Secretary of the
Teachers Retirement
Fund Demands In
quiry Into Its Con-
dition.
COMMITTEE OF THREE NAMED
Resolution of Appointment
Accompanies a Report
Attacking Bissell Who
Attempts Defense.
Especial to "The Jersey city News. .,

Special to 'eThe Jersey City News.''l
TRENTON, Dec so, 1904. The.
Teachers Retirement fund will be inves-
tigated by committee of three members
to be appointed by w. Gallon Cook,
president of the State Teachers Associa-
citation: Mrs Susan c. Martin, president
of the retirement fund, and Charles J.
Baxter, State Superintendent Of Public
Instruction. The committee to be named
will make its report to the State Teach
ers' association at its semi-annual meet
ing to be held in Asbury Park next May.
The investigation was ordered by the
association yesterday afternoon after
session in which the widest disorder pre-
vailed and in which all kinds of parlia-
mentary rules and tactics were thrown to
the winds, while hot words and personali-
ties were hurled back and forth among
the assembled teachers. At times the
confusion was so great that it was i'm
| possible to hear the person supposed to
have the floor, and more than once the
big auditorium was turned into Bedlam
in which stamping the feet played
prominent part.
Miss Elizabeth A. Allen, general sec
retary of the fund and field marshal Of
the forces defending it, anticipated the
threatened legislative investigation de-
manded by Thomas J. Bissell, principal
of the Charlton school, Newark, by in
Producing a resolution of her own pro-
viding for the appointment of commit
tee of three as told above. The resolu-
| ton accompanied a report made by Miss
Allen. attacking Mr.. Bissell and others
whom it declared to be inimical to the
interests of the fund. As strategic
move, Miss Allen was entirely successful
though after the discussion Mr.. Bissell
expressed himself as quite satisfied with
the outcome.
''I'here viii be an investigation" he
said, "and am satisfied that it will be
a fair one"
Mr.. Bissell, however, presented his res
olution calling for legislative investiga-
4 49,, T+ ,x,a. =, A. d;so,es;on of tl,o 10.
port of Mss Allen and these two resolu-
! tions, both of which We're on the floor at
once, that the meeting was plunged into
disorder
The resolution presented by Miss Allen
follows:
SIN view of the fact that so many
alarming, though entirely baseless and
usually anonymous reports are constant
ly circulated impugning the stability and
/ administration of the Teachers Retire
ment fund, I offer as part Of my report,
the following preamble and resolution:
Whereas, Article XIV. of the gener-
/ al school law creates the Teachers Retire
ment fund and prescribes the manner in
which such fund shall be created and
fixes the conditions under( which the an
! nuties intended to be provided for there
by shall be created; and
Whereas, These provisions of the
law are mandatory and constitute legis-
lative plan for the pensioning of incapaci-
! tated teachers and the trustees of the
fund have no power or discretion to adj
minister the fund except in accordance
| with this legislative plan; and
Whereas, Questions have been raised
as to whether the said legislative plan
is calculated to work out so as to insure.
the establishment of sound system of
teachers pensions, such as it is the in.
tent of the law to create; now, therefore,
be it
Resolved. That commission be ap-
| pointed to consist of three members to be
appointed as follows: One by the presi-
dent Of this associat tion; one by the presi-
dent Of the retirement fund, and one by
| State Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
tion, c. ], Baxter, wliose~duty it shall be
| to consider and inquire into the general
/ xr<.ri;,ey and f,,,t,,.a .,f AZ, 7Js.