New-York tribune., 1905-01-16
PENSIONS FOR TEACHERS.
Efforts of Force to Decide Hoo
Then .Are To Be Paid.

The teachers OF this city have renewed their
efforts for n less burdonsome pension system since
Controller Grout announced few days ago that
on January l. the balance in the fund was SsOs "a
ard that they had given s44 2s a IN the form OF de-
ductons for absence toward the maintenance of the
fund The Goard OF Superntendents Of the Depart
ment of Education has also determined that less
stringent rules advisable and that the pension
system has been unnecessarily severe. II mas
adopted the following resolution:
It is the sense OF this board that deductions for
So Ts5S il4uit a no OhsST 0e s I al the amount
sun nseoed 20 Keep the surplus a. tbe ay3 Of
the year.
The pension fund is now gathered from per
cent OF the city's excise moneys and from de-
ductions and fines imposed upon teachers. The
charter provides for deductions for the main
tenance of the pension fund, and Tor 10 other pur
pose. The teachers OF the city receive pay for
S65 days each year. while they actually work
40 days. In the of absence the teacher IS COM
PEELED TO give TO the pension fund 1855 of his pay
The money paid into the teachers pension fund
comes. rule. from sick people, who need every
cent they get TO pay doctors bills, etc There
has been considerable discussion among the teach
ers also. to the fairness of permitting the high
salared members Of their profession who regularly
receive from $500 TO IS 900 yearly to retire half
pay, while all pensions chiefly paid BY the low
saIaried members of the force.
The Class Teachers Association Of Brooklyn re-
Gently made an investigation among L542 teachers,
representing seventy-two schools. The results fol-
low: Anxious TO have the pension law changed.
l,2Ss; satisfied with the law, 247; favoring per
cent salary deduction, 11i3; opposed to the per
cent deduction 353; fayoring per cent deduction
If necessary 469: opposed TO a per cent deduction
under any circumstance 1027; favoring retirement
Of all on half pay providing all contribute like
per cent Of their salary TO the pension fund, 1888:
opposed TO such half pay retirement. 205
This canvass showed almost unanimous feel
ing in favor Of the graduated pension schedule and
in opposition TO the setting Of age limit"
planned President CottrelI Nearly all expressed
themselves as favoring feasible scheme along
the lines OF the Dooling bill which passed the As
sembly by unanimous vote two years ago. At the
time it is clearly evident that the great ma
jority OF teachers are willing to contribute l per
cent Of their salaries toward the maintenance OF
the pension fund in the present provision for
deduction for absences IS abolished.
Modification OF the present pension law will be
sought at the present session Of the legislature,
the teachers can agree upon what they want A
bill is now under consideration by committee of
the Interborough Council the central body. which
is formed Of Representatives from all the teachers
It is understood that the plan is TO supersede the
present system of deductions for absence with the
would pay ANNUALLY per cent OF their salaries INTO
the pension fund. This percentage will soon reach
Hlittee VIII settle upon twenty years as the length
Of service necessary for retirement. and upon the
men o. aI on haIL pay Inc presenl retlre
nent law dlScrlInlnateS IN favor OF the faculties OF
the Normal and City colleges as against the
perintendents and principals of the schools. The
members OF these faculties are permitted to retire
half pay. plus amount necessary raise
their pension TO thousand to thousands.
s150 receives 5000 an Increase Of $50 The prin-
cipsls Of the regular school system are now limited
to II 800 and the superntendents TO 5000 as annual