Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-05
TEACHERS PRESS
FOR PENSIONS
CONCERTED ACTION BEING
TAKEN TO SECURE NEcEs-
SARY LEGISLATION.
MADISON ORGANIZATION EFF.
FECTED AND PROPAGANDA
is OUTLINED.

a concerted movement to obtain
teachers pensions is under way in
Madison and throughout Wisconsin,
and doubtless a demand will be
made upon the solons in January for
the necessary legislation to attain
the end sought. Just what form the
proposed law may take is not deter
mined. Pensions are the object, the
details leading up to this acquire
ment of subordinate Importance.
Probably it will be urged that the
state shall simply require municipali-
ties and other political divisions to
establish pension systems along GER
tain lines, or the state itself may be
asked to lend a hand, as is the case
in some commonwealth
Madison teachers have discussed
the question, and to a large extent
are in agreement as to the desirable
ity Of pensions. A local organization
| has been formed 1t is the Madison
Public School Teachers Pension
and Retirement Fund association,
and its officers are:
! Elizabeth M. Herfurth.
! misunderstanding A. Harper
Secretary-Theresa Archibald.
, Treasurer-Theres G. Cosgroye
Teachers cite the fact that Ger
many has a great and popular system
of teachers pensions, England too;
also New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
many American states as we'll besides
cities galOre-Milwaukee; Chicago
where, after 25 years of service, any
teacher may retire and draw $500 g
year for all time after; San Fran
cisco, where $500 straight is the mini
mum; New York city, where the
scale ranges from $4,000 to 81 200; De
troit, where it is $500; and so OIL
through an extended list.
1t is argued that retired policemen
and firemen now freely draw yearly
largesses, and that great trolley
y roads, railways, the United States
steel corporation and many other con
Germs give pensions-not as a philan
;hrOpy but to better the service by
establishing a mutually Of interest
that must operate adyantageousIy a.
round.
In most places teachers are
/ obliged regularly to contribute. say
one per cent of their salaries to the
pension fund, the public making uI
the balance, That is the popular
plan, and seems to have the prefer
ence among Wisconsin teachers
NebulOus as the pro ect is at present
the likelihood is that such will be
the method sought in this state,-the
peoples share being extracted
through legal authorization of course
from the so called mill tax now levied
for school purposes.
No estimate is ventured as to the
probable total sum required under {
! pension law, but teachers affirm thai
| it will be so small as to make an ad
! ditiOnal levy unnecessary. 1t ha5 Deel
! found by experience that all teachers
mre. No comDelled to contribute in
order to ensure n permanent fund and
an equitable apportionment. The tend
ency Of the scheme Of course is tc
! Induce teachers to continue in the
calling-tO encourage fxedness of Oc
cupation among teachers, the aIlur
ing prospect being assurance OF
/ support after cid age or invaltdism
/ sUpervenes.
Pensions. too, hold men to peda
/ gogy, it is claimed; and men are
/ sorely wanted in the profession
/ while as a matter of record, they are
/ deserving in such large numbers as
to leave the field almost wholly tc
women.
\ preliminary move will be made
at the Milwaukee meeting November
13 of the State Teachers association
where an effort to commit that organ
ization to the undertaking will be Wig
0TOuSlV DrnSSpd