The Washington herald., 1909-02-04
FAVOR
TEACHERS PENSION
Ten New Members Sit in
Board of Chamber.
REJECT BUILDERS LICENSES
asking Approval of EIec-
tric Railway Franchise Referred 10
Executive Co1,mittee-Twenty-nve
Members and Committee Chasrmen
EIeeted-Maj. Cosby HonOred.

Ten new members sat in the meeting
OF the board OF directors Of the Chamber
or Commerce yesterday afternoon and
fsmiliarized themselves with the work
ings OF the body. Two Of them took &C
tive part IN the proceedings This was
the first meeting OF the directors since
the annual election. and President Will
ian F GUIDE presided
Much interest developed in the subject
of the retirement Of supers1nuated school
teachers matters relating to the build
ing trades. and the proposed entrance OF
the Washington, Baltimore and Annapo-
lis electric railroad to the heart OF the
city. All these subjects were freely dis
eussed and appropriate action taken, and
near the close Of the meeting the new
executive committee for the current year
and the chairnen Of standing committees
were elected. A Lisnsr and Thomas
Grant were unanimously reelected treas
urer and secretary Of the chamber, re-
spectivsly. Twenty-Five new members
were elected
Would Retire Teachers.
PercivaI II Brown, chairman OF the
committee on public schools. presented
from his committee report upon The
two bills introduced IN Congress. provid
ing for the retirement OF superabnuated
teachers. He said the two bills were the
same and had been drafted largely BY
members Of the board Of education.
Ny. Brown described the meaning and
scope Of the bills, and gave the directors
an interesting talk upon the advantages
which would accrue from their enact
ment The bills provide. IN the main. for
the retirement Of teachers who through
age, Illness, or failing powers are no
longer useful on an annuity provided BY
the appropriation OF S25.0 from public
money, and e similar amount raised
from Withholding small percentage OF
the monthly pay of teachers graded ac-
cording TO the salaries Of each.
Mr.. Brown pointed out that there are
IN the schools quite & number OF teach
ers who are getting too old for useful
ness They have. IN most Instances, spent
their active lives or q long period OF
years n the service, and are retained BE-
cause the board OF education Is lOath 70
set them adrift without some means OF
subsistence in their declining years.
Mr.. Brown said the proposed laws
would provide such subsistence at small
expense, and would relieve the tesching
force OF the schools OF a number OF teach
srs who fan 20 come UP 20 the highest
standard OF service through age or illness.
By vote OF the directors. the bills we're
approved ard the committee directed 10
express this approval 20 the committees
OF the House and Senate.
License Bin Rejected.
Chapin Brown. chairman o. the con-
mittse on municipal legislation. submit
ted q report On Senate bin 6ss7, relating
70 the licensing Of builders IN the Dis
trtct. The committee recommended that
the bin was undesirable, and this report
was adopted
Discussion upon the bIn brought out
various phases OF the relations existing
between the building trades and the pub
lie, and the general question OF licensing
builders, plumbers, etc The sense OF
the meeting was that the directors are
not opposed TO such licenses. but are op-
posed 10 the form OF Senate bill ess2.
The result OF the discussion. IN which
two OF the new directors-J J Richard
son, and Y. E. Shsnnon-toOk part. was
that a new standing committee OF the
chamber was provided for, having charge
OF matters relating 20 the building trades
Railroad Franchise Debated.
The question Of approving the fran
chiss asked for BY the Washington. Balti-
more and Annapolis Electric Railroad
over certain streets 10 the heart OF the
city WIS brought up IN & resolution pre-
sentsd BY Allen Albert The resolution
was discussed for some tine, and By vote
OF the chamber was referred to the execu-
tive committee for further consideration.
While no opposition developed TO the
plan, many OF the directors were OF the
opinion that action ought not TO be taken
without much further investigation into
the facts OF the situation.
BY vote OF the directors. TIE naaasxa
ment OF TIE Bliss Electrical School was
granted the privilege OF presenting a. the
next meeting OF the chamber some stsre-
opticon views upon the general work OF