Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1910-10-14
PENSION FUND NO
BURDEN ON STATE
RELIEF OF RETIRED TEACHERS
WILL BE FROM LOCAL RE-
SOURCES WHOLLY.
SHOW NO DISCRIMINATION
Amendment No. 2 Involves No Unfair
ness to Districts Outside
the Cities,

Supporters Of Constitutional Amend
nent No. 2, to be voted on November
s, authorizing the establishment OF
teachers pension funds in st. Louis,
Kansas City and st. Joseph, advance
two arguments in it's favor.
One is directed TO teachers In the
state outside the three cities. The
second argument appeals to the gen.
eral voter. /,
Present Measure q Compromise.
Argument number II points out to
the teachers that. though the provis-
ions carried in the second amendment
apply only to the cities Of ST. Joseph.
Kansas City and st. Louis, yet he
amendment in Its present form Is TO
be looked upon in no sense as an act
Of partially shown these cities.
Instead, the amendment is properly
to be regarded as in the interest OF
pension legislation to be granted
gradually, 1t is hoped, by the general
assembly, until in time the wishes OF
In support Of this argument the
state teachers are reminded of the APP
pointment of a committee by the coun-
ell at the Kansas City meeting OF the
State Association in 1908.
This committee was composed of Ben
Blewett, superintendent OF schools,
st. Louis, chairman; w. T. Darlington,
j. P. Gass, ~. II. Martin and Louis
Tke.lmaa. Pursrsnt to instructions
from the state Teachers Association
the ccIllritteo ptcecHted a petition to
The general asse y that an amend
nent to tie sta constitution be
placed before the people for their APP
prevail.
Eesabcrs Of tals committee have re-
peate1ly declared over their sigma
turcs that The pstition specified
school boards or boards Of education
I CT this state and Il was with relue-
lance that they accepted The compro-
mise represented by Amendment No.
2. However, they now are convinced
1t is wise that the movement in favor
OF pensions for teachers in Missouri
is being inauguraEed gently and eau
tlously.
They further say tAat should favor.
able consideration BIO given to this
amendment at the polls in November
the attention of every friend of educa-
ton in the state will at once be TO
cused upon the boards of education In
st. Joseph, Kansas City and ct. Louis,
10 sec what they Will do with their
privilege.
Superintendent Greenwood OF Kan
sas City, originally an advocate Of
state pensions, Is n of those who is
most earnest in support of the present
measure, though its provisions are
restricted to three localities, and
urges the disinterested assistance Of
every teacher In the passage OF ar
amendment chat asks no state aid
Not to BE. Paid Out of State Funds
To these assurances that the amend
ment In its present form is a compro
mise and not a piece of Legislation
selfshly secured by st. Joseph, Kan
sas City and st. Louis, Is added the
argument that the amendment in
Guides no authority to raise the tax
rate.
In the states and cities where pen
aion provision Is operative school au
thorities have been able to pay pen
sions TO superannuated teachers by
one, or more than one, Of the follow
Ing means:
/. A certain percentage of ioca
school revenue.
2. Teachers salaries forfeited be
cause Of a loss OF time.
8. Withheld from teachers salaries
under the provisions Of the law.
A. Voluntary contributions of teach
ers.
S. Benefactions Of various kinds.
Friends of the amendment say tina
whether IL be one of these plans
whether 1t f9 some combination o
them, or whether II be some hitherto
untried plan that shall be adopted Ia
the three cities does not matter L
teachers in other districts or to thu
general voter.
In the opinion Of those back Of thu
movement the important thing to tn
/, general voter and to teachers in othe
districts Is that no increase In taxa
|, ton is authorized to provide for thes'
annuities and that none but loea
school funds may be drawn upon fel
the purpose.