The Montgomery tribune., 1910-09-30
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
ment No. 2, to be voted on November
8, authorizing the establishment Of
teachers pension funds in st. Louis,
Kansas City and st. Joseph, advance
two arguments in its favor
One is directed to teachers in the
state outside the. three cities. The
second argument appeals to the gen.
eral voter.
Present Measure Compromise.
Argument number one 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 the
amendment in it's present form is to
be looked upon in no sense as an act
of partiality shown these cities.
Instead, the amendment is properly
to be regarded as in the interest OF
pension legislation to be granted
gradually, it is hoped, by the general
assembly, until in time the wishes OF
In support of this argument the
state teachers are reminded of the ap-
pointment of committee by the coun-
Gil 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, w. H. Martin and Louis
Theilman. Pursuant to instructions
from the State Teachers Association
the committee presented a petition to
the general assembly that an amend
ment to the state constitution be
placed before the people for their ap-
prevail
Members of this committee have re-
peatedly declared over their sigma.
lures that the petition specified
school boards or boards of education
of this state" and it was with reluc-
tance 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 inaugurated gently and eau
tiously.
They further say that should favor
able consideration be given to this
amendment at the polls in November
the attention of every friend of educa-
tion in the state will at once be TO-
,cused upon the boards of education in
st. Joseph, Kansas City and st. Louis,
to see what they will do with their
privilege.
Superintendent Greenwood of Kan
sas City, originally an advocate of
state pensions, is one of those who is
most earnest in support of the present
measure, though it's provisions are
restricted to three localities, and
urges the disinterested assistance of
every teacher in the passage of an
amendment that asks no state aid"
Not to Be Paid Out of State Funds.
To these assurances that the amend
ment in its present form is compro-
mise and not a piece of legislation
selfishly secured by ST. Joseph, Kan
sas City and st. Louis, is added the
argument that the amendment in
cludes no authority to raise the tax
rate.
In the states and cities where pen.
ulon 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:
1. A certain percentage of local
school revenue.
2. Teachers salaries forfeited be-
cause of loss Of time.
8. Withheld from teachers salaries
under the provisions OF the law.
4. Voluntary contributions Of teach
srs.
5. Benefactions Of various kinds.
Friends of the amendment say that
whether It be one Of these plans.
whether II rs some continuation Of
them. or whether II be some hitherto
satrisd plan that shall BE- adopted ip