The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1910-10-29
FUND NO
BURDEN ON STATE
RELIEF or 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
s. 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 tie
ate outside the three cities. The
3econd argument appeals to the gen
raj voter,
Present Measure a Compromise.
Argument number one points out TO
G teachers that. though the proyis
Ms carried in the second Amendment
ply only to the cities OF st, Joseph
ansas City ard St. Louis. yet the
amendment in It's present form is to
looked upon in no sense as IN act
/ Partially shown these cities.
Instead, the amendment is properly
. be regarded as in the interest OF
sension legislation to be granted
3radually, 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 az
ointment of a committee by the coun
il at the Kansas City meeting Of the
tate Association In 1908.
This committee was composed Of Ben
Hlewett, superintendent Of schools.
ST. Louis, chairman: w. T Darlington,
D.. P. Gass, w. II. Martin and Louis
Theilman. Pursuant to instructions
rom 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 up
prevail.
Members Of this committee have re
p~eatedly declared over their sigma
lures that the petition specified
school boards OF boards Of education
of this state" and 1t was with reluc.
lance that they accepted the compro-
mise represented by Amendment No.
2. However, they now are convinced
It 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.
ton In the state will at once be 10.
cused upon the boards of education In
st. Joseph, Kansas City and ST. Louis
to see what they will do with theiI
privilege.
Superintendent Greenwood Of Kan
sas City, originally an advocate O.
state pensions, is one of those who 1;
most earnest in support Of the presen
measure, though its provisions arr
restricted to three localities, anC
urges the disinterested assistance o.
every teacher in the passage Of ar
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 a eompro
mise and not a piece Of legislation
selhshly secured by ST, Joseph, Kan
sas City and ST. Louis, is added the
argument that the amendment in
cludes no authority to raise the tar
rate.
In the states and cities where pen
sion provision is operative school au
thorities have been able to pay pen
slons 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.
3. Withheld from teachers salarie
under the provisions of the law.
4. Voluntary contributions of teach
ers.
3. Benefactions Of various kinds.
Friends of the amendment say tina
} whether It be one Of these plans
whether It Re some combination o
them. or whether Il be some hilbert
untried plan that shall be adopted /
+ the three cities does not matter t
} teachers in other districts or to tn
r general voter.
In the opinion OF those back Of tn
movement the important thing to tn
general voter and to teachers in othe
districts is that no increase in taxi
ton is authorized to provide for thes
annrities and that none but loca
school funds may be drawn upon 70
tbo nt1rnoea