The Washington times., 1911-02-27
Senator Gallinger Has Print
ed Summary of Laws
In Force.
SOME ARE RETIRED
ON STATE FUNDS
Others Pay Small Percentage of
Their Salaries Into Pension
Fund.

Senator Gallinger has had printed as
a Senate document a comprehensive
summary relative to teachers pension
laws in the United States and Europe.
The document gives a wealth of in
formation on the subject of retired paw
for teachers, just now of great interest
in the District
The document says Maryland, Rhode
Island, and Virginia pension teachers
out of State funds. In Maryland and
Rhode Island no dues are paid; pensions
are paid exclusively from State funds
In all the other States below the fund
authorized by State law is mainly pro-
vided by teachers dues of from to 8
per cent of salary; the term of service
is, with disability, from two to thirty
years; without, from twenty to thirty
five years; the annuity is from a mini
mum of $500 to siX-tenths of salary at
retirement. The maximum is from 5000
to 81, ,50O-$2, 900 in New York.
New York grants pensions to teachers
in State institutions. and New Jersey
requires local authorities TO retire ap-
plicants after thirty-five years service.
The school committee of Boston is re-
quired by law to provide pension fund
and to levy a tax therefor.
Virginia's Pension System.
Virginia has a State pension system,
but the funds are derived principally
by deducting l per cent from the sala-
ries of teachers, the State appropriating
5000 a year.
Massachusetts allows all cities and
towns, other than Boston, to pay pen
sions from public funds. if approved at
popular election: Pennsylvania author
izes cities of the second and third
classes to establish retirement funds,
and apparently to appropriate public
money therefor, and Minnesota provides
that in cities Of over 5000 inhabitants
funds for retirement may be raised in
part by taxation.
In Ohio the board of education of any
district may establish a pension fund;
participation is optional with teachers,
and the funds are to be derived in part
from salary deductions and in part from
the appropriation of from ! to per
cent Of the gross receipts of the said
board from taxation.
California and Utah have retirement
laws which are similar inasmuCh as they
are local and voluntary in their appli-
cation, and are based largely upon as
sessments.
In Colorado districts containing a
school population of over 1000 may es-
tablish public school teachers retire
ment funds, and may levy therefor
taxes not exceeding one-tenth of a mill.
System Used in Chicago.
The teachers fund in Chicago is based
principally upon ncncompulsory salary
deductions, but the city must contribute
the interest received upon deposits of
school funds, not exceeding l per cent
of the amount raised by taxation.
A tax of l per cent upon each 800 of
valuation is required to be levied in In
dianapOlis, Ind, for the pension fund,
but salary deductions are enforced also.
There are local pension funds, derived
principally from assessments, in the
following cities in addition to the fore
going: New Orleans. baltimore, Omaha,
Albany, Buffalo. Elmira. n. Y; New
York, Rochester, Schenectady, Syracuse,
Troy, \. y; NOnkers, Philadelphia.
Providence, Charleston, S. c., and Mem
phis.