The Washington herald., 1911-02-21
SCHOOL-TEACHERS
MAY GET PENSIONS
Senate Committee Reports
Fayorably on Measure.
HOPEFUL OF HOUSE ACTION
Representative Olcott Says that He
Believes the Bill Can Be Passed
Under Suspension of the Rules, as
Objectionable Provisions Have
Been Eliminated from Measure. q

The teachers of the District of CO.
lcmbia may expect at an early day
the benefits of a law establishing re-
tirement fund. Legislation to that end
was given impetus yesterday by the
Senate Committee on the District Of
Columbia, when it agreed to report
favorably a retirement fund measure
WHICH relic IS the government of max
ing any appropriation to the fund. and
which also leaves out the tuition fees
of nonresident pupils. The bill will be
passed by the Senate at once, and
there is every reason to believe that 1t
will pass the House, now that features
which composed the main objections of
certain Congressman have been re-
moved from the measure.
MIR. OIcott Is Hopeful.
II believe it will be possible to pass
the teachers retirement fund bill as
amended in the Senate under suspension
Of the rules said Representative Oh
colt, the acting chairman of the District
Committee, yesterday. The teachers
have agreed to the plan of dropping the
governments contribution and adhering
to the deductions from teachers salaries
to make up the body of the fund. Ger
tain persons ! have in mind in the
House, l am sure. can object to the bill
no longer. II the Senate will pass the
measure l believe there will be little or
no difficulty in prevailing upon the
Speaker to allow it to be called up and
passed during the suspension period
which the House is now entering.
+ Mr.. Olcott explained that as a further
concession to those who have been OBJ
jecting 10 the teachers retirement fund
bill, it has been agreed to recommend
that but one-half of the balance to the
credit of the appropriation for teachers
salaries at the end of each fiscal year
shall be turned into the fund, instead OF
the whole OF this credit, as was proposed
formerly. These credits in past years
have run as high as $4,000 and as low
as $500. In making the money of this
fund over to the retirement fund it is
pointed out that a course similar to that
in the retirement fund plan of the fire
men and policemen of the District is be-
ing followed.
Provisions of the Bill.
The teachers retirement fund bill has
received more attention in debate in the
House than any other District measure
on the calendar this session. 1t has been
bitterly opposed by Representative Mann
and one or two others, their main hos
tility being directed to a provision that a
sum equal to 1-2 per centum of the an
nual appropriation for the salaries of the
teachers of the District should be placed
to the credit of the annuity fund in the
Treasury, and be payable half out-of tn"
Treasury and half out of the revenues
of the District of Columbia
The teachers of the District have
agreed that this clause shall be dropped,
thus leaving themselves rs the main con-
tributors to the retirement fund. 1t Is
planned that l per cent of the salaries OF
those who have taught ten years and less
shall be paid into the fund annually; also
Ia per cent of the salaries of those who
have taught more than ten years and less
than twenty years. and per cent Of the
salaries of those who have taught for
longer periods. The measure calls for re-
tirement pay after thirty years OF teach
ing. fifteen years of which shall have
been in the District. Retirement pay is
accorded those who have taught twenty
five years in the day schools of the Dis
triCt Provision is made for teachers who
retire on account of disability.