Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-30
SCORES ATTACK ON
TEACHERS FUND AS
DUE TO JEALOUSY
John S. Davidson, of Passaic,
One of Trustees, Answers
Miss McCoy's Statement.

Personal jealousy prompted the bit
ter factional fight now brewing in the
State Teachers Association against
the present management of the
Teachers Retirement Fund, accord
ing to John Scott Davidson, of Pas
sale, one of the trustees.
81 can't quite fathom the motive
myself" he said today. "It is per-
sonal jealousy of some inexplicable
sort-of that l am sure"
Miss Emma A. Mccoy, high school
teacher of New Brunswick, who acts
as spokesman for the opposition. bit
terly attacked the administration Of
the teachers fund before the State
teachers convention in Trenton on
Saturday.
Speaking of her, Mr.. Davidson re-
marked:
1.-THE poor woman! l felt sorry for
her. She had been sent to make a
statement before the convention,
which had no jurisdiction on the mat
ter. and she had no formal way of
bringing it before the body. It was
awkward for her. and placed her in
had any grievance against the fund
she could have placed it before the
board of trustees.
stack Insisniticant.
LAS a matter of fact, the attack
is so insignificant it can we'll be tg-
nored by the trustees.
1.-THE grievance seems to be that
the office for administering the fund
is maintained in Hoboken instead OF
Trenton.
"The fund itself is under the regu-
lation of the State Board of Educa-
ton. The teachers have access to the
records and reports. The actual
money is in the hands of State Treas
urer Grosscup. 1t can be paid out
only upon an order countersigned by
the president, Mr.. Calvin N. Kendall,
and Miss Elizabeth A. Allen, the Sec
retary, at the direction of the board.
1.-THE trouble with these objectors
is that they do not realize that the
fund is really disability insurance
and not pension system. They have
no appreciation of the amount of
business we have to transact.
I'VE are carrying on our books 49,
900 teachers. Small deductions of
two, two and a half and three per
cent, according to their service, are
made from their salaries. 1t is very
evident what an enormous amount of
bookkeeping is required.
"All we pay Miss Allen, the secre-
tary, is $1,500. She could not afford
to give up her position as principal
of School No. 4, in Hoboken, which
Is very large school, to so to Tren-
ton and act as secretary for that
amount.
Want Office In Trenton.
at is charged that we ought to have
our main office in Trenton. The board
does meet at least once year in Mr..
Kendalps office at Trenton. Hobo
ken, however, is far more accessible
for general purposes. Besides, we do
not actually maintain an office there.
What we really do is defray the ex-
penses of Miss Aliens office.
"All the board of trustees does is
to make annuities and invest the
fund. Miss Mccoy charges that
there are no business men on the
board. William G.. Dumsted, of Jer-
sey City, is known to be one of the
best financial experts in the State.
'"The fund is in splendid shape and
the attack upon it is merely the work
of jealousy"
Miss Allen, the secretary of the
fund, said today that she could make
no statement until she had conferred
with the trustees.
Miss Mccoy is quoted as saying:
Capable as Miss Allen is, 1 think
she has a far better head for politics
than she has for the mathematical
science of teachers annuities.''