The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-03
PENSIONS.
Let the Pedssosues Learn . Lesson
From the street Cleaners.

To THE EDITOR OF the SUN--sir: The
school teachers of this town when not
squabbling among themselves are at
lacking the authorities of our city, the
Governor OF the State. the laws, the
manner in which the Commonwealth is
run and everything hat may not just
suit their particular interest. Many
teachers of this town are of the opinion
that with the labor interest of the city
behlnd them their demands for better
pay, shorter hours. longer vacations,
and whatever else they want, will not
be refused by the lawmakers Of the city
or State.
School teachers are absolutely un-
practical. Their strong point is theory.
AS an example. TAX the pension fund.
Repeated warnings from Comptroller
Prendergast that they would have to
do something to perpetuate this fund
were ignored. The teachers even sus-
pected the city officials OF wanting to
appropriate their pension money for
purposes TO further their own interests.
Recently claims have been made that
the Boar Of Estimate had used the
one per cent. which had been deducted
from teachers salaries for other pur-
poses. Since the pension law was
passed teachers have left the city schools
TO take positions In commercial life,
thereby drawing a pension from the
city and a salary from their new posi-
ton in the business world.
Now the teachers pension fund As
bankrupt. There are 1,549 teachers on
the pension roll. Last year they re-
ceived Sl,l9S,516.S5. The amount needed
to give these teachers and those re-
tired this year full pension money is
s2i5,o00 short, The first half OF the
years pension has been paid, hut the
amount now on han will not permit the
city paying more than IS per cent. OF
the usual amount. This deficit could
be made up by the teaching force with
out much hardship. Two dollars a
month or 25 cents a week contributed 10
the fund until the first OF the year
would permit the Comptroller to pay
the retired teachers or their widows the
amount which liz due them. Hut the
teachers are not willing TO do this.
They want the city to ind s25O,OO
to meet the fund deficit. They even
talk OF bringing suit against the Comp
troller and other members OF the Board
OF Estimate to force them TO pay this
fund. A more brazen step or threat
could not be made. The highest paid
employees Of the city. they are the
least respectful.
a report issued recently by the Fl
nance Department shows that in the
nine years ended the last fiscal year
s7,216,2s1.7i had been paid into the
or this amount s1,77s.4s7.ls had
come from the teachers. The total
yearly receipts TO the fund increased
80 per cent. while yearly disbursements
for persons increased 10 per cent. The
BOARD OF Education was told several
years ago that retirements were too
rapid and tHat the fund was not large
enough to stand IL.
Street cleaners, whose pay is far
less than that OF school teachers, paw
3 per cent. 10 their pension fund. Their
fund amounted TO s272.76931 according
to last years statement. The city
contributed ~s153.s37lO. The city has
contributed all but 25 per cent. OF the
teachers fund.
There were 2l.1O5 teachers registered
with the Board OF Education at the end
OF the school term In June. The Board
or Education has asked the Board OF
Estimate for s32,5OO. 900 to pay these
teachers during the mex year. II they
were to do as the street cleaners are
doing and appropriate 3 per cent OF
their salary to their pension fund the
revenue from this source this year
would be $3.50 With a city revenue
OF s56O,ss3ss and a 3 per cent, salary
which would amount to
the monthly pension payroll
OF SOS, 600 could easily be met.
Knowing this. why cannot the teach
Of this big city get together and ask
the Legislature to change the law So
the city may deduct 3 per cent.
from their salaries for the pension fund?
1t would put the fund on a sound and
independent basis. II would also make
1t unnecessary for City Chamberlain
Bruere to suggest that the pensions OF
retired teacher he cut until such time
az the pension fund had reached a level
TO permit the present rate of pension
10 he resumed. NJ. 7.
NEW YORK, August 81.