The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
CHURCHILL WARMLY
DEFENDS TEACHERS
Tells Prendergast He Is
Wholly to Blame in Pen
sion Fund Dispute.
DENIES ALL CHARGES

Thomas w. Churchill, president OF the
Board Of Education. sent to Comptroller
Prendergast yesterday n letter nswer
ing the Comptrolier's recent structures
on the pension fund for teachers. Presl-
dent Churchill's language IL just as Wig
orous az was the Comptroller's, and
whereas Mr.. Prendergast put the blame
on the Board OF Education and the board
Of retirement for vicious methods In
padding rolls" Mr.. Churchill puts all the
blame Upon the shoulders OF the Comp
troller.
you are the chief financial officer OF
the city and as such have custody Of
this fund" says MIR. Churchill. THE
Board OF Retirement must resort to you
for full knowledge OF the financial con-
dltions at any time whatsoever. These
tctiremente (which the Comptroller COM
planned about specifically were mad
with you full knowledge N all the
retirements made since the meeting In
your Office on May 10. 1914. to wit, fifty.
were made with you explicit sanction.
approval and recommendation. You
told the board that the fund would
stand fifty retirements more that year
and that number was accordingly re-
tired. This year no teachers have been
retired. II YOU were not constantly
aware OF what was going on since your
incumbency in office in 1910 you are at
fault. | charge that the blame is on
the Comptroller OF the city OF New
York and his associates In the Board
of Estimate for the prevention OF the
necessary relief legislation
Mr.. Churchill n at a tim
the cases which the Comptroller cited
as being proof Of the careless admins
tration OF the pension fund.
OF the teacher who admitted she took
"A bottle of cocktails to school every day.
the Comptroller's informer garbled the
record. says Mr.. Churchill. The doctors
certificate upon which she was retired
was that she suffered from nervous in
sufficiency and ~peripheral neuritis. h
Comptroller's statement embodied the
first half Of these Illnesses. Mr.. Churchill
says that the teacher alluded to was
retired In 100 after t~wenty-eight years
OF service, and only figured In two drink
ing incidents, many years apart. The
teacher died three years ago.
Comptroller Prendergast instanced n
case of a teacher. retired for physical
disability, who married the day after.
President Churchill says the physical
disability was excessive deafness.
Other cases which the Comptroller
disapproved OF because teachers were
allowed credit for time absent for illness
are cases In which competent legal au-
thorities advised the board that this
could be done one teacher was notably
faithful. but seriously i'll. Another
was In a s%anitarium, suffering from
melancholia. and is now In an insane
asylum.
at Is to he regretted said Mr..
Churchill. that our statements have
brought distress not only upon worthy
men and women worn out by public
service but upon the great mass OF
teachers OF this ci;y from anon whom
you have selected "A few not found
guilty Of the charges you make. II *
manifest that FOUR frequent vag
filings at the teachers Of the city are
attempts to brand them with irregu-
l~arities and TO bring INTO question their
moral standards n their ideals OF
service.