New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-21
HOW SOME TEACHERS FEEL
They Should Obtain Benefits OF
Pension Law Forced On Them.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | was much interested in your edi-
torial in to-day's Tribune. entitled THE
Bankrupt Teachers Fund" I trust you will
give me the space to make the matter en-
tirely clear.
First-You announce that Controller Prem
dergast has stated (a) that the 1900 retired
teachers will receive less than 60 per cent Of
their accustomed pension this month and less
for the remaining months of the year.; (b)
that "the responsibility for this rests on the
Board of Education and on the busy teacher
lobbyists who defeated attempts to increase
their contributions to the fund"
Second-You speak of the teachers as
"benefciaries"
Third-You mention the need for increased
contributions on the part of the teachers
and imply that all must pay this increased
amount.
take issue with both the Controller and
yourself. The matter divides itself into two
parts: % The rights of those already re-
tired; 90 the rights of those who are now
teaching, with, of course, the rights and
duties of the city toward both classes.
Cd With reference to those already re-
tired:
The pension law, with its stated deduction,
was forced on the teaching force some years
ago Those-and they were many-who
wished to be exempt from payments into the
fund and be debarred from participation
therein were told by the then Corporation
Counsel that they had no option. "They
must pay" They were told that the deduc-
tions provided by this (present) law would
be sufficient. The law accepted for the
City Of New York by the Mayor thereof APP
proving of the law and its provisions. Thus
we have the condition existing of the city
forcing upon the teachers pension law with
certain scale Of deductions. Now we find
out that some one made mistake-there is
not enough money. Who should pay for this
mistake the teachers, upon whom 1t was
forced and who have fulfilled their end OF the
bargain, or the city, which through its then
Mayor accepted the provisions of the law
and forced it upon the teachers? As a mat
ter of law, those already retired by the mere
act on the part of the city in notifying them
of their retirement and payment of one
months pension are bound to receive these
payments out Of general tax funds if the
pension fund income is insufficient II they
had money to fight the matter the city would
have to pay.
(2) With reference to those now teaching:
The law. as stated above, was approved By
the city, with its scale Of deductions; those
who came into the teaching force were COM
PEELED to contribute; the Board of Education
on behalf of the city issued circular after
of
on these circulars, which were sent all over
the Middle States-offering, | say, two in
ducements, (a) a certain salary schedule and
lb) the fact that there existed pension law
which provided for the payment Of a certain
pension after thirty years OF service upon
the fulflment of certain conditions, chief OF
which was the payment by the teacher of a
certain specified percentage of his salary.
The teacher had 20 DO three things: On
Teach thirty years; (2) be over a certain
age sixty, and pay a certain specified sum
into the fund; then receive certain pen
sion.
An ex-judge of one Of our highest courts
in New York State informs me that the city
is debarred from increasing the amount 70
be taken from the teacher who did as above
outlined on the ground that the city offered
certain inducements. The teacher accepted,
fulfilled his end of the bargain or contract
and now asks that the city fulfil its end of
the agreement.
If the amount TO be deducted was too
small or any misrepresentation was made
shall the teacher, an innocent party, pay the
penalty? The teacher receiving a circular
such as is mentioned above cannot be ex-
pected to know whether the amount TO be
deducted will prove sufficient. He is no., nor
can he be expected to be, an actuary.
1t would appear that such a teacher has a
J claim on the city ~ TO compel it to pay the