The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-14
TEACHERS ACCUSED
OF PENSION ABUSES
Woman Who Took Liquor Into
School Gets Annuity, Says
Prendcrgast.
EDUCATION BOARD HIT
Vicious Methods Alleged to
Have Caused Bankruptcy
Of Fund.
EDUCATION BOARD HIT

The teachers pension fund Ia bank
rpt because the Board OF Education
used vicious methods OF padding the
rolls" and violated the retirement law.
according to Comptroller Prendergas'.
Quoting yesterday from the newly
compiled records OF the city pension
committee the Comptroller cited In
starces intended TO prove that teachers
who to the knowledge OF the Education
Board did not deserve an annuity had
got 1t Just the same. One OF these was
"A woman who bought cocktails In a
drug store near her school and carried
a flask OF whiskey into the school. She
was retired on the ground OF nervous
iEsufYloiency" on pension OF $6OS
year. Another woman teacher was mar
red the day after she was penstoned
fer disability" There are other cases
of this sort. the Comptroller says.
The statement from the Finance De-
partment quotes the Comptroller as say
ing that the Board OF Education acted
illegally In retiring any. teachers at all
since September l. 1918. The law re-
ouires lie says, that the number Of
teachers retired should be so limited
that the entire amount of the annulties
shall, not exceed the income OF the retire
ment funds. and this law has been dis
rega rled-hence the bankruptcy OF the
funds
The statement goes on to say the PEN
sion Commission. taking the same point
OF view, holds tina; sS4 retirements made
by the Board OF Education since 1910.
when the annual income fund fell below
the annual disbursements. are subject to
serious legal doubt A. tor the :03
pensions granted since September l.
1919, the Pension Commission says that
these were indispu,ably Illegal.
Pension Fu4d's statms.
"Oniy by borrowing 5000, 900 OF the
next years excise taxes. says the Pen
sion Commission. and by delaying the
payment Of refunds and absence reduc-
lions has the fund been able TO pay pen.
sions In full Had the Board OF Educa-
tion discontinued additional retirements
In September. 1918. as II was required to
been ample, without anticipation of fu-
ture revenues and delay of current obli-
cations. to meet the monthly pension
payments. and no reduction of pensions
would have been necessary
Some OF the methods used by the
Board OF Education and its board OF
retirement in putting teachers OH the
retired list are pointed to as vicious
methods of padding the rolls. For in
stance. the time lost by teachers undei
suspension and on leave OF absence IN
figured in when the board Of retire
ment gets ready to retire teacher. The
law requires thirty years service In
cases OF ordinary retirement and twenty
years OF service for retirement on the
ground Of disability. The ruling of the
Board OF Education that absence on
leave shall he included in figuring the
aggregate number of years of service
has nullifed the law in a number OF
cases.
The Pension Commissions memoir
andum shows that one teacher was con-
tinuously absent six years and four
months prior to retirement. Thereby
her eighteen years and seven months of
actual service were credited at twenty
four years and eleven months. Another
teacher was absent continuously four
years and four months, and so was
pushed over the twenty year line which
the law sets for legal retirement. Thus
retired teachers are now receiving pen-
sions figured on more years than they
served.
Liquor Taken Into school.
Attention is called to the case Of a
teacher retired on February l. 1908,
who admitted to the board OF retire
ment that she not only bought cocktails
In drug store near the school but
carried a flask Of liquor into the school
so that she could have II on tap. Her
retirement was recommended Ivy the
board OF retirement and was authorized
by the Board OF Education.
"She was retired on the ground OF
nervous insufficiency' on pension OF
$S06.66 "A year.
"In June, 1911. first year principal
application for disability retirement
after she had served 2l years and 9
months, was approved by the board OF
retirement. Under the esta blished rules
of the Board of Education the principal
would have been placed on the pension
roll on September !. 1911. aud would
he now receiving an annual pension oi
S6343S. on the advice OF Mr.. Max.
well, City Superintendent. however. hei
retirement was postponed until Februar,
I. 1912. In the interval her salary wa,
increased and when her retirement be
came effective the pension allowed wa,
| ss3s,3s. The aggregate loss to the cit,
was about $1,000. The second day aftei
! her retirement, which was on the grount
| of disability she was married"
On this case Comptroller Prendergas
said: This is not the only instance
! know personally of a number Of othel
| cases where teachers, retired for dis
| ability have married. Either the,
should not have been retired or we neet
| a eugenics law In this State"
Raymond B. Fosdlck was the onl,
one Of nearly score OF members OF tn.
Board Of Education who could be locate
| last night.
THAT Ia the first ! had heard OF It,
he said In surprise. ~ think We shou,t
have an investigation at once TO finS
| out II that is true. II there is crooked
ness In the pension situation II shoul,
be got right after. our last meet in.
! on wednesday was adjourned subject I,
| the call OF the chair. but I suppose ant
hope Mr.. Churchill will call anothe
| meeting at once"