The Washington herald., 1916-11-18
TEACHERS RETIREMENT
Bill READY FOR ACTION
Final Touches Put on Measure by
Central COMMITTEES.

The teachers retirement bill Is ready
for final consideration before being pre-
sented to the next session Of Congress
1t was placed In the hands Of Miss Re-
becca e. Stanley chairman of the teach
ers' central committee, IN its revised
form yesterday afternoon.
While the bill has received the indorse-
ment Of practically every public school
teacher In Washington. Of many citizens
associations and other civic organizations.
II has been purely tentative In its pro-
visions. For several weeks committees
OF teachers have met almost daily to
discuss the various measures which are
now ready for adoption. .H
The last action to give force to the
movement was the permanent organiza-
ton of the teachers central committed.
this committee has representatives from
every school body in Washington and
through this organization the sentiment
Of all those interested in the bill was
collected.
The bill was combed from beginning to
end every day this week by the central
committee until the measure Is now said
to be In such shape as to meet with the
approval Of all concerned.
Purpose of Bill Unchanged.
The original purpose Of the bill remains
the same. Only minor changes in phrase
ology have been made to the measure as
drawn up by Herbert d. Brown, chief OF
The United States Bureau OF Efficiency.
The draft OF the proposed law as II
now stands Is the first for any American
city which Is based on a scientific study
Of mortality, cost and q proper division
of expenditure.
Final consideration OF the bill will be
given at a mass meeting at the new
Central High School. Eleventh and Cliff
ton streets northwest, next Tuesday even
ing. The meeting will be under the
auspices OF the High School Teachers
Association. but all of the various teach
ers' organizations and individuals inter-
ested in the pension campaign will give
their support to make It one of the larg-
est meetings on the retirement bill yet
held
Before Tuesday evening there will be
another meeting of the special commit
tee appointed by Miss Stanley. to revise
the wording Of the measure. No vital
changes will be made, according to Miss
Stanley.
Deductions of Per Cent.
As the bill now stands. deductions not
to exceed s per cent of the teachers basic
salary are to be made at the time the act
goes into effect. These sums shall 60 to
form a teachers pensions fund, upon
lowed. The sums deducted from salaries
will be much less after the plan Is in
operation.
Upon retirement from service in the
schools. the teacher will receive a life
annuity such as the individuals accumu-
lated payments and interest shall pro-
vide. plus So for each years service this
IS to be contributed by the District. Pro-
vision Is made for reinstatement Of
teachers who have quit the service, for
the payment Of the residue of contribu-
tons and their earnings to the estate in
case of death before receiving this
amount, and for crediting teachers for
service elsewhere. up to ten years
The age at which teacher can retire
is 81 years. At 20 years her retirement
becomes compulsory. Mr.. Brown stated
yesterday that there are ffty-five teach
ers in the school system today who are
more than 62 years of age.
Leaders Of the campaign for the re-
tlrement bill are confident that Congress
will pass the measure. The campaign up
to this time has been one of unified ac-
tion.