New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-23
"GREEDY SCHOOL TEACHERS
An Opponent Of Pension Plan Ezphs
Her Position.


To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The editorials in your paper are ss'
orally of such unbiased character that ~
with amazement that have read the one En-
titled Greedy School Teachers" in to-ds'
Tribune. Your source OF information sesr'
to have presented strong bias and to have
led you 10 wrong conclusions. May ysn''"
to give you another viewpoint and 10 f'r
that your sense of justice and your 'epsu
ton for fairness will lead you TO give ne
eleven thousand of US who oppose the 7fe''
ent pension legislation a square deal CO.
torially?
We oppose this bill because il forces us
majority to contribute 8 per cent OF Their So
aries without their consent. When the pres
ent per cent deduction was made even
teacher then employed was asked TO eonssnI
We believe that 70 be forced TO con,rpu"" "
great a part Of ones salary without eonssH
is confscation and un-American. This c'e
not mean that we do not see the Necessity"
larger contributions on our part toSs"
pension fund, nor does II mean that We I"
unwilling to make reasonable contribution
II We are forced 70 invest S per cent e"
salaries in an annuity We should have W
right TO have an actuarial examination o'p'
calculations on which this deduction IS psH@
If the calculations are fair, the city mas nv
ing TO lose and il has our confidence 70 g.
We have repeatedly made this suggestions"
. L.. tc-pOrad
We do not approve Of the raising Of PEI
sions beyond the limit OF the present Nv
$4,000 is now the limit. The proposea W.
makes the limit half pay, making the h's'','
pension payable $4,000. II this be grew
make the most OF II. =,
Now for your editorial. You say
bound the city TO contribute out OF "Ss
dollar for each dollar OF the contribuuon''
the school teachers" This Is true oh'
new entrants after August I. 1916, the ".
ones put on the reserve basis by TINS y,
The present teaching force is put On
group basis, and the city promises 70 pT
they fall due" and TO make 40 deneps
here lies one OF the most serious oei.'s
the bill. The administration OF the funa
sufficiently safeguarded except ior hes
trants, while il at any time eon,'",
wished TO withdraw the fund would ~"
pay back all contributions, plus pe'
interest, compounded" M.
Withdrawal from the fund means Ia
drawal from service for any cause ,n...u
not mean. as you intimate, that ~i'ss.,s.
depends upon either the whlm or heea
individual In fact, there lies an sn
against such high rate of contribute .,
per cent on small salary is as muen =. IA.
can possibly save. and II We are fcEees
vest all savings in this annuity, no o.
how great our need. through siehn,
other difficulty. nothing but MAS q
death or retirement will place our w.
our disposal. .hsss3
We have not opposed this because ,.I;,,s
TO get more, but because we do NOV ..,is,
this bill TO be fairly adjusted TO the ".rles,
In the recent vote taken IN w, q, tbs
eight associate superintendent V0sss ~
bill 1t would increase their pens~s.,,vst
present rates 81 $50 per annum, nd
district superintendents voted ioi ~
would receive $500 increase per ann tsr y
present rates. Most principals WI =, ~ D.
They would receive from $3.50 70 ess.sjkf
crease over present rates. Do yoS ~
this vote in favor as being disin'e
free from personal considerations, Ia, "
II to demand q square deal on al loose
to defend ones right to American F.se y
is impudent and greedy, then !, ~, .,sjst
glad that am one Of the greedy IN" ,.rs
eleven thousand who oppose thlsmm srf
HARRIET y. PORN
Vice President Teachers Pension ."
tion.
New York, April 10, 1915.