Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-17
TEACHERS BILL
PROGRESS MADE
viii be Reported Out of Com
mittee, Says Camden COun-
ty A%SSembIyman
Bv Special CORRESPONDENT.

TRENTON, March 17.-Assembly-
man Ralph N. Kellam, of Camden,
chairman of the house of assembly
Judiciary committee, today declared
positively hat the bill on the ques-
ton of teachers funds would be re-
ported out of his committee. He was
unprepared to discuss just what pro-
visions the measure would include, but
stated that "a bill will be reported"
The judiciary committee held it's third
and final hearing here last Saturday to
listen 10 argument for and against by
the teachers of the State. Some very
positive threats were made before the
committee that unless certain features
were removed from the measure on
this subjct introduced by Speaker
P~ierson, the influence of the teaching
forces would be found working against
the passage of the measure.
Mr.. Kellam said, however, hat the
bill to reorganize the pension system
that would be presented to the legis-
lature as the result of the hearings of
the judiciary committee, will positive
ly commit the State as having an OBJ
legation to continue the new system,
which is adopted. The chairman as
serted that fears have been entertain
ed by the teachers that the next Leg
islature or some future Legislature
could come along and again revise the
whole pension system, and perhaps
J~eopardiZe the interests of those eff
feCted, but that the Legislation to be
Enacted this year would provide that
the State could not change the sys-
tenn, which will finally be adopted, but
may modify it from time to time as
conditions and experience indicate
that 1t should be modified. MI. Kell-
am said, however, that there would be
no modification of the essential fea-
lures and basic principles of the bills
to be passed his year.
In addition to the declaration of
former Attorney General Robert II.
McCarter at the final hearing on Sat
urday, hat every effort would be
made to beat this legislation unless
it guarantees 100 per cent. protection
to those now drawing annuities and
pensions, Miss Agnes Duffy. speaking
for the grade teachers of Newark on
this subject, attacked that clause In
the main Pierson bill, which would
give supervisors and superior officers
an opportunity to bring about the dis
missaI of teachers for so-called pro
fessional incapacity."
Every classroom teacher in the
state will fight the bill if that is in
cluded, she declared. The provision
objected to says hat the board of
II NeoAN@o ili6 nv y NV
posed pension system may retire
teachers who have attained the age
of fifty-five years. provided five mem
bers of the board are convinced that
the teachers are no longer capable OF
rendering competent service.
This clause Is aimed at the wom-
en- teachers of New Jersey" said Miss
Duffy. ut allows a charge of pro-
fessional incapacity against women by
those who are above them and is tho
worst thing written into the laws of
New Jersey in years. There car be
only one amendment, and that is to
have it eliminated"
Mr.. McCarter Joined In the opposi-
ton to this provision. asserting that
1t would make for dire influences
which ought not be allowed. Both
speakers thought that II would give
superiors an opportunity TO satisfy
grudges against those teachers work.
ing under them by making charges
of incapacity.