Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
ELECTIVE SCHOOL
BOARDS OPPOSED
Representative Scott Speaks
for Philadelphia Edu-
cation Directors
AT HOUSE HEARING
Out of Politics, Is Plea.
Teachers Retirement Fund
Solvent, Say Custodians

Harrisburg, March 10. - Representa-
tive John r. X. Scott. Ware leader of
the House of Representatives. added
MS voice to opposition expressed by
X Pittsburgh citizens against the Sterling
bill providing for elective school boards
In first-class school districts.
Mr.. Scott appeared befores the House
Committee on Education to present to
the committee a letter written by mem
bers OF the Teachers Retirement Board
OF the Philadelphia Board of Education
IN which statements before the commit
zee last week by Dr. Frederick Gruen-
perg relative to the condition of the
teachers retirement fund are declared
utterly and recklessly false" When
ne mad read the letter Mr., Scott said
ne desired to protest against the bill oe-
cause IL would throw the philadelphia
schools into politics. He characterized
simon Graz as 'one OF the greatest
educators in this land"
The letter written by the Teachers
retirement Board follows.
=, Inc newspapers OF Wednesday
Nal, rcn ~. report that at meeting Of
;our committee on the preceding day
sioot;,s 40 consider the bill providing for an
d'.sEe BOARD of education in school
hhstricts OF the first class, Mr.. Gruen-
pSsrg; the Director of the Bureau Of
,ynInh;p nyIInhhelpaI Research. charged the Phils-
GeIphia Board of Education with the
responsibility for the fact that the teach
insolvent. Wy l" "'"
:, Tie undersigned. who are in charge
81 the administration of that fund. car
sno, De TOO emphatic ia characterizing
Iesai,. I1h statement as utterly and reck-
IN 1907. as the result of an arrfement
oesween the teachers of the public
SCHOOLS SC 9 of Philadelphia and the Board
oi ,ro Educat ation, under which boil. parties
tree teae 70 pay stipulated sums into the
areasury OF fund intended TO furnish
certain measure of support to, the
thtachers th who might become entitled TO
me benefits OF the fund. All the terms
observed by the teachers and the board
The administration of the fund was
.h entr1hsted to q board consisting of two
members of the Board o'f Education ap-
pointed by the president of that bodv.
sd,,,ir ana the president himself. That this
IS Is shown by the fact that the board.
IN addition to meeting every claim that
nas been made for the benefits of the
Iunu mas accumulated and invested re-
serve of about 5000. .000-a reserve
swclch has grown from year to year and
from which not penny Of principal has
peeh taken to meet current liabilities |
Snnd 'p.ai I COST OF ADMINISTRATION of this |
j per cent of the total receipts
ASIDE. however, from the question of |
present solvercy. the retirement board !
fet isef called upon to direct an .
actuarial investigation for the purpose of
determtning whether. with the existing
rate of contribution by the board and
the teachers, the fund was financially
on basis that would assure lis sound.
ness In the future. Such an inquiry was.
accordingly. made by an actuarv. who
reported that the fund needed strength
ening to the extent indicated by him
The consideration of this question is
temporarily in allegiance, pending action
by the teachers and the Board of Edu-
cation in relation to the merger Of the
local Philadelphia plan with the state
plan.
EDWIN WOLF.
"SIMON GRATZ,
DINNER BEEBER
LOUISE Fl. HAESELER
OLIVER =. CORNMAN."
Representative Palmer. OF Schuylkill,
chairman of the committee, asked Mr.
Scott If there was public demand in
for an elective scnool
board
philadelphia, he said, would
sound an outcry if such a change were
made as is proposed and the schools
put back into politics Those of us who
are active in public life. those of us
who are in politics and must &c out into
tue campaign ana HRHt, 10 not want our
schools in the fight"
Morris l.. Cooke. Director of Public
Works under the Blanlenburg admins
tration, said that one of the fundamental
failures of the administrative system
NJ the Philadelphia Board of Educa-
Hon was the fact that it had to divide
Itself into committee and therefore could
not properly function. He said in real
ty the board was not an administrative
body, but policy body, and therefore
ts members should be elected, not ap-
pointed.
Prefacing his. statement with the dec
aration that he come to address the
,cmmittee in opposition to the wishes
II the Board of Education, Louis Nus
baum, representing the Schoolmens
Club. of Philadelphia. declared that. in
opposing the bill: he expressed the unan-
NOUS opinion of all the members of
The club, which is made up of male
teachers. and principals DIR. J. L. Baker,
pFsident of the Philadelphia Teach
erE Association, told the committee that
hetcsme to Harrisburg as the represent
ative OF 5000 teachers who are opposed
10 the bill.
Cevvapf S;xty ya,r. - Co-.:I. nj