Evening star., 1920-01-07
HOUSE APPROVES
AMENDED BILL TO
RETIRE TEACHERS
Concurs in Senate Changes
and Measure Goes to
the President.

The House today. under unanimous
consent. coneurred in the Senate
amendments to the bill for retirement
for age or disability of public school
teachers in the District of Columbia,
without sending the measure to con-
ference
Chairman Mapes of the House Dis
trct committee took this short cut pro
cedure as soon as the House met today
i'll order to expedite the enactment ot
the measure, which now goes to the
President for his signature.
The only two amendments We're. re-
ducing the sum of s50.000 to carry out
the provisions of the act during the
present fiscal year to 10000. and to
reduce the amount for clerical and other
services from $4,000 to $4,000. This
amendment was made because half OF
the year has expired. The other amend
ment provided for the deduction each
month of the contributory amount to be
paid by the school teachers instead of in
ten equal payments
Provisions of the Bill.
Under the provisions of the bill the
teacher is required to buy or there is
to be deducted out of his salary every
year sum sufficient. with interest
thereon at 4 per cent per annum to
buy an annuity equal to l per cent of
his annual average basic salary for
each year of his whole term of serv
ice, payable monthly throughout life
for every teacher who shall be re-
tired under the provisions Of the act
The amount of the deduction that will
be made is to be based upon an an
nuity table as prepared by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, but in no case
to exceed per cent of the teachers
basic salary. The amount deducted
will vary according to the age of the
taa at a
service. 1t is believed that the
amount will be about 4 per cent of
the basic salary of the average teach
er after the system becomes fully
operative, but it will be more than
that for teachers who have been
in the service for a number of years
at the time the act goes into effect
or for those who enter the service
late in life.
The amount deducted from the
teachers salary is to be deposited
with the Treasury of the United States
and credited, together with interest at
per cent per annum, to the indlvid-
ual account of the teacher. the fund to
be invested by the Secretary of the
Treasury until paid out.
Governments Contribution.
The government is required to con-
tribute the sum of SO per year for
each year that the teacher has taught
in the public schools of the District
of Columbia at the time Of retirement
annually for the remainder of the
teachers life.
Any teacher who has reached the age
of sixty-two may be retired upon his
own application or by the board of
education. At the age of seventy he is
retired automatically unless three
fourths of the members of the board
of education think that it is for the
good of the service to retain him
longer.
Any teacher at the age of forty five.
who, by reason of accident or illness
not due to vicious habits, has become
physically or mentally disabled, may
be retired provided he has taught ten
years in the public schools of the Dis
trct.
Upon retirement the teacher shall
receive through the remainder Of his
life an annuity composed OF G) a
sum, which he has purchased out or
his salary. equal to per cent of his
annual basic salary for each year of
his whole term of service. and CD
an additional sum of $40 for each
wear of his service. For example, a
teacher who retires at siXty-tWo years
of age after teaching forty years at
an average basic salary of $500 would
receive annually / per cent of mis-
average salary for each year of his
service. or IS times 40 equals 1920
(the amount purchased by the teach
err. plus $40 times 40 equals $400 (the
amount contributed by the govern
ment), a total of s720 a year
Minimum Of Pay Allowed.
In no case shall a teacher, who
retires by reason of age. receive an
annuity of less than $3.50. and one
who retires on account of disability
shall receive not less than 1920.
In case of the separation OF the
teacher from the service before he
arrives at the age of retirement he
shall be paid the amount of his de-
ductions, together with the interest
then credited thereon. and in case OF
his death the same shall be PAID TO
his legal representative.
No teacher is to receive the benefits
of the act who has not taught IN the
nublic schools of the District at least
zen wears or who receives an annuity
from any state or other municipality
other than the District of Columbia
The bill provides that every teacher
who accepts position with the pub
lic schools of the District shall be
deemed to consent and agree to the
provisions of the act, and that the
act shall in no way Interfere with
the right of the school board to DIS
charge a teacher.