The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-07-21
OLD-AGE PENSIONS
PLAN IS DISSECTED
QUESTION VIEWED FROM
VARIOUS ANGLES
MEETING EVENING
Fearful That Politicians Would
Grab OF Most of the
Shekels

Sentiment was divided as to the
advisability of bringing about an
old age pension law in this state
and other states of the union, DC
cording to utterances at the meet
ing held at the Eagles hall last
night to discuss that subject. Some
of the speakers thought that the
tentative bill proposed r1 passage
would create a number of sort poll
teal jobs and that the administra.
ton of the terms of the bill would
cost eacn state much more than the
maintenance of the poor.
Judge Harry A. Johnosn explain
ed the purposes of the proposed
bill, which is being fostered and
sponsored by the Order of Eagles,
but which does not bar any frater-
nal organization from taking part
in the discussions and advisability
Of adopting an old age pension for
people who have attained the age
of sixty five years. The speaker
said that the Eagles, wlo believe in
such a law, will need the assistance
of every other fraternal organiza.
ton to put the bill across. The bill
proposed, may have its faults, but
those can be remedied later on. The
big question at the present time is,
do the majority OF the people favor
an old age pension law, say WHICH
would give people beyond the age
of sixty FIVE SIS a month. instead OF
sending them lover the hill to the
poor house" Is it better to let the
old couple round out their lives in
their little home, even though it is
the most humble on earth? This is
what the bill is aimed at. VT is the
principle of the thing, rather than
any particular bill, Judge Johnson
said was the issue at present
Under the term of the bill as
proposed an old age commission
would be appointed and tiis com
mission would in turn appoint su.
perintendent etc for the different
counties. The membership of the
county commission would consist of
three persons and superintendent.
Each member of tle commission
according to the proposed bill
would be entitled to $40 per day and
expenses.
John Klaseus reported that, he is
to take up the matter with the
Knights of Columbus and the MEM
bers of the teamsters union.
Afraid of More Jobs
John R. Thomas said that he did
not favor the proposed bill N Its
present form. He was afraid that it
would only be the means of Great
ing more soft political jobs, and that
the hire of the commissioners and
superintendents, would amount to a
great deal more than the care OF
the poor. D. P. Hayes spoke along
the lines of Mr.. Thomas, and said
instead of creating more state ex-
penses, the taxes, which are now
almost prohibitory, should be cut
down. He would favor an old age
pension or the proper care OF the
poor but did not believe in creating
soft political berths for the politi-
clans to be handed out by the gov
ernor. Mrs. Caroline Magen.' rep
resenting Marlitt lodge No. 3. Sisters
of Sons of Herman, said that she
did not believe in the old age pen
sion. She thinks that the present
poor farm plan is a good one.
George Hodson and Gust Person
said that they had not studied the
bill sufficiently to make any definite
statements, but would take up the
mater with the fraternal bodies TO
which they belong.
Henry Soloman Brett, represent
ing Typographical Union No. 1872,
said that ne is nearing the age
when an old age pension looks good
to him, but he did not like some OF
the provisions of the proposed bill
One of these was the paying OF SIC
a day to commissioners and super.
intendents Of the poor. He could
not see why this work could not be
performed by officials already on
the regular pay roll in each county;
Mr.. Brett would cut out the red
tape of the bill and If the old age
pension bill is passed, would have
the regular county officials look at
ter the care Of the aged.
J.. George Pusc1 would like to see
the matter threshed out more thor
oughly at 4 massmeeting.
At the suggestion Of Colonel
George W. Mead, It was voted tc
leave it entirely in the hands of the
Eagles committee to call a. mass
meeting Of all fraternal orders In
tae city at some future date to GO
into the question more thoroughly.