The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-11-25

federal agencies in operation and ii
is contrary 10 public policy TO in
crease the number. In the working
ott OF the system the utmost SIM
pliclty should be the aim. Alaska
has set an example in this respect.
Examines Bill
81 have examined with interest the
outline of the bill prepared for the
Fraternal Order of Eagles and cir
culated in current literature. ! find
it Objectionable in that it provides,
in my opinion, unnecessary nachin-
cry. The cost of administering an
old age pension system should be
kept at the minimum. The creation
OF additional officials, local, state or
Federal is inadvisahie. Much OF
our official machinery is cumber-
some and unduly expensive. Ii
should be possible in any state to
administer an old age pension sys-
tenn safely and equItably without ere
ating additional officials. Alaska
has demonstrated that this can be
done The old age pension system
here is administered through the
Board OF Trustees of the Pioneers
Home and the United States Com
missioners located in many communi-
ties. If the system can Ibe SO ad-
ministered and with satisfaction in a
territory so vast as Alaska, GER
tainly such a system could be like
wise administered and with less diff
ficulty in any state in the Union
Rusteard Favors o. A. P.
John Rusegard, Attorney General
for Alaska, seconded the remarks
of Governor Bone on the Old Age
Pension movement 1t was evident.
he said, that the Fraternal Order OF
Eagles looked down upon the MS
fortunes of humanity in far bet
ter light than those of the genera
tions passed Time was, he said.
when the government helped no one
But today no one has to actually
suffer If he will but let his misfor-
tune ibe known; and if any are
helpless the government will see to
it that they are relieved and in such
a way that they wont feel as if they
are a burden.
Laws Compared
Several points CT the old age pen
sion laws of Alaska were mentioned
in comparison with the laws OF the
old age pensions as proposed by the
Fraternal Order of Eagles. Here the
monthly allowances OF $3.50 for the
men and $25 for the women is less
than the total under the new bill
which would give both the men and
women S25 each. The age limit in
the Territory IS 65 for men and 60
for women as against 65 years for
beth as proposed Some of the other
terms are also more liberal here
but according to the following sta
tiztics $25 could be paid to the men
as we'll as the women for pensions
in their homes and save the Terri
tory money.
The maintenance OF the Pioneers
home is more than twice as costly
per inmate to the Territory (about
$50 monthly than would be the cost
were the pension for men to be
raised TO $25, in their own homes.
Another reason Mr.. Rustgard ad-
vanced to favor Old age pensions
was that those who are forced to go
to public homes come from many diff
ferent walks in life and have to live
in just the, one certain way there
,sat, H. OH Of
them find it impossible to adjust
themselves to, and DE. contented.
With pension in their own homes
each can enjoy his particular environ
ment without restraint.
Support Pledged
When the Pioneers Home was first
proposed in Alaska good deal Of
opposition was raised to the idea and