The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-10-05

bands and wives makes it impossible
for one or the other to accept a de-
pendent parent into their household
1t has been shown that where such
! dependents have some little income
| they are able to find a home with
| their children.
The charge that this bill would
make the nation a thriftless one, is
without foundation. 1t has been
proven by the statistics of The Met
ropolitan Life Insurance Company
that of every 100 persons between the
ages of 21 and 65, at as, 81 per cent
of all persons have met with financial
reverses. At the age of so, only one
person in 500 ever regains his fnan-
cial footing. At 65, one person in
every 100 is rich, four have incomes
from investments, five are still ca
pable of producing money, SO are dead
and Sd are dependent on someone
else for support. 1t is also apparent
at 65 some people are able to do a
| little work, but not enough to produce
living. For the 68,000,000 people
employed in gainful operations, one
third are in the agricultural pursuits
about 100000 are in the transporta-
tion problems and the remainder are
scattered in the mechanical, profess
sional and commercial life of the ma
ton. The smallest percentage out
side of the agricultural pursuits is
engaged in the producing category,
leaving large percentage in posi-
tions where opportunity and wages
are in the minimum scale.
1t has been proven that 38 per cent
of the wage earners do not receive
a living wage, not to speak of a saw
ing wage SO per cent of the wage
earners receive on an average of
$4,000 per year, and it is estimated
that food and rent expenses are
$62900, leaving a balance for all the
other expenses of the household, for
clothing, heating, education, insurance
and amusements, $21100 per year.
The working years are figured at DO,
and if $4,000 a year could be saved
by these people in 40 years their saw
ing would be $4,000.00. Against this
we have the proposition of 81 per
cent of these people at 45 who have
failed, not through any fault of their
own, but because of sickness, misfor-
tune and unwise investments.
The argument that the old age pen
sion will increase taxes, on its face
is apparent, but the theory upon which
the proposition is worked out is that
taxation is made for the purpose of
producing money for administration
expenses and that a portion of this
should be set aside to provide for
those who have made possible the pro-
duction of wealth. 1t is conceded that
the wise business man charges off
certain sum of money each year
for depreciation. This depreciation is
upon the machinery, equipment and
apparatus with which he does bust
ness, but what about the man power
for which no depreciation is charged
off, yet it is more apparent than the
depreciation of machinery? This
proposition is based on the proposition
that the nation should charge off
something each year for the deprecia-
ton of its man power The economist
tells you this depreciation of man
power is supplied by the substitution
of new men and women to take the
place of worn out men and women.
This, as cold business proposition,
is true, but wage economists and wise
business men are commencing to real
ize there is human element to be
considered now as never before, and
that the establishment of world peace
means nothing unless it produces
peace of mind in the people. You
may have national peace made pos
sible by treaties, navies and armies,
but the greatest factor in the solution
of the peace problem, is the human
element.
Three fears come into every mans
life at the age of responsibility, to-
wit: Loss of health, loss of position
and dependency in old age We are
legislating to eliminate disease and
protect health. We are agitating for
the purpose of providing employment
that labor may be employed, but even
with these two propositions settled,
the last and most dangerous one re-
mains. The thought of the poor house
stares every 100 persons starting out
in life at the age of Il and who may
reach the age of IS. The nation pro-
vides pensions for its soldiers, sail
ors, mail men and teachers. Great
manufacturing concerns are establish
ing pensions for their aged employees.
The merits of the proposition needs
no discussion; it speaks for itself.
The charge that no man should be
pensioner unless he has rendered
service to the state is an absurd con-
clusion. Every man who works and
raises family is not only rendering
service to the state, but makes pos
sible the prosperity of the state, and
creates a means through which the
state is able to levy and collect taxes.