Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-06-08
Lewis For Oid-Age Pen sions.
Baltimore Sun Staff Correspondent,
Cumberland. Md, June |.

Pursuing a resolution to discuss "impor-
tant non-partsan public questions, David
j. Lewis here 10 night took up the subject
OF national old-aee pension system and
declared that If elected to Congress next
fall. he would introduce a measure having
as its object the installation of a country
wide pension system.
Mr. Lewis, father of the parcel post sys-
tenn. is the Democratic nominee for Con-
eress from the Sixth. or Western Maryland,
district, He delivered a campaign address
at an open-air meeting to night in the
south section of this city.
The Little Welchman" (Mr. Lewis is
only feet two inches talD, who worked
in the coal mines OF Pennsylvania and
Maryland for fourteen years, spoke for al
most an hour. For more than half that
time he discussed the proposed pension
system and then spoke of the World Court,
in which he urged that the United States
participate
AT the last session of the Maryland
Legislature" Mr.. Lewis said. IAN old-age
pension law was passed. BY its terms
dollar day is granted to persons above
IS years old who are unable to support
themselves. This legislation was espoused
strongly by fraternal organizations.
THE operation Of this Maryland law
however, was placed in the hands of the
commissioners of the several counties and
the municipal administration of Baltimore
city Funds are lacking and the law is
imperative.
"Old-age pension systems long have been
adopted all over Europe and in Australia.
Last year Canada adopted such system.
The adoption of one in the United States
would seem to be inevitable from a hu
name standpoint.
In the early history of society almost
everyone was an agriculturist. At that
time virtually every man had his own small
piece of property and when old age came
upon him he was able to take care of
himself
The age of agriculture, although. OF
course, the farmer holds big place in our
society, is gone. In its place we have an
age of industIialism-a an age where man
works from pay day to pay day and in
which he is fortunate if he owns his own
home.
"lndustrialism has brought with it
problem; what shall we do with our men
and women when they reach an age at
which their services are no longer valua-
BILE to their employers
These elderly men and women have no
little farms to support them, as was the
case in the agricultural age and In many,
in fact in most instances. due to incon-
stancy of employment or visitations OF ILL
ness, they have been unable to gather to-
gether nest egg of sufficient size to carry
them through their declining years.
"Old age pensions and old-age Deepen
dency represent an industrial phenomenon
They come with the mill. the mine and the
factory and they did not belong to the age
of agriculture.
IAN age pensions should. therefore. be
paid out of the fruits and profits of mills
mines and factories. In the countries tina
have adopted systems of pensions thu
funds used for their operation are derived
through national taxation.
This is a circumstance of highest i'm
portance in the United States when WI
consider how the income from industrie
is distributed.
New York city. for example. pays ap
proximately one.t third of the income TAI
revenues. This means that one-third o
the profits of good fortune aud abundance
of industry goes to the city of New York
And yet the city of New York representa-
only five per cent of the population Of the
United States.
IF other financial cities. like Chicago.
Philadelphia and Boston be added it would
industries 90 to population of less than
ten per cent of the country.
ITO be just. therefore. the revenues fol
old age pensions should be taken care OF
by national revenues, as is done in all
other countries having old-age pension
systems.
"A national system in the United States
would cost $540.000000 annually. A
fabulous sum until you stop to consider
that the War Department appropriation is
$3.50. 900. 900 annually and the Navy De-
partment appropriation $500 100000.
And consider this, too, for a minute
The tariff sales tax on sugar Is more than
$3.50. 100000. This vast sum is collected
from you. the citizens Of the country, an
you hardly realize il. The money needed
annually for a pension system in this coun-
try is about equal to the interest on the
vast sum we spent during the World War.
Earlier in the day Mr.. Lewis made a
l5-minute address before the Federated
Shop Crafts of Cumberland C. J. Mckay
presided at this meeting.
10 connection with his campaign fOI
Congress. Mr.. Lewis is scheduled TO make six
talks next week in as many communities in
Allegany and Garrett counties. The fol-
lowing week he plans to visit Washington
county aud then will carry his campaign
Into Montgomery county.
f. VIC. B., JR.
bed Cross MoefiaQ