Milford chronicle., 1930-06-13
1881 ASSEMBLY TO PASSION
NEW BILL FOR Age PENSIONS

upon old age pensions within the
past year or two, it is believed that
little Delaware will also take its
place in the vanguard of humane
progress. This is particularly the
case in view of the fact that the
State Treasurer recently reported a
surplus of almost thirteen million
dollars in the State Treasury.
Interested in the plan to pension
worthy old people of the State from
its conception, Mr.. du Pont, unwil-
ling to see the aged indigents suffer
because of the failure of the Glenn
bill last year, decided to pay the
pensions from his own pocket until
such time as the State was ready to
care for them. Assisted by Mrs.
Walls, he made a survey of the State
to obtain the names of all persons
above the age of 65 years who were
in actual need. In this fine work he
was also aided by the ministers OF
the State who provided lists of
names of all worthy cases in their
respective districts.
Studied Other Nations Plans
While abroad last year, Mr.. du
Pont made a careful study of the
systems of other countries, particu-
larly Germany, in caring for their
elderly men and women, so he was
prepared to work out a plan for
Delaware on a basis of the highest
efficiency. He made it clear at the
start that every precaution should
be exerted to separate the wheat
from the chaff, the worthy cases
from the undeserving. His announc-
ed policy was that I'VE shall carry
this pension plan on conservative
lines, and every precaution taken to
pension only the neediest poor, and
in no respect to encourage idle
ness"
To make certain the plan to pen
sion the aged needy should not be
abused, Mr.. du Pont arranged TO
have every case reported investigat-
ed by a special Investigator, thus as
surfing the fact that each name plac-
ed on the pension roll was that OF
an aged man or woman in actual
need, with no other means of sup
port.
AS a result of these investigations
and the records that have been COM
piled, Mr.. du Pont will he able to
present to the 1881 General Assem-
bly, complete data concerning con-
ditions as they actually exist, the
information that was lacking at the
1929 session, a lack which largely
contributed to the defeat of the pen
sion measure at that time.
Mailing HOO Monthly Checks
Mr.. du Pont is mailing monthly
checks to eleven hundred aged pen
sioners, each of whom has been at
tested as worthy, thus relieving
scores of cases of urgent distress in
many localities. His work is bring
ing him not only the gratitude of
the unfortunates so helped by his
generosity, but the esteem and sup
port of thousands of Delawareans in
all three counties of the State who
are gladly enlisting in the movement
to obtain the enaction of an Old Age
Pension Law at the next legislative
session.
The fact that so many prospective
assembly candidates have announc-
ed their favorable attitude toward a
pension bill indicates the strong
sentiment for the enactiOn OF this
humane legislation, and Mr.. du
Points prediction that such a mea-
sure will be passed, possibly by a
unanimous vote, appears very lKely
to be borne out by facts.
Not only is the old age pension
issue being agitated in Delaware, but
it is receiving serious attention IN
many other States of the Union. Old
age pensions have been considered
favorably by several State legisla-
lures in the past two years, and the
subject has also been brought before
the national Congress at Washing
. ton.
The Industrial Welfare Depart
ment of the National Civic Fedora
ton recently made an intensive stu
, dy of the extent of old age depend
!, ency throughout the nation, and IN
:, an interesting report relative to that
Investigation, Charles l.. Edgar,
chairman of the department, gives
some highly Illuminating facts and
figures showing the number of aged
indigents above the age of 65 years
in several States, together with the
steps that are being taken to prop
erly provide for their maintenance
Delaware to Go on Record
, It is a certainty that the old age
pension plan will figure very large
ly in the legislative campaign IN
Delaware this year, and to those
who have made a careful study OF
the situation, and who have sound
ed out public sentiment on the sub
iect, there can be little doubt but
that Mr.. du Points belief in the en-
, action of an old age pension bill
! next spring is based upon sub
stantiaI foundation and that Della
ware will soon place itself upon
record as opening its arms to its
) unfortunate aged men and women
who are in need.
2 That Mr.. du Points generosity in
, pensioning from his own funds ele-
t ven hundred aged indigents is ap-
= preciated to the fullest extent by
) those who are aided by his bene-
} ficence is amply proven by the fact
2 that he has received scores of CRATE
full letters from the aged pensioners
2 expressing the thanks that comes
direct from their hearts. The sub
| stance of many of these letters
t clearly indicates just what the
monthly pensions mean to the old