Milford chronicle., 1930-08-08
PROMISES
PENSIONS
[Continued from First Page]


House by a vote of II yeas to s
nays, after it had been advocated
\ by both Democratic and Republican
leaders, thus removing it from the
partisan class. Two days later
however. it was killed in the Senate
by vote of IL nays to 6 yeas.
The reason given for the Senate s
action at that time was that it did
not have sufficient information upon
the subject and had no idea of the
amount the state would have to ex-
pend properly to care for its aged
indigents. Although the Senate s
stand brought acute distress to many
old folk of the state, who had been
anticipating the passage of the
lem bill, Mr. du Pont believes that
it was justified in defeating meas
ure, and feels that it is just as well
the Glenn measure was not enacted,
as it would not have properly pro-
vided for the aged folk.
Following the defeat of the bill
and needing the distress of the dis
appointed old men and women, Mr..
du Pont stepped into the breach and
\ offered to pay the pensions from his
own pocket. Assisted by Mrs. Laura
: c. Walls, of Lincoln City, Del, who
resigned her position as a teacher
in the public schools that she might
devote her entire time to the work,
Mr.. du Pont made complete survey
of the state to determine the exact
number of worthy cases needing aid.
The clergy of Delaware cO-operated
in the work whole-heaTtedly by sup
plying lists of names of worthy
cases in their respective districts. All
names were then thoroughly inves-
tigated by Mr.. du Points special in
vestigator, so when it was finally
completed he was assured that every
case fas worthy one.
Checks Range From S. to $25
There are exactly 100 names on
the pension list and to each of them
Mr.. du Pont sends a pension check
each month. The checks range from
SIS to $25, according to the needs OF
the individual pensioners, all of
whom must be above the age of 65
years.
1t is almost impossible to COM
pute the great good that has result
ed from Mr.. du Points philanthropy.
In many cases, aged husbands and
wives have been enabled to leave the
county almshouses and return to
homes of their own. There is one
case of an old couple who had livet
together for nearly threescore years.
They had no one to care for them
except one relative who was very
poor himself, so that the husband
SO years old, had to be sent to the
poorhouse. The separation nearly
broke their hearts and, thanks to Mr..
du Points monthly pension, these
two old folks have been reunited and
will be able to live out the remain
der of their days together in peace
and comfort.
That is one case typical of many
and scores of pathetic letters have
been received by Mr.. du Pont from
the grateful pensioners, thanking
him for his aid in the sunset of their
lives.
New Bill Proposed
Another Old-age-pensiOn bill, to be
prepared under the supervision OF
Mr.. du POnt, will be presented at the
1881 session of the Delaware Legls-
lature, and as complete and COM
prehensive data. concerning condi-
tions in the state will be supplied to |
the legislators at that time, 1t is eX-
pected the measure will pass With |
out opposition. So far, every single |
candidate who has announced him |
self for the Legislature has express !
ed himself as favoring Old-age pen |
sions, and the leading welfare organ |
izations of the state are united lOO |
per cent back of the movement.
The proposed new bill will set |
aside an appropriation annually, the
exact amount of which will be de-
termined by a survey of existing
needs, this sum to be placed at the
disposal of the head of the Pension
Department The maximum to be
paid to any one pensioner will be
specified in the bill, probably $50 to
S25 a month, the exact amount OF
each pension to be fixed by the Pen
sion Department head after careful
investigation of the actual needs OF
the applicant.
Thus the individual pensions may
range from $5 to $25 a month, at
the discretion of the department, the
head of which must be a competent
man or a competent woman whose
honor and integrity are above sus-
picion. The office shall be absolutely
nonpartisan, the maximum salary to
be fixed by law. The Governor will
be authorized to select the head OF
the department, who, in turn, Will
select his or her assistants, limited
in number as specified in the bill.
In Mr.. du Points opinion, an annual
expenditure of $4,000 should cover
the cost of distribution to from 1000
to 1900 pensioners, and he predicts
the work will probably be done for
trife less than that amount after
the department is properly organ
ized.
Big Balance On Hand
The state will be in an excellent
condition financially to enact a pen
sion law. The report of the State
for the fiscal year ended,
June 80, announced a week ago,
shows balance of $12,6OO,000 in the
State Treasury, despite the fact that
the States Indebtedness has been
reduced by the retire
ment of bonds during the last year.
This large balance can better be ap-
preciated when it is realized that the
1880 census gives the State total
population of approximately 2SS,OOO
The cost of the old-age-
pension plan would be considerably
less than 81 per capita.
Delaware's excellent financial con- I
iition is due largely to the large I