Milford chronicle., 1930-06-13
Alfred l. du POnt, In Ex-
elusive Interview Details
Plan And Costs
rConfinued from Frst Pagf]


cause of the lack of real knowledge
of existing conditions. After the eX-
tensive Investigations he has made
during the past year, he is OF the
opinion that it is just as well the
1929 bill was defeated as it would
not have afforded the proper rellef
for tho old people.
It was very largely for the pur-
pose of correlating the facts that the
old age relief work was undertaken
by Mrs. Laura c. Walls, under Mr.
du Points direction, SO that when the
General Assembly next meets the
members of the two branches may
be fully informed as to the situation
and what should be expended annu-
ally in order that the aged indigents
are properly cared for.
1t will be recalled that Represen-
tative GIenn's bill provided for the
of a State Old Age
Pension Commission, to consist OF
three Delawareans, and the creation
of an Old Age Pension Board for
each county. 1t provided financial
assistance not to exceed $25 a month
for each applicant 65 years OF age or
older who had no means of support.
The bill provided for one paid office,
that of a superintendent at salary
not to exceed $4,000 year. 1t also
100000 annually to
carry out its provisions.
Deluge Of Approval
The old age pension plan found
favor with the people of Delaware
even at that time and the legislature
was deluged with letters and petl-
tions urging passage of the Glenn
bill. After it had been advocated by
a prominent Democrat and an equal
" prominent Republican, thus re-
moving it from the partisan class,
the House approved the measure by
a vote of 81 yeas to nays. Two
days later, on April A, it was defeat
ed in the Senate by vote OF II
nays to yeas.
The proposed new bill to be pre-
sented at the 1881 legislature, Mr.
du Pont explains, will also set aside
an appropriation annually, the
amount of which will be determined
by a survey of existing needs, to be
placed at the disposal of the head OF
the Pension Department. The max
imum to be paid to any one pension
er will be specified in the bill, prob
ably twenty to twenty-five dollars a
month, the exact amount of each
pension to be fixed by the head OF
the Pension Department after care
full investigation of the actual needs
of tho pensioner.
Thus the individual pensions may
range from five dollars to twenty
five dollars month, the exact
amount to be left absolutely to the
discretion of the Pension Depart
ment, who must be competent mar
or a competent woman, whose hon
or and integrity are above suspic-
ion.
To Be NOn.POlitical
The proposed bill will require that
the Office of head of the Pension De-
partment shall be absolutely non
political, the maximum salary of the
official to be fixed by law. The Gov
ernor will be authorized to select
the head of the Pension Department
who in turn will select his or hel
assistants, limited in numbers as
specified in the bill.
In Mr.. du Points opinion, an an
nual expenditure of $4,000 should
cover the cost of distribution to from
1000 to 1900 pensioners, and ht
predicts the work will probably b'
done for a trifle less than tina
amount after the Department Il
properly organized.
Mr.. du POnt bases his confidence
in favorable legislative action upoI
an old age pension bill next yea
upon the fact that conditions will
regard to this issue are quite dlt
ferent today from what they were il
the spring of 1929. At that time thu
people of Delaware had not beel
sufficiently educated to the merits
of the pension plan. While a numbe
of civic and welfare organization
endorsed the Glenn bill, and man.
prominent Delawareans urged it
passage, the general public was Il
a large extent Indifferent to the fat
of that measure.
Since that time, Mr.. du Pom
points out, the newspapers of vii
mingtOn and other communities o
the State have been extremely liber
al in devOting space both in thei
news and editorial columns to
complete and favorable considera
ton of the pension plan. In his Opin
ion, there are few citizens in tn
State today who are not familiar no
only with the pension plan itself
but with the crying need for sucl
legislation to be written upon tn
statute books of Delaware.
No Fear of Political Issue
Basing his judgment upon reports
he has received from all sections o
Delaware, Mr.. du Pont is firml,
convinced the 1881 session of tn
legislature will tell quite differen
story so far as action upon the pen
sion proposition is concerned. Th'
legislature then will need have NJ
fear that a political issue will b
made of the situation, which will
undoubtedly command the sympath,
and interest of all good people.
Mr.. du Points confidence woult
seem to be borne out by the fact tha
of the numerous legislative candi
dates who have already entered tn
arena, virtually all have announces