Milford chronicle., 1930-12-26
GOVERNOR GETS
REPORT ON OLD
AGE PROSPECT
[C0nlinned from First Paael

LNNHith"tH yfVH AHsE AeSN1
tirement, whose name is Invariably
found on lists of prominent Della
warenas interested in projects tC
benefit the public veal.
Task Quickly Accomplished
This commission of three men was
appointed by the Governor two and
one half months ago to study the
question of old age pensions and
make a report to him for presenta-
tiOn to the legislature. Showing ex-
emplary zeal and devotion to this
task, this commission already, a
fortnight before the legislature con-
venes, has submitted its report to
the Governor together with its sug-
gestion for the form of bill for the
consideration of the members of the
legislature. This bill would create
an Old Age Welfare Commission and
suggests what the commission con-
siders the most suitable plan for
granting old age pensions.
When Governor Buck was asked
whether it was true that the COM
mission had submitted its report he
admitted that he had received this
report but said that as the State
Legislature is the proper body to
consider and act on the proposal he
did not care to comment in advance
of it's presentation to the General
Assembly. The Governor did say,
however, that he is deeply indebted
to the members of the commission
for the thorough consideration
which they had given to the subject
and the dispatch with which they
had presented their report. "The
whole state owes them real graft
tude for their interest in their work
and their action upon it," he added.
Though the chief task of the COM
mission was to present report on
the subject of old age pensions, al
most as much if not more interest
will center in a bill which the same
commission expects to offer within
a few weeks looking toward making
provisions for the abolition of all
almshouses in Delaware and the
creation instead of state institu-
tion for the care of old people who
prefer living in an up-tO-date insti-
tuition to care in private homes.
AS the commissions report has
not been made public the entire pro-
posal cannot be outlined but enough
has been learned to indicate that the
commission believes there will be a
need, apart from the old age pen
,sions which the state may pay, for
state institution of sufficient size
and equipment and so managed as
to properly provide for the needs of
old people who prefer institutional
care and including hospital with
proper medical and surgical facili-
ties. After the creation of such a
state institution it would be the
thought to abolish altogether the
three almhouses, one in each cOun-
ty of the state.
The commission, it is understood,
in estimating that there are 1900 or
more in Delaware who are IS years
of age or more and who should re-
ceive pensions, figures that this
Number is somewhat above the av-
erage in other states but in rural !
territory the average is usually |
higher and that the number of ten
ant farmers over 65 in Delaware I
may be partly responsible for m
creasing this average. The care of
this particularly worthy class of
residents is urged as one of the rea-
sons why Delaware should be will
ing to be among the first states in
granting pensions to those who are
beyond working age.
While the commission is reported
TO have mentioned the compulsory
contributory insurance plan of
granting pensions under which the
recipient of a pension is compelled
to contribute from his wages, the
on-cOntributing plan is said to
have been favored, since it offers
protection to old people
now in need and accomplishes the
greatest good at the least cost.
The commission is also said to
have suggested that a relief plan
the contributing, and
straight government distribution
idea might be possible in the future :
but that this is hardly feasible with [
The present wage standard of $1,500 l
3 year for this class of aged people.
regarded as too low to permit them
to contribute to their own old age
relief after deducting their living