Milford chronicle., 1931-12-25
rC0ntinned from First Paael

ing that there is greater chance of
old age insecurity than there had
been before this most highly indus
trialized mode of living came into
existence.
"NOw we only need to remark to
you that lin this machine age the pc
riOd of a mans productivity or the
expected span of a mans working
life is very much shortened. We
are told by reliable statistics that
in 1855 the average span of life in
the United States was 40 years. At
present that average has been raised
to So years but you gentlemen know
very well that what we call the dead
line of employment has been reced-
ing gradually. 1t is extremely diff
cult for any one to get a job today
who is over 40 years of age. There
isn't any chance, gentlemen, of a
man who has been laid off by one of
our big industrial concerns who is
60 years of age or, shall | say 55 or
possibly So getting himself estab-
lished again in industry. Indeed this
situation is one of the greatest arg
uments for the Old Age pension and
for such plans as can wisely and
adequately guarantee security
against these terrible viccisisi-
tudeS.
1T is said that one out of every
three persons reaching the age of
! s falls dependent upon others. You
see then what a potential problem
this is.
1,449 Now PensiOned
"We already have on the pension
roll of the State as of today l,449.
! This means, gentlemen, a pension
expenditure of $13,770 for the month
| of December and there will be added
to that several hundred dollars be-
! fore this month is ended, because we
are considering increasing some
pensions where increases are sorely
needed and we are taking on new
pensioners as rapidly as possible.
"One of our great difficulties has
been the matter of the requirement
of the law that the immediate fam
lily take the responsibility for the
care of the aged father and mother,
unless in the Judgment of the com
mission it entails undue sacrifice on
the part of such child or person ort
his or her wife or husband or his or
her children There are, of course
two classes to deal with. There are !
those that say the State has passed
bill establishing a pension up to
S25 per month, therefore we are en-
titled to get it, They do not con-
slider the other provisions in the bill
but lust take it as their right wheth- |
er they need it or not.
"On the other hand we find there |
are a great many splendid loyal de-
voted sons and daughters who come |
and say we want to take care of
father or mother to the end of their |
lives.
1--WE have found it necessary to re- /
fuse pensions to 290 applicants and
we are holding for further investi-
CATION, while taking it up also with
children, slightly over 300 But we
have not been able to face the prob |
lem of what we must do in the fu- !
ture. We have had too much to at
tend to with that Immediately con-
fronting us. With 100000 a year
appropriation for this work, with
1900 now on our pension roll and
with very nearly 1000 new appli-
cants on the waiting list, you can
see at once that it will be impossible
for us to grant pension to all those
who apply. A great deal of discrim-
ination and discretion must be used.
1T was not very long before the
special commission that the Cover
nor appointed for the study of the
old age pension found very clearly
that inseparable with the pension
work was also the work for the re-
lief of the aged and depndents who
must be cared for in some place
provided by the State, and not in
their own homes. The Legislature,
as you know, considered that matter
and passed a law and made an ap-
preparation of $500,000 for the build
ing of new Welfare Home to take
the place of the three poorhouses or
almshouses.
Studying Situation
"There are some people who think
possibly we have been little slow
in getting this new building under
way, but l assure you it is not an
easy task to formulate the ideas and
ideals of such a work along the lines
practically untried in any other
place, to find the most suitable loca-
tion that will meet all our require
ments and then to try to get the
plans drawn to suit the requirements +
and coming within the appropria-
tion.
81 think you all know the site
that the commission has already
purchased. We believe that it is an
ideal place for it comprises 81 acres,
bordering on the lake just south of
Smyrna, right along the du Pont S
highway, yet the buildings are not
to be located so near the highway :
as to jeopardize the old people who
will make that their home.
81 have only time now just to tell
you in very brief and general terms ,,
the general plans for our new home. J.,
In the first place we find that con- :
siderable number of the old people j;
Of the State need very careful care :
and medical attention. One thing ;
hat we are determined upon i'll our
Old Age Welfare Home is that in the
building of this new home we shall
make provision for the proper hos '
and care of these old |
people.
1--WE are trying to build home /
hat shall be home and not an in 1