Evening star., 1932-11-22
'OLD-AGE SECURITY
INDORSED BY CLUB
Members of Monday Evening
Group Support Pro-
posed Bill.

~Old age security was urged for the
District Of Columbia at a meeting OF
the Monday Evening Club last night
at the Willard Hotel, when provisions
of a proposed bill to be introduced in
the Forthcoming session of Congress to
provide assistance" to certain persons
over So years of age were explained and
discussed.
Members Of the club heard Edward
McGrady, legislative representative of
the American Federation of Labor. DR..
John O'Grady, director of Catholic
charities. and James F. Duharnel, legis-
lative chairman OF the Permanent
Committee on Old Age Security for the
District of Columbia.
Cooperation Pledged.
A resolution introduced by Mrs.
Alexander B. Trowbridge indorsing the
purpose and principles of the bill, y
and pledging cooperation OF the club
in securing its enactment, was referred
to the Executive Committee.
Pointing out that there were now in
the United States 100000 aged per-
sons dependent upon others for sup
port, Mr.. McGrady outlined the prog
ress already made in caring for the
aged. THE District of Columbia" he
said, should have an old age security
act which would make it possible for
its worthy aged indigsnts to know the
blessings Of security without having
to endure the degradation of Blue
Plains"
Seventeen States have enacted old
age and security legislation to help their
dependent aged" said Mr. McGrady.
DR.. O'Grady. in discussing the prob
lem Of the aged in the District, pointed
out that according to the 1890 census
there were in the District 27,253 persons
IS years Of age and over, Of which
number 22962 are whites In institu-
tionS Of q private nature" he said,
there are ,442 old people. This figure
does not include the old people in the
Old Soldiers Home. At Blue Plains the
public institution for the INDECENT aged
in the District, there are 610 persons.
This is almost double normal capacity.
The Associated Charities of the city
care for SOB old persons over so years
of age"
DR.. O'Grady estimated the number of
aged in the District So years and over
who would have to be cared for under
the old age security act at from 1000
to 1900.
In explaining the draft Of the pro-
POSCO Uh4s GlA OAAH14AEA SaAI tLlC lC&4c-
lation was "predicated on the principle
now accepted IN the legislation Of II
States and one Territory of the United
States that the INDECENT aged are en-
titled to some measure Of support from
the community to whose economic well
fare they have contributed the best of
their services through q lifetime of toll
and of which they are resident at the
time they become beneficiaries Of the
act 1t is believed that decency and
dignity, not squalor and poverty, should
be the lot of the aged poor" he de-
ciared. Considerations Of public health
and welfare justify such a policy as
one Of the highest statesmanship."
Administration Placed.
The bill places administration of the
old age security funds in the hands Of
the Board Of Public Welfare, under d.
rection of the Board Of Commissioners,
Mr.. Duhamel explained. The bill fxes
the age Of eligibility 10 benefits at 50
years of age, as that is the age of re-
tirement for civil service employees of
the Government. A
THE bill fixes no minimum or max
tmum amount Of allowance to be paid
TO anr beneficiary" explained the
speaker