The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-10-28
Editor of The Democrat:

Editor Of The Democrat:
 Tn this campaign the subject of old age pensions seems to have be- come an issue.
 That this is 50 is not surprising for the subject of old age pensions has of late years been receiving more and more attention. In the United States the first active step toward the passage of q state law was taken as early as 1907. How ever, not until 1915 was such law passed when Alaska enacted legis- iation on the subject. Beginning with 1929, legislative action in this field has been increasingly wide. Thus there are now on the DOCKS old-age pension or relief acts in Alaska and in 17 states though not all of these states have actually be- gun the payment of pensions. No federal action has as yet been taken in the United States, though several bills have been introduced into recent sessions of congress.
 All of the. systems established under state laws in the United States are straight pension plans, the entire cost being borne by the public through taxation. Study of the experience abroad shows that while & few countries have similar pension schemes, and some have both pension and insurance plans. in the great majority the system Is conducted on an insurance basis. with Gin most cases) the workers the employers, and the state all contributing in fixed proportions.
 Another point of difference, is that under the majority of the earlier old-age pension laws in the United States the adoption of the pension system is optional with the county or local authorities. while most of the foreign laws make the pension or insurance plan com pulsory for all citizens or certain clagses. The trend in the United States in the past few years, how ever, has also been toward the mandtory form of law.
 At the end of 1930 an inquiry by the United States bureau of labor statistics showed, only nine states had actually put the system into force. These were the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nevada. Utah. Wisconsin and Wyoming. In these states 1O,307 old people were being given periodic cash payments, at an average rate of $14.S2 per month.
 New York began the payment of pensions January 1. 1881, and data supplied to the bureau of labor statistics by the New York state department of social welfare show that 42,021 persons were receiving old-a relief In that state in August 31. 1881 and that during the the five months ending August 31, 1881 the sum of $5,138,582 was disbursed for this purpose. In Massac usctts, according to reports at the end of the first two months operation (July and August 1031) some 1000 pensions had been granted. In Delaware, at the end of August 1881. pensions had been granted to 1000 persons.
 Another definite trend Is toward state aid, in increasing proportions. At the end of 1928, of the six states with pension legislation only Wis consin provided for state aid (to the extent of one-third of the cost) !. At the end of 1030, of the 12 statea with such laws. 4 provided for state aid: one-haif of the total cost was at that time the maximum pro- | portion met from state funds. In 1881, of the 6 states passing new pension laws. 2 provided for state participation in cost, one to the ex- tent of three-fourths and the other | the entire cost. Of the IT states now having such laws, 6 have the state-aid plan. 2 bearing one-third. 9 e-half, one three-fourths and one all the cost. :. | Most of the laws exclude certain classes from benefits, the most | common exclusions being persons support them, family deserters. habitual tramps and beggers. and inmates of certain public institu- tions. There are also certain prop. erty qualifications in most of the laws.
 Certain defects in some of the state laws are revealed by tho re- ports. Ono weakness Is the failure to specify means by whihc the adopting counties may raise the necessary funds. Tho outstandine | feature revealed. however. is the weakness of the "optionaF' law especially where no measure oi state aid is provided.
 Regardless of whether the law ls or is not mandatory, funds. must Dc forthcoming before pensions car
 be paid.
 Thc pension systems have mel
 with varying degrees of success n their acceptance by the people ol tho states.
 As regards per capita cost. th'
 lowest state average ln found iI Kentucky where, in ip50, old-ng' pensions Gin the two eounfiel
 which had the system in. opera tI0n) cost only { cents per lnhhbit nnf. Al thA other en1 0f JIG HcnIl