The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-30
PENSIONS FOR
AGED SOUGHT
IN HOUSE BILL
Mandatory System Called
For, to Carry Out
Party Pledge.
PROVIDES FOR REVENUE
Tobacco Tax Would Raise
Money Needed to Care
for Applicants.
BY CHARLES c. STONE

Establishment of a mandatory old
age pension system for Indiana,
carrying out Democratic platform
pledge, is provided in a bill intro
duced in the house today by Repre-
sentative William j. Black Dem,
Anderson. The plan would be eff
fective Jan. l, 1884
Pensions would he paid to persons
IS or older, with regard to financial
circumstances, but in no event to
exceed $25 a month
Black introduced a companion,
revenue raising measure designed
to derive $3OO0,O0O from tobacco
fees
1t calls for a 1-cent tax on every
ten cigarets sold and 10 per cent
fee on all additional tobacco
products sold. Funds thus derived
would go into the states fund for
meeting pension costs.
Would Tax Wholesalers
The other provisions would charge
wholesalers 500 a year license fee
and retailers $25 annually. Fees
raised in this manner would be paid
into the counties 10 uphold their
share Of the pension costs.
The bill has the Endorsement of
the Fraternal Order of Eagles,
pioneer advocate Of pensioning the
aged, according to Otto p. Deluse
OF indianapolis, chairman of the
orders Indiana old age pension
commission and former national
president Of the Eagles.
An old-age pension system must
be mandatory to work properly,
Deluse declared in reference to re-
ports that an optional plan, with
counties as units, had been consid-
cred.
Among the seventeen states hav-
ing pension systems the operation Is
most successful where the system is
mandatory. An optional plan means
that instead of bread we hand the
old people stones. We can keep
faith only with law that is state
wide in application" ,
Black holds the same view.
Should Apply to All
If the principle of pensioning the
aged is right, it should apply to all
counties" he declared.
The bill in the present form meets
with the approval James j. Nejdl of
Whiting, who, as a state senator, was
an old age pension advocate in sew
eral sessions of the assembly. He
ended long career in the senate
during the special session last sum-
mer.
A pension bill. championed by
Neidl in the 1881 session Of the
legislature, was vetoed by former
Governor Harry c. Leslie, who APP
peared in the senate and read his
message of disapproval.
Exclusive control and administra-
ton of pensions is vested in the
commissioners of each county In
vestigation of applications Tor pen
sions is provided for and penalties
for false statements or other fraud
are set out.
Applicants must be citizens of the
United States for at least fifteen
years and residents of state and
county for fifteen years and not in
mates of any Jail, workhouse or
prison. No persons convicted of a
felony within five years of applica-
ton shall be pensioned.
BeggarS Are Barred
Persons who three years prior to
application have been habitual
tramps or beggars, or have children
or other relatives responsible for
their support, shall be pensioned
Transfer of any property of a
penSioned person to the county is
provided for, and on the death of
the person the property shall revert
to the county and state in proper
ton to the amount each has con-
tributed to the total pension.
While pension is in effect the
recipient shall not receive aid from
any other source, excepting surgical
medical and hospital service, and
provisions are made for revocation
or modification of payments.
Pensioners shall file such reports
rs commissioners may stipulate and
the officials are empowered to pub
lish such information regarding pen
sionS as will acquaint the aged resi-
dents of their counties with the
system.
1t is stated specifically that the
pension system will not relieve any
person of the responsibility of sup
porting a parent as provided in laws