Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-13
THE MINNESOTA OLD AGE
PENSION LAW
Editor Askov American:

Editor ASkOv American:
Back from my recent visit to Den
mark l heard that the Minnesota Leg
islature had adopted compulsory
old age pension law, but that Pine
county had rejected all applications
for pension, so | wrote secretary OF
state for a copy of that law.
After reading it | felt ashamed that
a civilized state, which l consider
narrow minded law Of course it is
better than nothing and no excuse
why Pine county should not take adj
vantage of the privilege given by the
legislature.
On my return | hear sc year old
Mr.. Mider, formerly of Pine City, has
been denied old age pension and is
now an inmate of our County farm.
And a few weeks ago 80 year old
Mrs. Mikelsen of Sandstone and Gron-
ingen was brought to the County
farm.
AS l found the conditions in Den
mark. a man or family can own about
the equal of $4,000 in a bank or other
wise dwelling on a lot and be en-
titled to old age pension from his
Goth year-a higher pension in the
cities than in the country. Besides
that | saw in several communities
fine, we'll equipped old peoples homes
with warden and nurse where old
age pensioners could elect to be
adopted and still retain a few dollars
monthly for personal wants. After
death their personal property reverts
to their children and relatives.
The attention the Townsend plan
clearly shows that the public mind
has been awakened to a duty toward
old people. The attention to the
Townsend plan l think lies in the
fact that under the present depres-
sion the majority of the working peo-
pie see the possibility of terminating
their lives on poor farm no matter
how honest and hard working they
might have been. l don't believe the
Townsend proposition is meant SER
iously but merely intended as a SUBJ
ject for discussion.
l have for many decades been in
favor of old age pension to every
honorable person regardless of wealth
or property to replace the present sys-
tenn under which the person collect
ing a high public salary wage gets
high pension and the person col
lecting lower salary gets a smaller
pension while those working hard to
keep the pantry supplied for the ma
ton be allowed to go to the poor farm.
l will submit a proposition for dis
cussion that l suppose will satisfy all
right thinking people who consider
themselves civilized.
Persons entitled to old age pensions:
1. Any person that has attained the
age of As years whether mil
liOnaire or a near pauper.
2. A citizen of the United States
for 10 years.
3. Resident in the state the last
five years.
4. Resident in the county the last
five years.
Exceptions:
1. Has not been convicted of any in
famous crime.
2. Not holding an office, public or
private, collecting salary more
than the double of the stipulated
pensions.
Cancellation: This old age pension
law cancels all other public pensions.
Proposed rate of pension: As years
of age. $40 per month; SO years of
age, $50 per month; and so forth an
addition of $40 per month for each
additional 5 years up to 80 years and
thereafter 500 a month. Perhaps
SO to $40 more a month in large
cities.
Revenue: 1870 from federal 2O%6
from state and $50 from county.
Why start a pension at As? Is
it not fact in general that nobody
can get a job in a factory when past
40 years.
Would it not be fair to include
any invalid unable to earn a decent
living, regardless of age to pension
Of at least $50 a month.
1 consider civilized society owes it's
old people an equal security in old
age that to my mind can not be at
tanned in any other way. Further
more such pensions would keep money
in circulation. The knowledge that
there will be just as much next month
and next year would help to absorb
all so-called overproduction.
LUDWIG MOSBEK.
Askov, Mimi, Dec. 10, 1884.