Evening star., 1934-10-07
BY HAL HAZELRIGG.
THE old-age pension debate that
has surged hotly for rs years
on the platform and in legis-
Il latiYe committee promises


TINE old-age pension debate that
has surged hotly for Is years
on the platform and in legis-
l. lative committee, promises
finally to boil over as a lead
ing national issue. Close on President
Roosevelt's radio "fireside chat" in
which he applauded England's social
security system, it was reported that
his Committee on Economic Security
seeks an age pension plan similar to
the British, or at least one equally
workable Hence the report Of this
committee, now due, will provide the
first test OF the long-heralded social
legislation" program.
The sequel to technocracy might
easily rise from the tide of contro-
versy, If the proposed legislation does
not evolve a sound plan. Social well
fare experts regard with cold horror
the nostrum suggested for the null
tiple fractures and abrasions in
f1icted by depression. But there have
been more cure-alls compounded for
age dependency, perhaps, than for any
other ailment arising from the world
crisis.
Even now the "old-age revolving
pension plan" is rolling toward the
East, pushed by a group of Califor-
mans bent on a 100000 member
ship before they present it to Con-
gress. Their panacea, for which they
already claim 1000, 900 hackers, would
give 5000 month to every one over
so years Of age. 1t would be financed
by a sales tax. They plan to form
$4,000 units in various cities and
communities, which would petition
Congress separately.
Other Plans Considered.
This is an extreme example, but
is taken seriously in California S
political campaign, and other pen
sion systems Of equally doubtful ac-
tuarial soundness have been conSid-
cred.
Meantime, at Washington, the eco
nomic committee, composed of F. E.
r. A. Administrator Harry L. Hopkins.
and Secretaries Perkins, Ickes and
Morgenthau, deliberate on their tech
nical boards reports about an old-age
pension system that the Federal agen-
cies might support before Congress.
Whatever the merits of the vari-
Gus proposals, 1t is conceded that the
problem Of caring for the old and
destitute is rapidly nearing a crisis.
Science has heightened the period Of
old age. A higher-geared industrial
life has at the same time tragically
curtailed the employment years. In
1840. the average span Of life was
80 years. Today it is nearly so, an
increase Of about 100 per cent In
1870 there were 100000 persons
more than IS years of age, in 1880
there were nearly 100000.
The skill and experience Of the
older worker matches poorly with the
new rule of specialization in in
dustry which requires specific training.
Few Of the aged who are gainfully
employed. statistics show. derive
their livelihood from industrial or
mechanical pursuits. These prob
lens naturally have become highly
aggravated during the depression
years.
Change in Family.
Also the family unit has changed
with the change in civilization. Pre-
viously there we're fewer apartment
dwellers. and families had big houses
in which the elderly could find a
corner. Properties were larger and
the old folks could perform some use
full chore, such as caretaking or
watching the children, to make a
place for themselves.
The hope brought by an added
expectancy of life is largely driven
out by the specter Of age without
money. Students of old-age security