Evening star., 1934-02-06
FIRST LADY URGES.
0LD-AGE PENSIONS.
Says People of Nation Look
Toward Capital to
Point the Way.

Pointing out the people of the Ma
ton look toward its Capital for model
legislation, even in purely local mat
ters, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt last
night made an emphatic appeal for
support of plans now pending for old
age security in the District.
Speaking at the February meet
ing of the Washington Chamber of
Commerce. in the Mayflower Hotel
Mrs. Roosevelt Endorsed the principle
of a pension system for aged persons
here, as provioed in the Black k-Cope-
land and Capper-Norton bills.
Urging legislation of the best that
can be had in the way of govern
ment." the First Lacy said:
We do not quite realize what the
things we do here in the way OF
citizenship and government mean to
the rest of the country. I have hao
SO many people write me and ask
what is done in the District about this
or that. I never realized how much
the people of the country look upon
the District as a shining example Cf
what the Federal Government can
do. They think anything here must
be quite perfect
Tells of Comments.
Mrs. Roosevelt. who has taken
much interest in the legislation, said
that since her talk on the subject
last month she had received several
letters commenting on various phases
of the plan.
"One point" she said, 'is that q
great many old people who would
receive a pension could take care
of themselves for quite a while, but
some of these people need more care
than that. Even if they live with
their children, they need the care
of a home The pension system vii
not remove the necessity of taking
care of old people who are i'll. either
in hospitals or in homes. But
do hope it will do away with tbs
poorhouse.
Il have known old men and ole
women to be very happy in homes
but they are either in endowed home:
or in homes where they pay some.
thing. There is a possibility that
an old. i'll couple may need the care
of a home and a pension besides"
The fear that persons may move
into the District from outside State.
to take advantage of the pension sys.
tenn was described by Mrs. Roosevelt
as mo valid argument against the
plan"
Predicts Safeguards.
II suppose there never is any new
thing proposed but that you can flne
some things about it that you car
be afraid of. I feel quite sure if il
is found that so many people wert
coming in and taking up residence
here, just in order to become old anc
receive the pension. We could devise
some means of protecting ourselves.
Mrs. Roosevelt stressed the impor'
tance of following up the legislation
once it is enacted.
You can have the best plan II
the world, but if it is administered
by incompetent people, it will no
work" she said. After the plan ha!
been approved, it is up to the socia
workers to carry out the job. Il
won't be successful unless you have
citizens who will follow it up and fol.
low it through.
by providing this legislation, We
help not only the old people but alse
young families. The cost of the care
is distributed among a great many
instead of a few children. who are
called upon to assume the burden
just at a time when they can i'll af-
ford to do so. Most young families
n
both ends meet. Nothing but bitter
ness and poor relationship results ir
homes where old people are forced
upon the young.
Sees Embittered Children.
Another thought is that one men,
ber of the family often cannot marry
because aged parents need help. That
person who gives up a life to father
and mother usually comes to middle
age a lonely and bitter person and
subsequently becomes a burden on
the community.
I'VE must see that once the legis-
lation is obtained, it is carried out
making for greater happiness for old
people, with young families growing
up unembittered by the burdens OF
supporting aged parents"
After Mrs. Roosevelt's talk, the
chamber adopted a resolution indors-
ing the principle of old-age security
for the District, but urging that the
age limit be fixed at no greater thar
IS years, and that 5-year residence
clause be inclued in the legislation.
The Charities Committee, Of which
Col. E. G. Bliss is chairman. presented
a report in which it urged that the
plan be operated under existing
agencies Of the Government; that
benefits BE- restricted to the really