Evening star., 1934-04-18
WITNESSES CITE
AGE PENSION NEED
Sliding Scale of Payments,
With Maximum of $35
Advocated.

started taking testimony on penang
legislation. The hearing will be re-
sumed at 2:30 pm. tomorrow In the
committee room at the Capitol.
This opening session developed that
there are three provisions which, 1t
is generally felt, could well be incor-
porated in any legislation-a sliding
scale Of payments, governed by need,
with a monthly maximum OF prob
ably S35; minimum age Of IS for
eligibility and 10-year residence re-
quirement.
There are two bills on the subject
before the Senate, the Capper-Norton
and the Copeland-B Black measures.
The former provides for admins
tration by the District Commission
ers. 1t has the support of organized
labor. The latter vests administra-
Gcn in the Board of Public Welfare
sai is Supported by the Federation
OF Citizens Associations.
Douglas Sounds Warning.
A composite of the two has been
reported out to the House and Chair
man Norton of the District Committee
is hopeful of action Monday, although
Budget Director Douglas has advised
that it would conflict with the Presi-
dents economy program.
The House proposal calls for sliding
payments up to s35, puts the age re-
ouirement at IS and vests administra-
ton with the Commissioners.
There are some differences besides
those of administration in the bills
under consideration by the Senate
subcommittee, bu. 1t was brought out
yesterday that the conflict Of opinions
is on details rather than principles.
Senator Copeland, member of the
subcommittee, for example. made it
clear that he was receptive to any
changes in his bill that might be
deemed desirable, while William G..
flushing. legislative representative of
the American Federation of Labor, one
of the witnesses, explained that the
support of his organization for the
CapperNorton bill was not to b, con-
strued as fight on the other measure.
Says District Lags.
The first witness was Abraham Ep-
stein of New York, representing the
American Association for Social Sc
curity, who said the District is way
behind other States" in old-age pen
sion legislation, and added he had no
doubt that If the residents here were
enfranchised they would vote unani-
mously" for its application.
There now are % States having such
laws, Epstein said, and for 1875 900
persons on the rolls in 1893 the aver
age payment was SIG monthly. as COM
pared to a cost of $44 monthly for in
stitutional care
Mr.. Epstein said the establishment
OF these pensions did not mean that
new obligation was undertaken, as
the benefciaries were charges anyway,
in one form or another, whether on
private charity or families. The prin-
ciple is one, he said. of spreading the
cost of caring for this class.
In reply to a question by Senator
Reynolds. Democrat, Of North Caro-
lima, subcommittee chairman, Epstein
said only one State-Delaware-had
been able to do away with its poor
houses by reason of the pension sys-
TEN, age limits keeping many needy
from this form of benefit and neces-
stating their care in an institution
until they become eligible for pay
ments.
Favors IS Age Limit.
Epstein said he favored 65 as the
eligible age and s35 monthly as the
maximum payment. The payment to
be made where a couple is involved
could be left with the authority ad-
mlnlSterlnQ the law he felt
flushing told the subcommittee that
William Green, president of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, had drafted
the Capper-Norton bill and labor ac-
cordingly was for it. He opposed the
provision of the Copeland Black bill
which would allow the Board of Pub
lie Welfare to designate pension bene-
f1ciaries. believing 1t opened the way
to favoritism
Je1fur Magnusson, chairman of the
Citizens Committee on Old Age Sc
curity in the District of Columbia,
said that ultimately a pension law
would save $4,000 to $4,000 an
nually for the city, compared to pres
ent costs for caring for the needy.
He said there now are 702 inmates at
Blue Plains and estimated the an
nual cost for their maintenance at
$500 each.
Magnusson argued for flexible paw
ments, as did Miss Louise Mcclure.
representing the National Catholic
School for Social Work. Miss Mcclure
said there had been tremendous
increase in the number of welfare
wards here since 1929 because Of busi-
ness conditions.
Welfare Jurisdiction Supported.
Mrs. Elizabeth T. Sullivan. vice
president of the Federation of Citi-
zens Associations, argued for the
principle Of administration bv the
Board OF Public Welfare embodied in
the Copeland Black bill, explaining
that the federation believed this board
was more representative of the people
here than are the Commissioners.
She insisted. too. on the lO-year-
residence clause. telling Reynolds that
there, are too many transients" not
to apply a limit.
More than so citizens associations
have indorsed the old-age pension
principle, Mrs. Sullivan said, adding
the hope that this session of Con-
sress will not adjourn without action. ="
William w. Keeler, legislative chair
man for Central Labor Union with
10000 members, spoke for the Capper-
Norton bill, and said that labor all
over the country is in favor of old
age pensions
The last witness was Mrs. Richard
Hogue, secretary of the Citizens Com
mittee on Old-age Security, who urged
flexible payments, and emphasized
that the tendency here to reduce funds
for emergency relief made pensions
mandatory.
A number of other witnesses are to
be heard tomorrow. In addition to
Reynolds and Copeland, Senator Kean,
Republican of New Jersey, also sat
In on yesterdays hearing.
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