Evening star., 1934-03-09
50 congressman
PLEDGE HELP FOR
0LD-AGE PENSIONS
Will Support Enactment OF
Di|I.Connery and Wagner
Lewis Bills.
CAPPER PROMISES AID
IN SECURING PASSAGE
Other Speakers at Social Security
Dinner Favor Pending
Measure.

CO oCAdUolo anu
Representatives pledged their support
! to enactment of the Dill-Connery bill
for old-age pensions and the Wagner
Lewis bill for unemployed insurance
last night at a dinner given in the
Cosmos Club by the American Asso-
citation for Social Security.
Senator Dill of Washington, long a
leader in fight for old-age pen
sions, said: a.. costs less under this
scheme Of living among relatives or
in poor houses A realization that
the aged poor in the United States
must be cared for by some form OF
Government subsidy has brought the
theory of old-age pensions to the fore
in recent years"
The bill, which the Washington
Senator is sponsoring, would provide
that one-third Of the funds needed
for the care of the aged would be
paid by the Federal Government and
two-thirds by the States. The age at
which pensions would become active
under this bill is IS years. Approx
imately forty to fifty millions of dol
lars would be the total annual cost
and would provide comfortable liv-
ings for about one-half million per-
sons, it was explained.
Would Tax Manufacturers.
The Wagner-Lewis bill, of which
the Senator from New York has been
! an advocate during many sessions of
Congress. would provide an excise tax
on manufacturers. who would pay a
certain income each year to the Fed
eral Government, which amount
would be regulated by any existing
unemployed insurance agreements be-
tween manufacturers and States at
the time the Federal legislation be-
came effective. It was pointed out
that this form of insurance would be
a "leveling" influence since at this
time manufacturers in some States
are subject to such assessments, while
those in other States are not. As a
result. manufacturers claim they are
placed at an unfair trade disad-
vantage, when they are forced to pay
the tax and a manufacturer in q
nearby State does not
II feel certain the bill for old age
pensions will pass the Senate, for 81
States already are operating under
similar legislation, and Senators from
those States. I'm sure, will favor the
national bill," Senator Dill said in
conclusion.
Senator Capper said that as an en-
ployer OF thousands OF men, he was
firmly behind Senator Wagners un-
employed insurance bill The old age
pensions bill. the Kansas Senator
added, is needed legislation for the
Nation and for the District. II
pledge my support to securing the
passage of this legislation" he con-
cluded
Bishop Reviews Need.
Bishop James E. Freeman inspired
the meeting in brief review of the
need for this type of support.
Measures that have to do with
humanitarian interest meet today
with complete unanimity of opinion
and popularity among the peoples of
every country" he said. by reason
OF the pressure of recent events
human needs are receiving greater
sympathy. This legislation has no
political slant, but comes out of our
hearts, and there will be more of this
sort Of legislation in the days which
lie ahead" the bishop concluded.
Senator Wagner, in referring to his
Dill. said that 1t was piece of legis-
lation intended to supply a more as
sured and independent life for every
one.
obligation of Government to see
that workers and the general public
are protected for greater security is
needed, and will be assured by this
legislation" the New Yorker declared
only three years ago had intimate
friends accuse me Of socialism when
! proposed this legislation, while to-
day 1t Is being met with enthusiasm. "
the Senator added.
Senator Black of Alabama voiced a
further development in future legis-
lat1on when he said that at this time
he had refrained from introducing
. bill for national health insurance.
only because he feared that it might
endanger the possibility of the pas
sage Of the old age pensions and un-
employed insurance measures,
experience has proved that mil
lions OF people become unemployed
and burden under the present sys-
tenn" Senator Black said, "and I am
OF the belief that in future the ma
tlonal wealth will and must be used
Tor the people of the Nation,
More U. s. Aid Needed,
Il believe in the changing ideals.
The only way to assure economic sta
bility for every one is through more
Federal aid" the Alabaman said.
Representative Crosser of Ohio as
sured the members of Congress and
other guests that he would support
this legislation. but pleaded for th:m
to "look deeper" and to search .or
, the fundamentals behind this reme-
dial measure, and to try for curing
the evils at the root and not above
ground"
Senator Carey Of Wyoming said he
was very much interested and advo-
Gated passage of both legislative
measures.
Senator Bone of Washington de-
clared: I'VE must destroy some OF
the abuses which have made oui
civilization difficult. In fact, our
civilization stands indicted when we
realize that we have the most highly
industrialized machine in history and
yet our people are destitute and hun
CRY. We must give our people secur-
| ity. Poverty in old age in this day
Is ridiculous" he concluded.
Senator Frazier of North Dakota
said he believed that many people
never would be able to take care of
themselves, and that I'VE must take
care Of them through some assured
form Of income"
Prof. Paul Douglas Of the Univer-
sfty OF Chicago. author and lecturer
on economic subjects. said the new
Continued on Page 8, Column a.