Evening star., 1934-11-15
SOCIAL INSURANCE
.P[ANS MAY AWAIT
FULLER RECOVERY
President Indicates Delay
in 0ld.Age Pensions,
Health Benefits.
ECONOMIC SECURITY
GROUP HEARS VIEWS
Federal-State Job Protection Plan
to Be Included in Program
Given to Congress.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Roosevelt administration, In
concentrating on the job Of getting
"the economic system to function"
may allow certain of its vast plans
for social insurance to wait until
better times return.
This became clear today as OBJ
servers digested speech the Presi-
dent made late yesterday to delegates
of the National Conference on Eco
nomic Security.
In talking of the social security
program to be proposed to the next
Congress, the President definitely in
cluded q system of Federal-State un-
employment insurance, to be financed
by contributions.
Excessive Hopes Aroused.
But of old-age pensions he said:
II do not know whether this is the
time for any Federal legislation on
| old-age security. Organizations pro-
noting fantastic schemes have aroused
hopes which cannot possibly be full
filled.
Through their activities they have
increased the difficulties of getting
sound legislation, but hope that in
time we may be able to provide Sc
curity for the aged-a sound and Q
uniform system which will provide
true security"
Talking of insurance against sick
ness, he used the phrase soon or
later" indicating this, too, may 60
| over into the future.
I'VE cannot work miracles or solve
! all our problems at once" he said
at another point.
The tenor Of the remarks on old
age pensions and health insurance
was understood to be welcome to the
covery should come first and ire
construction" afterward. Many busi-
ness and banking leaders are ao-
herents Of this school.
| Peace Pact Cited.
To some students Of governmental
affairs, the Presidents latest speech
seemed further evidence that the
Government and the business COM
munfty are continuing to f1nd more
common ground In the attack or de-
preston. They pointed once more
to what has been called q peace
pact" ratified at the American Bank
ers' Association convention.
The Presidents statement that re-
lief and getting the economic system
to function" are the first tasks, turned
the spotlight on new plans that are
being worked out.
| Secretary Ickes, writing what many
consider significant article in the
current issue Of the magazine Today,
limited the P. w. A. may expand its
program enormously, spending many
more billions "in continued effort to
take men from relief and put them
into industry" Among the possibil-
/ ities he mentioned rural electriflca.
ton, elimination of grade crossings,
better housing, transcontinental
superhighway and flood control. Some
of them he conceived not as imrne-
diate projects but long-term posi-
bilities.
Work Division Can't Last.
mo one can reasonably contend"
said the p. w. A. chief, that the
standard of living in this country Is
so high that we can afford to require
the employed portion Of our people
permanently to support the unem.
ployed in idleness or require the en-
ployed portion permanently to divide
their work with the unemployed"
On unemployment insurance Presi-
dent Roosevelt told the several hun
dred students of social problems who
/ fhn rnvafarnnnn that ha ha
lieves the system should be "co-
operative Federal-State undertaking"
1T is important that the Federal
Government encourage States which
are ready to take this progressive
STEP" he said. 1T is no less import
ant that all unemployment insurance
reserve funds be held and invested by
the Federal Government, so that the
use of these funds as means Of sta
bilization may be maintained in CEN
tral management and employed on a
national basis"
For the administration of the funds.
he asserted, the States are the logical
units" Since State law will be needed
and most Legislatures will convene in
January, he urged the social workers
l
Contributions Necessary.
I'VE must not allow this type OF in
surance to become dole through the
mingling Of Insurance and relief" he
continued. "It is not charity. It must
be financed by contributions, not
taxes"
| Secretary of Labor Perkins ex-
planned later, however, that she did
not believe the Presidents statement
about contributions" was in conflict
with the Wagner-Lewis bill Of last
session, which provided for taxes on
pay rolls. Senator Wagner, Democrat,
Of New York, is working on q similar
plan for the next Congress.
She stressed that unemployment
insurance is not q "cure-all" and
that for present ills:
I'VE need work programs and we'll
conceived plans for economic rehabil-
itaNon. We need to revive the con-
struction and other durable goods in
dustries and to stimulate increased
production by private industry"
The social security discussions yes
terday developed many suggestions.
Mayor La Guardia Of New York pro-
posed that every State call q special
legislative session to amend the Con-
stitution in line with social planning
and stop all this whining aBbut un-
constitutionality." He demanded q
long-range program of unemployment
insurance, public works and direct re-
lief. He would have the p. w. A.
loans carry no interest.
Harry l.. Hopkins, Federal relief ad-
ministrator, called for "a bold stroke" !"
For the life Of me-" he said, "I
can't see why we should wait until
kingdom come to give security to the
workers Of America"