Evening star., 1934-04-20
PENSION REPORT
IS DUE IN 10 DAYS
Senate Subcommittee Ends
Hearings on Proposal
for D. c. Law.

With the solid backing of civic,
charitable and labor organizations in
the record, a Senate District SUBJ
committee holding hearing on pro-
posal to set up an old-age pension law
here will have a report ready for the
full District Committee within week
or 10 days.
This was made known yesterday
afternoon by Senator Reynolds, Demo-
crat, of North Carolina, subcom-
mittee chairman, after winding up
the hearing, which started Tuesday.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the House
is expected to act on the legislation,
which already has been favorably re-
ported out by the District Committee,
through Chairman Mary Norton.
AS the Senate hearing was con-
cluded, an Endorsement was received
from the District Commissioners, in
whose behalf w. H. Wahly, assistant
corporation counsel, appeared.
No Preference on Bills.
Mr.. Wahly said they Endorsed the
proposition in principle, and, in re-
ply to a query by Senator Reynolds
said that no preference had been ex-
pressed as between the two measures
-Capper-Norton and Copeland Black
pending in the Senate. The former
would vest administration of the pen
sion system in the Commissioners,
while the later would put it in the
hands of the Board of Public Welfare.
The two also differ on benefits and
other details. A composite measure
worked out in the House, leaves ad-
ministration with the Commissioners;
provides for sliding scale of benefits
with limit of $35 monthly, and
places the minimum age, for eligibility
at IS. These two latter points have
found general support from Senate
witnesses.
The first witness yesterday was
Sanford Bates, director of Federal
prisons, who appeared. however, in
his capacity as president of the Mon
day Evening Club. Mr.. Bates said
he desired to enter the Endorsement
of the club for the pension move, and
0Q6SCOICo pay
should not exceed $40.
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, a member of
the Committee on Old-Age Security,
who aided in drafting the legislation,
represented group of Jewish organi-
cations at the hearing, among the
number being the Washington section
of the National Council of Jewish
Women and the Jewish Community
Center, whose support she voiced.
Mrs. Gutenberg argued for a sliding
scale of payments.
Describes Pension System.
John H. Small, former member Of
Congress from North Carolina, who
is now a practicing attorney here
with a number of affiliations, includ-
ing Georgetown Citizens, Chamber Of
Commerce and Monday Evening Club,
described the. pension system, which
is designed to get away from the
principle Of institutional care, as "the
best method that the humane spirit
of Christian people has been able to
devise" for the care of the old and
needy. 1t Is a form of assistance,
he added, that it is the duty of
society" to provide.
Evan H. Tucker. president of the
Northeast Citizens Association and
representing that group and the As
sociated Charities, told Chairman
Reynolds, who alone conducted the
final hearing, that action at the
earliest possible date" is mandatory.
thn nnd
crowded, he said, and facilities for
comfortable care of its wards are
lacking, although, he emphasized in
this connection, the Board of Public
Welfare is administering that estab-
lishment to the best of ability.
Mr.. Tucker pointed out that either
the pension system must be applied
or additional institutional accom-
provided. The former, he
added, is the most economic, as
figures introduced at the hearing
have demonstrated, and, he declared,
it is more humanitarian.
w. S. Ufford, for years executive
secretary of the Associated Charities,
argued for the fexible-payment plan,
based on need. He described the
operation of relief payments on this
principle which had been carried out
by the Associated Charities. citing
one example where 1t had been pos
sible to aid one man by an expendi-
ture of IS monthly.
Praises Welfare Board.
He brought out that the pension
system often means that an old
couple who otherwise would be forced
to separate could be kept together.
He also praised the Board of Public
Welfare.
Fred A. Berlin of the National
Board of Trade argued for flexible
payments also. He recalled that Mr..
Small, in his testimony, had said the
average" person did not save for old
age, and, differing with him, said ne
knew of "at least 100" cases here
where elderly people have become
charges, not because they failed to
save, but because their investments
turned out badly.
Mrs. Laura M. Jones of the 1700
block of @ street also urged pensions
as a measure of aid to those who,
in. advancing years, have seen their
savings swept away.
Edward j. Roche Of Central Labor
Union reiterated support of that or
ganization for the Capper- Norton bill,
and w. A. Joyce, formerly a deputy
United States marshal, also urged