Evening star., 1935-01-17
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

President Roosevelt today sent to
Congress his social security program,
which has been heralded as the dawn
OF a great American plan.
In his message, the President urged
speedy enactment of the proposed
legislation to guard the men, women
and children of the Nation against
certain hazards and vicissitudes of
life"
He included today in his recon-
mendations for Legislation old-age
pensions, including compulsory and
voluntary annuities: unemployment
compensation; Federal aid to de-
pendent children, and additional Fed
eral aid to State and local public
health agencies and strengthening of
the Federal Public Health Service.
Health Insurance Missing.
The President did not at this time
include in his legislative program
health insurance. He said, however
that representatives of the medical
profession are cooperating with the
Government in the further study of
this kind of insurance.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the present pro-
gram of social security legislation
based on the report of his Committee
on Economic Security, will appeal to
the sound sense of the American peo-
pie" 1t is neither too ambitious nor
does it threaten in any way the ca
pacity of industry to assume financial
responsibilities. he said.
The President urged that three
principles should guide in social Sc
curity legislation. The system should
be self-sustaining. except for the
money necessary to initiate it in the
sense that the money required should
not come from the proceeds of gen.
eral taxation. The States, except in
the case of old age pensions, should be
left to care for the actual management
of these laws. For the protection of
the sound financial management of
the funds and reserves and the credit
structure of the Nation, Federal con-
troll should be maintained over all
funds through trustees in the United
States Treasury.
"Pay for Insecurity"
''The establishment of sound means
toward a greater future economic
security of the American people is
dictated by prudent consideration of
the hazards in our national life" said
the President. I'VE pay now for the
dreadful consequences of economic in
security-and dearly"
Almost at the same time Mr.. Roose-
welt was presenting the program, legis-
lation making effective important fea-
lures of the plan was introduced in
the Senate by Senator Wagner, Demo-
crat, of New York.
The Wagner bill, which is to be
known as the economic security act,
specifically provides systems of old
age pensions, unemployment insur-
ance, aid to dependent children. Fed
eral subsidies for maternal and child
health and for the promotion of public
health.
The old-age pensions, under the
administrations plan, will be paid to
those persons IS and over who have
not adequate means to support life
"in health and decency." The pen
sions, however, are not to exceed $50
a month and are to be made up of
both Federal and State contributions.
These contributions are to be made up
from taxes upon pay rolls, and come
eventually from the pockets of both
the employers and the workers.
Encourages State Laws.
The bill is designed to encourage
Nationwide enactment of compulsory
State unemployment insurance laws
by the exercise of the Federal taxing
power and the use of Federal subsidies
to the States.
The total authorizations of appro-
priation by the Federal Government
for these various forms of social in
surance and security during the fiscal
year 1886, under the Wagner bill, are
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