Evening star., 1935-08-15
MORE SOCIAL AID
ROOSEvELT'S AIM
President, Signing Security
Bill, Sees 1t Only as
Corner Stone.
BY tne Associated Press.

President Roosevelt. embarking the
Government on the New Deals vast
social security program. foresees fur
ther social and economic adjustments
to come.
When he signed the security bill
into law yesterday, amid formal cere-
mony, he said 1t was corner stone
In a structure which is being built,
but is BY no means complete"
The bill. which the President said
would apply to 10000, 900 persons, pro-
vides for contributory old-age pen
sions, Federal State pensions for the
aged needy, Federal-State unem-
ploym mt Insurance system, special
care for dependent children and
mothers. It contains a huge tax pro-
gram to raise the funds.
About 30 Pens Used.
Legislators and high officials sur
rounded the President In the cabinet
room as ne affixed his signature. He
spoke into sound cameras recording
the event. A secretary told newsmen
the President used about 80 pens" to
sign the bill so numerous requests
for souvenirs could be satisfied.
There was NJ definite indication to-
day as to when the President will ap-
point the board Of three members
which will administer certain phases
of the program.
Among those invited to yesterdays
ceremony were Secretary Of Labor
Perkins, Chairman Harrison of the
Senate Finance Committee, Senator
Wagner, Democrat. Of New York,
Chairman Doughton OF the House
Ways and Means Committee and Rep
resentative Lewis. Democrat, of Mary
land. The Presidents talk was brief.
The measure" he said. gives at
least some protection to 100000 Of
our citizens who will reap direct bene-
fits"
Makes Session Historic. He Says.
Declaring the bill would make this
session of Congress historic for all
time" he added:
I'VE can never insure 100 per cent
Of the population against 100 per cent
of the hazards and vicissitudes Of life,
but we have tried to frame a law
which win give some measure of pro-
lection to the average citizen and to
his family against the loss of a job
and against poverty-stricken old age.
This law, too, represents a corner
stone in structure which is being
built. but is by no means complete
structure intended to lessen the force
of possible future depressions, to act
as a protection to future administra-
tions of the Government against the
necessity Of going deeply into debt TO
furnish relief to the needy-a law to
flatten out the peaks and valleys Of
defation and of imitation"
Board Speculated Upon.
Before the vast law can swing into
operation, Mr.. Roosevelt must name
the board Of three members to admin
lister it. Many names have been men,
toned in speculation, including Edwin
A. Witte, secretary of the Presidents
commission which drew up the law:
Jacob .Billikopf, Philadelphia social
worker, and Miss Josephine Roche,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Here are the major provisions of the
bill. together with the taxes 1t will
impose:
Old-Age Pensions.
Employers and employees each will
pay per ut on the workers salary
u to $1,000 a year beginning in 1887.
The tax will increase "a per cent for
each every three years until it reaches
the max lum of 3 per cent each in
1949. Agriculture, domestic, casual,
governmental and charity workers are
excluded.
Beginning in 1912. the Govern
ment VII pay out of the fund ac-
cumulated by thee taxes pensions
ranging from $40 to s85 a month to
retired 'orkers IS years of age covered
by the plan. Pensions will be based
on total wages received during oper-
alton of tt law; - no one will be
eligible who has not worked part of
at least five years.
Eventually, 1t is est, ated the pen
sion plan will cover about $4,000, 900
workers, the taxes will amount to al
most $4,000, 100000 a year and the
fund will accumulate by 1880 nearly
s50,000, ,000,0 900.
Old-Age Grants.
To supplement the pension system,
the Government will offer, beginning
Immediately, grants up to SIS a
month, to be matched by the States,
for needy aged above 65 years. Similar
grants will be offered to needy blind
of all ages.
Unemployment Insurance.
Employers Of eight or more persons,
except agricultural, domestic, Gov
ernmental or charity workers, will be
subject to pay roll tax of per cent
on this years wages. The tax will be
Increased to per cent in 1897 and 3
per cent In 1898. Designed to en-
courage States to set up unemploy-
nlent reserve systems. 80 per cent of
the tax will be remitted to employers
who pay that much into State funds.
Benefits will be left to State law.
Millions of dollars will be appropri-
ated annually to be matched or tripled
by the States for aid to dependent
children, maternal and child health,
crippled children, child welfare. voca-