Evening star., 1935-03-05
Secretary Perkins Gives
Support at EIIenbogen
Measure Hearing.
PRESIDENT COMMITTEE
URGES SECURITY BOARD
DR.. Edwin E. Witte Also Approves
Plan as Representative Wood
Voices Criticism.

Approval of the idea Of making the
District Of Columbia test tube for
the Nation in regard to administration
of unemployment compensation legis-
lation was voiced this morning as sew
eral witnesses testified before House
committee in support of the Ellenbo-
gen measure.
Secretary of Labor Perkins, third
witness to take the stand, expressed
her general approval of the bill, point
ing with particular favor to the ad-
ministrative set-up.
Il am glad" she said, that the bill
before you places the administration
of the District of Columbia law in a
Social Security Board to be set up as
part of the United States Government
itself.
Functions of Board.
"The creation of such a board has
been recommended by the Presidents
Committee to perform a variety Of
functions in connection with social
security. Among these fuctions would
be q checking-up on the adminlstra-
ton Of local and unemployment laws.
It would be helpful to the COM
mittee to have such first-hand con-
tact as this bill would provide.
The relatively small size Of the
District makes it particularly fitted
for this purpose. The board would
find it possible without being unduly
burdened to administer this bill in
the District. thereby gaining intimate
knowledge Of the many administrative
problems connected with this field"
Miss Perkins advised the committee
that the District plan would not in
clude employees contributions. Rather
she favored placing the bulk Of the
burden on the employers as provided
in the present measure.
Miss Perkins was preceded by DR..
Edwin E. WHITE, executive director OF
the Presidents Committee. DR.. Witte
also expressed approval in general
way Of the Ellenbogen bill, and made
the same point that employees should
not be asked to contribute. Actually.
he said, the cost of much complica-
tions of such compensation will be
placed on the consuming public. The
employees will contribute as part of
this group. he said.
Only Controversy.
The only controversy of the hear
Ing was initiated by Representative
Wood, Democrat, of Missouri, in criti-
cizing the proposed advisory council
set-up.
We've had experience with these
advisory bodies," he said, much to
our regret.
Most Of them give little advice,
and when they do 1t is not taken. 1t
is my opinion that such a body should
be set up Of employers and employees
representation"
DR.. Witte, who returned to the
stand at this point, disagreed with
the Representative, and considerable
debate followed. The doctor con-
tinued, contending that partisan
boards have proved successful.
Merriel Murray, consultant of the
committee. took the stand to analyze
the present bill. reviewing it by sec
tions. He told how its operation would
affect $4,000 workers now in the Dis
trict.
Three members of the Monday Eve
ming Club took the stand briefly to
ask questions about the measure.
These were Walter S. Ufford, Herbert
Wood and Mrs. Richard Hogue.
Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Pret-
lyman attended the hearing and said
that ne expected the views of the
District Commissioners would be ready
for presentation before the hearings
are ended. 1t was announced that
Elwood Street, director of public well
fare for the District, is scheduled to
appear before the committee on
Thursday morning.