Evening star., 1935-04-18
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The Townsend old-age pension
administration economic security bill,
was showed under in the House to-
day, 206 to 56. 1t had been offered
in revised form by Representative
Monaghan, Democrat, of Montana
No record vote was taken, but the
standing vote effectually ended the
much-advertised drive for Townsend'S s
plan for this session.
Immediately after the defeat of the
amendment a proposal by Repre-
sentative Greenway, Democrat, of Ari-
zona, close friend of Mrs Roose-
welt, was taken up. Mrs. Greenway's
amendment provides for a more lib
eral Federal contribution for old-age
pensions, with a limit going as high
as $25 a month, to be supplemented
by a SIS contribution from the States.
Only 20 minutes of debate preceded
the ballot on the Townsend plan. the
first test Of administration strength
to prevent rewriting of its bill.
Administration Confident.
Administration leaders, supremely
confident of passing this measure in
form satisfactory to the President,
were perfectly willing for the show
down on the Townsend plan, as well
as on the Lundeen unemployment
insurance bill and other amendments
TO be proposed later today
AS offered by Monaghan, the Town
send plan called for old-age pension
ing to be paid out of special taxes.
None Of these pensions would exceed
5000 a month. 1t was estimated,
however, that the average pension
during the first year at all events
would be about $50 a month.
Monaghan said the Townsend
McGroarty bill had been revised at
the suggestion Of some of its friends
to meet objections raised by the Ways
and Means Committee. One point of
criticism, he said, had been that the
tax imposed would not raise the
amount of money needed to pay 5000
a month to all persons over go. This
point, he said, had been met in the
revised bill.
The Montanan said adoption of the
Townsend plan would be a long step
on the road to recovery, and argued it
would put men and women to work.
Chairman O'Connor of the House
Rules Committee twitted supporters
Of the Townsend and Lundeen bills
who had predicted that under the
special rule tor consideration of the
security bill their plan would he turned
down on a point of order.
Thought 1t Wide Open" Rule.
II thought this was a wide-open
rule" said O'Connor, but these gentle
men insisted they would not be able
to offer their amendment"
Unless some unforeseen coalition
proves effective, the bill, as revised by
the Ways and Means Committee, Is
expected to withstand all assaults in
the House.
With the % hours Of general de-
bate" allowed under the special rule
for consideration of the security bill
behind it, the House took up the
measure for amendment under the
5-minute rule.
Besides the Townsend and Lun-
deem proposals, amendments offered
to reduce or knock out the pay roll
taxes to support the old-age pension
and unemployment insurance features
of the bill will suffer defeat beyond
doubt, it was predicted. Republicans
in the House. while many of them look
with disfavor on these taxes and also
prefer to leave to the States this
matter of economic security legisla-
ton, will vote in considerable num-
bers for the passage of the bill. Rep
resentative Smell of New York, mi
nority leader, will be among those
supporting it when the final show
down comes.
The Republicans. meeting in party
caucus last night, were unable to
agree on any definite and united
course of action with regard to the
security bill. They are left to their
own devices.