Evening star., 1935-07-10
COPELAND FAVORS
BROAD JOB BILL
D. C. Unemployment Insur'
ance Along National
Lines Urged.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

A desire 10 WOTk OUT the DlSlrlcL
unemployment insurance bill along the
general lines of the national social
security program was expressed today
by Senator Copeland Democrat. OF
New York. chairman Of special Sem
ate subcommittee on the local security
bills.
He also indicated a belief that the
laws enacted by the States should be
considered in fixing the standards Of
the District law as he prepared to go
into conference during the day with
Representative Ellenbogen. Democrat,
of Pennsylvania. who sponsored the
unemployment bill in the House. The
conference also will be attended by
some of the social security experts with
whom Chairman King of the Senate
District Committee conferred last
week.
At the same time, conferees on the
national social security bill are in ses-
sion again this afternoon, striving to
adjust their remaining differences,
chief of which Is the Clark amend
ment Of the Senate bill to private re-
tirement plans in industry by exempt
ing them from the Federal contribu-
tory old-age insurance system II they
equal or exceed the Government plan.
National Measure.
Some of the changes the Commits
sioners and local organizations are
urging in the Ellenbogen local unem-
ployment bill are based on Senate
amendments to the national bill, so
that final agreement on the national
measure will open the way for definite
developments on the local bill.
Included in this class is the La
Toilette national amendment. which.
IL sustained in conference. would en-
able States and the District TO re-
duce the pay roll tax as credit to
those employers who stabilize employ
ment. The La Toilette amenament
also would enable a State to adopt
the separate company reserve pan If
they prefer that to the pooling Of
all employer .axes Under that sys-
tenn an employer could discontinue
tax payments during any period in
which he had an adequate reserve in
his own account. Tre local bill Is
based on the pooling of funds but
even under that sySt>H provision could
be made for lowering the tax when
employment is stabilized, II pending
amendments are adopted.
Features of the Bill.
The chief features of the Ellenbogen
bill, which 60 beyond the standards
of the national bill and the trend OF
State laws, are: Imposing the 3 per
cent pay roll tax at the start instead
Of in gradual steps; allowing rs weeks
of benefit payments instead Of is,
which would make 1t necessary for the
District government to raise about
$1,500,000 a year in new municipal
revenue to augment the pay roll tax;
starting benefit payments one year
after the law passes instead of two.
Modification of these and other fea-
lures has been asked for by the Com
missioners and local organizations.
Chairman King has decided to support
the Commissioners amendments when
the bill is ready to be reported.
Working with Senator Copeland on
the special subcommittee is Senator
Capper of Kansas, ranking minority
member of the District Committee.
The local old-age and blind pension
bills are virtually ready to be reported,
except for a decision as to whether to
insert a provision relating to the obli-
cation of relatives to contribute to the
support of blind persons If they are
financially able.