Evening star., 1935-08-04
SOCIAL SECURITY
PLAN IS SPEEDED
Final Agreement in Prospect
as Congress Seeks Ad-
journment.
BY j. A. O'LEARY.

BY J. A. O'LEARY.
A final agreement b. confarees on
the administrations social security
program is in prospect as one of the
highlights Of busy week on Capitol
Hill, with congressional leaders slated
to push ahead In their effort to bring
about adjournment somewhere be-
tween August II and 49,
There is every indication that when
House and Senate conferees on the
security bill meet again Thursday,
they will come to some conclusion on
the Clark private pension amend
ment. the one issue remaining to be
settled before that far reaching meas
ure goes to President Roosevelt for
signature.
Passage Of the national bill will
be the signal for Chairman King of
the Senate District Committee to
seek action on the three bills de-
signed to put the social security pro-
gram into operation in Washington.
Amendment Speed Planned.
Senator King has had legislative
drafting experts going over the local
bills as they came from the House.
so no time will be lost in acting on
proposed amendments and reporting
them to the Senate as soon as the
national measure is completed.
Meanwhile, the Senate will devote
itself early In the week to the con-
ference report on the $500, 900, 900
second deficiency supply bill and the
measure to give the Government
broader power to fix wages and hours
OF industries making contracts with
the Government either for construc-
ton or the furnishing OF materials
and supplies. If it passes the Senate,
however, this bill will still have to
go to the House.
When the Senate reconvenes tomor-
row. it will still have before 1t the
controversial bill for revision OF the
copyright Law.
Senate May Get Tax Bill Soon.
With the administration tax bill
due to reach final vote in the House
tomorrow, the Senate Finance Com
mittee probably will try to get the
measure before the-Senate by Thurs
day. 1t is probable that, once .ke
tax bill is ready, the Senate will con-
centrate on it, since the length of
debate on the tax issue Is the key to
adjournment.
There are conference reports to &c
considered on a number Of major
issues. such as the A. A. A. amend
mentS, the banking bill, changes in
the T. V. A. law and social security.
These reports. however, usually are
disposed Of promptly, once the con-
ferees reach a settlement.
Two other bills remaining to be
considered by the Senate before they
can go to conference are the new
Federal alcohol control measure. and
the bill to outlaw suits by private
citizens for payment of any Govern
ment bonds.
Private Security Plans Defended.
Experts on the social security pro-
gram are trying to devise some plan
that would preserve private retire
ment plans, and at the same time
meet some Of the objections of ad-
miniStration leaders who have been
opposing exemption Of private plans
from the Federal contributory old
age insurance system.
Whether House conferees, who have
Joined with the President in opposing
the Clark amendment, will agree to
q compromise will not be definitely
known until Thursday. There is.
however. Strone sentiment in the SEN
ate in favor of safeguarding the prog
ress which many industries have MADE
in building up voluntary pension sys-
TENS for theil employees. And, if
the bill comes back to the Senate
with the Clark amendment eliminated.
supporters Of that amendment prob
ably will seek another test OF strength
by asking for a roll call vote on the
question.
Advocates of the amendment say
they are trying to safeguard the
status of about 100000 employees
already covered by private retirement
plans. The amendment would allow
the Social Security Board to exempt
from the Federal pay roll taxes any
industry Iha, operates q private re-
tirement plap equal to or better than
the Government plan.
Pension Bills Revised.
II the conferees are unable to reach
q compromise on the question, 1t is
expected administration leaders will
suggest the appointment Of House
and Senate subcommittee to work
out some solution Of the Clark amend
ment before the next session Of Con-
greSs conveney.
As to the District security program,
the old-age pension and blind pension
bills already have been revised to
conform to tie standards laid down
in the national bill as necessary If
Federal aid is to be received in pay
ing these pensions. On the unemploy-
ment insurance bill, the District Com
mittee has before it for decision
series Of amendments urged by the
Commissioners and local organizations
to bring the House bill into conformity
with the national bill and with the
general trend Of State laws enacted
thus far.