Evening star., 1935-02-26
SECURITY HAILED
BY MISS PERKINS
Tells Radio Audience New
Deal Plan Not Copied
From Europe.

ress toward the better-ordered So
ciety,' Secretary of Labor Frances
Perkins said last night in a speech in
the National Radio Forum, arranged
by The Star and broadcast over a
Nationwide hook-up of the National
Broadcasting Co.
Miss Perkins, who, as chairman of
the Presidents Committee on Eco
nomic Security, has played leading
role in the drafting of the pending
legislation dealing with unemployment
insurance and other phases of eco
nomic security, expressed the opinion
that the program Is the result of care
full study and conscientious delibera-
ton" such as is given few legislative
proposals.
Denies Europe Copied.
Although the United States, in deal
ing with solution of the problems of
economic security, is following Euro
pean countries, Miss Perkins said, this
country is not slavishly copying the
European models. It is departing from
precedent where it is necessary to pro-
vide a plan which may be welded into
our economic and social structure, she
declared.
She admitted the measures now
pending do not by any means provide
a complete and permanent solution of
our difficulties"
IF put into effect, however" she
said, they will provide a greater de-
gree of security for the American citi-
zen and his family than he has here
tofore known"
The speaker struck blow at what
she termed impossible hair Drained
schemes for providing for the aged"
These plans, she said, have attracted
misguided supporters" In outlining
the administration pension program.
she said there is no bar that would
keep payments below $50 month and
that progressive States may find it
possible to pay more.
Full Text of Address.
The text of Secretary Perkins
speech follows:
have been asked to speak to you
tonight on the administrations pro-
gram for economic security which is
now, as you know, before Congress.
It seems to me that few legislative
proposals have had as careful study,
as thorough and conscientious delib-
Grafton as went into the preparation
of these measures. The program now
under consideration represents, I be-
lieve, q most significant step in our
National development, milestone in
our progress toward the better -ordered
society.
AS look back on the tragic years
since 1929, it seems to me that We as
q Nation, not unlike some individuals,
have been able to pass through bit
ter experience to emerge with new
found insight and maturity. We have
had the courage to face our prob
lens and find way out The needless
optimism of the boom years is past.
We now stand ready to build the fu-
ture with sanity and wisdom.
The process of recovery is not a
simple one. We cannot be satisfied
merely with makeshift arrangements
which will tide us over the present
emergencies. We must devise plans
that will not merely alleviate the ills
of today, but will prevent, as far as it
Is humanity possible to do so. their
recurrence in the future. The task of
recovery is inseparable from the
fundamental task of social reconstruc-
ton.
Roosevelt's Aims Cited.
Among the objectives Of that re-
Droci[ay,f D@Ncauo1f IN,
his message of June 8, 1884, to the
Congress placed "the security of the
men, women and children of the Ma
ton first" He went on to suggest
the social assurances with which Eu-
ropean countries have had long and
favorable experience as one means of
providing safeguards against "misfor-
tunes which cannot be wholly elm
mated in this man-made world OF
ours"
Subsequent to this message he Gre
ated the Committee on Economic Sc
curity, of which I have the honor to
be the chairman, to make recon-
mendations to him with regard to
these problems. The recommendations
of that committee are embodied in
the economic security BILL now pend
ing in Congress. The measures we
propose do not by any means provide
q complete and permanent solution of
our difficulties. If put into effect,
however, they will provide a greater
degree Of security for the American
citizen and his family than he has
heretofore known. The bill is, I be-
lieve, a sound beginning on which we
can build by degrees to our ultimate
goal.
We cannot hope to accomplish all
IN one bold stroke. To begin too am
bitiously in the program of social
security might very well result in
errors which would entirely discredit
this very necessary type of legisla-
ton. 1t is not amiss to note here
that social legislation in European
countries, begun some Is years ago,
Is still In a developmental state and
has been subjected to numerous
changes as experience and changing
conditions dictated.
Reasons for Delay Given.
It may come as a surprise to many
OF us that we in this country should
be 50 far behind Europe in providing
our citizens with those safeguards
which assure a decent standard of liy-
ing in both good times and bad, but
the reasons are not far to seek. We
EDUCATIONAL.
EDITORIAL CLERK