Evening star., 1935-06-23
|PARLEY IS CALLED
| ON D. c. SECURITY
Copeland Promises Careful
Study of Social Bills
This Week.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

Conferees will meet early this week
to consider changes the Senate made
in the administrations social security
program, so Congress can complete ac-
ton and send the measure to the
White House.
Meanwhile. Senator Copeland, Dem
ocrat, of New York, chairman of
special subcommittee to handle local
social security bills which have al
ready passed the House, said yesterday
afternoon careful study would be given
to the local unemployment insurance
plan before it is presented to the Sen
ate. No date has been set for a sub
committee meeting, but it may be be-
fore the end of this week.
Pension Accord Assured.
Indications are there will not be
much discussion necessary on the
old-age pension measure. which was
before the House and Senate Commit
tees a year ago. 1t would enable the
District to share in the grants the
Federal Government will make for as
sistance to needy persons 65 years or
over.
One of the questions remaining to
be settled by the confereeS on the
national bill has a bearing on the
local unemployment insurance meas
ure. 1t is the La Toilette amendment
by which the Senate voted to allow
States more latitude in the type OF
insurance fund to be adopted, and
to seek to stabilize employment by
giving employers credit in the form
of a lower contribution when they
show a good record for keeping men
steadily at work. The Senate also
voted to let States adopt the separate
company reserve account method of
handling unemployment funds. if they
preferred that to the system which
places contributions of all employers
in pool.
Basic Rate Mixed Up.
The local bill, as passed by the
House, retains the system OF pooling
the risks. While it was intended as
it came from the House Committee
to raise or lower the tax according
to the employment record of the
employer, as it passed the House, it
provides for an increase in the tax
from 3 per cent to per cent where
there is high rate Of unemployment,
without allowing for any reduction
below the basic 3 per cent tax when
the employer has favorable record
for stabili1ng employment. The
House. however, made this change in
the local bill before the Senate had
amended the national bill to allow
credit for stabilizing employment.
Another important issue facing the
conferees on the national bill is the
Clark amendment to the Federal con-
tributory old-age annuity plan. The
Clark amendment would allow the
Social Security Board to exempt in
dustries from this Federal system, if
they operate private retirement plans
equal to or better than the Federal
system. This old-age annuity sec
ton of the bill is intended to cover
those employed in industry.
Federal Tax Provided.
~ ID W NC n6L Dy ECOCA dA ldA
on employees and employers and does
not call for local legislation. The
Clark amendment to this Federal an
nuity system was adopted in the Sen
ate by a decisive vote. The Federal
annuity system has no direct con-
nection with the old-age pension leg
islation that is pending in the States
is intended to match Federal grants
to aged needy persons. Originally |
these Federal grants were to be paid
only if State made corresponding !
payment. If the conferees retain a
Senate amendment, however, the Fed
eral grants could also be made during |
the next two years to approximately |
Is States which have not yet en-
acted their local laws.