The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-10-10

H1gIs Of sentiment for a cautious
beginning OF cooperation In Minnesota
with the federal Social Security Art
sof AZ as old age pensions are con-
cerned are making their appearance.
This view was reflected In the tesIi-
mony before the Minnesota Interim
Tax Committee last week of former
state Senator George Norcilin of St
Pau, one Of the earliest advocates OF
old age pensions In Minnesota. Sen
ator Nordln, a liberal Of long standing
with the Farmer-Labor party. has made
an exhaustive study of old age pensions
and Is probably the foremost authority
n Minnesota upon the subject. During
the recent session Of Congress Senator
Nordlin gave advice and assistance
IN the preparation of the Social Secur-
1ty Act, frequently appearing before
the Ways and Means Committee of the
House.
Estimates Of the cost Of old age pen
ssons in Minnesota range from half
million to twenty millions. depending
upon the amount of benefits paid and
the age at which benefits begin, as
well as upon other factors. Senator
Nordlin told. the Interim Tax Com
mittee that 81 900 900 would be SUM-
Gent TO finance old age pensions IN
Minnesota under Thine Social Security
Act during 1896, and he strongly urged
that che Legislature should begin irs
application Of the act in a modest
way, feeling It's way toward the max
mum goal to be reached after some
years Of experience. In the opinion Of
Senator Norciin II will be impractical
70 use more than q million dollars Of
state money next year in beginning the
application of the Social Security Act.
Senator Nordlin testified to his be-
lief that the old age pension law en-
acted by the Minnesota Legislature last
winter, popularity regarded as defec-
tive because of omissions in engross-
meut, Is constitutional and workable,
and the amount appropriated, $1,000
o0O0 for the biennium, Is ample to ade-
quately initiate the law.
The Legislature Of 1893 enacted a
compulsory old age pension law. Never
sheiess that law Is being enforced In
only g counties of the state: Il coun-
ties are making no attempt to enforce
IL. In order to secure federal aid for
old age pensions an adequate old age
pension Law must be enforced IN every
county In the state.
Statistics for 1894 show that the aver
age old age pension paid In Minnesota
was gl250 per mon6h. The highest
paid was In wilkin county, $l958, and
the lowest In Dakota county, s. per
month.
In Hennepin and Ramsey counties,
the maximum old age pension is from
al to s23 per month. The average IN
Hennepin was tl45s for 1884, In RAM
sey. sl4.57, In St. Louis. sl525.
out of 10000 estimated to be eligible
IN Ramsey county under the present
Minnesota law, 1851 applied for a
pension, but only 1,l27 applications
were granted It Is estimated that ap-
proauu,ately 1856 900 are of old age pen
sion age under the present law and
sfla. but 5000 Of these are eligible un-
oeS the terms Of the act. To pay all OF
these a maximum of $50 per month
would cost nearly $20O00.000, Of which
the federal government, under the
terms Of the Social Security Act would
be assessed one half, the state one
quarter and the counties one-Quarter.
some moves have been made toward
Organizing game wardens IN Minnesota
e. members Of the American Federation
Of Labor. Under date OF September
18th A circular was sent out to en-
ployees Of the state highway depart
uent inviting them to participate IN
IN organization to embrace all high
way employees of every kind. The
general purpose, as stated In the ctrcu-
bar, q 70 cooperate with all economic
Rrorpe pledged to the retention and ex-
tension Of democratic social processes"
which high sounding phrase evidently
means whatever you, think it means
The specific purpose, however, Is the
organisation Of all highway employees
INTO an au-enbracing union. The cir
culsr vouchsafes the information, FUR
ther, that employees Of the central
once" have taken It upon themselves
70 nle . formal application TO the
American Federation Of Labor for q
feoera, charter under which all en-
pJoyees viii have equal representation
Ia one union
Extensive improvements TO the state
capitol, It's grounds and to the state
historical building are continuing UNI
der the direction, so far rs the state
d concerned, OF L. A. Johnson, custo-
dian Of the capitol. The cost Of thest
improvements win be $4,000, It Is es-
timsted, or more.
Capitol custodian Z. A. johnson Is
man Of wide experience In building
matters and appears to be particularly
Jealous to secure the largest value posi-
be to the state. The Legislature las
winter made q small appropriation fo'
materials. All labor Is furnished by
toe federal government, and Mr.. John
con Ia embracing the opportunity Il
secure repairs and betterments which
VIII put the capitol building In q mt
STATE Of repair for some years to come
One Of the most extensive OF the I'M
movements undertaken has been th'
lowering, Of the sllb-basement floor II
20 20 inches and the making over O
waste space In the endorsement 20
pureiy needed storage room.