The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-10
ACE PENSIONS
IN WISCONSIN
FACING DELAY
Counties Fail to Provide
Financing for System
Effective July |.


MADISON. Wis, June 10-Wis-
consin's economic security program
for all its aged, promised two years
before the birth Of President Roose-
velts New Deal, is scheduled TO go
into effect July l.
But whether the promise Of eco
nomic security for all persons in
Wisconsin over 70 years could be
fulfilled was problematical less than
a month before the plans scheduled
effectiveness.
More than half of the states II
counties. which would share the cost
with the state and city govern
ments. have made no provisions for
financing old age pensions.
$500, 900 Fund Asked
Governor Philip F. La Toilette
has asked the legislature for 100000
for the next two years TO cover the
states share of old age pensions.
This is part of a proposed $780,
900 increase in state expenditures
which the youthful executive pro-
poses to raise by increased levies on
chain stores, inheritances and utili-
ties. and b. plugging loopholes in
the states income tax law.
The old age pension law. passed
in 1881. was scheduled to become
effective July l, 1888, but the leg
islature of that yea postponed its
effectiveness until this year The
current legislature has indicated
that it again would postpone the
measure. if not for two years, at
least until counties can provide for
assistance.
Wisconsin has provided for old
age assistance since 1925, but not
on a statewide compulsory basis,
with counties. cities and the state
sharing the cost as the 1881 law
would compel.
Law FOiIs ChiseIers
After pioneering in workmen's
compensation and unemployment
insurance, Wisconsin in 1925 fol-
lowed the lead of Montana and
Nevada and passed voluntary sys-
TEN of old-age pensions which coun-
ties might elect to put into effect.
The 1925 legislature appropriated
100000 TO pay the states share.
One county came under the system
and the states share amounted to
$50 In 1888 eleven counties had
voluntarily provided for old-age pen
sionS and spent s395,806, while the
state appropriation had been re-
duced to provide only $4,000 more.
The 1881 law would make this
voluntary system compulsory and is
based on county administration ST.
pcrvised by the state board of con-
,rOl. It would provide benefits for
persons over 20 who are citizens of
the United States and have resided
in the state and in the county for
Is years Immediately preceding the
aid grant or otherwise qualify on a
basis which forecloses any chance of
migration to a county to obtain pen
sion benefits.
A pension might be granted a per-
son having up to $4,000 property, but
this might be taken over to insure
its application to the support of the
claimant. The law limits total in
come of a penSioner to 81 a day.
Several Changes Suggested
Pending in the legislature are
proposals to lower the pension age
requirements from 20 to 65 years, to
provide more than the 81 maximum
allowance, to raise the $4,000 prop
erty allowance to $4,000. and to re-
wise administrative features of the
law. These have been held in COM
mittee awaiting Federal action an
Old-age assistance.
The state in 1884 voted 531,9l5 to
l54,72 in favor of this compulsory
Old-age assistance plan, but many
legislators have indicated that it
would not become a reality until
1886 at the earliest although they
may permit it to go into effect