The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-04-26
SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION

which they stand ready to cooperate
in some degree with federal old-age
pensions legislation if it should be
enacted. Four states also have un-
employment insurance laws which
may or may not qualify for federal
assistance. In addition, all but
three states have mothers pensions
laws such as it is proposed to aid.
1t is upon such statutes as these
that the structure Of social security
must rest and through such state
systems that it must operate If 1t Is
| to be established under the Admins
.ration's economic security bill now
pending in Congress.
AS to unemployment insurance the
situation in the states is much less
advanced than in the case of old-age
pensions.
Until month ago, Wisconsin was
the only state in the Union to have
this form of insurance in operation,
and its system of individual employ
err reserves is disapproved by many
social workers and by the Ways and
Means Cimmittee version of the Sc
curity bill.
The quota of states having moth
ers' pensions law or financial aid for
dependent Children third form of
sustenance aimed at in the Economic
Security bills much more complete
than even the list in old-age pensions.
Although As states have laws of
this type, two of these are, in fact,
imperative, and in actual practice
the granting Of this aid depends
generally on local units Of govern
ment, counties or cities, and the
United States children's bureau esti-
mates that it is given In less than
half the localities empowered by law
to provide it.
State pensions, it is estimated, are
now paid to approximately 100000
persons in the United States, most
of them more than 70 years old.
Twenty-eight States had old-age
pension laws at the start of this year.
Since then, As State legislatures have
been in session and bills for State
old-age pensions were introduced in
every one except Idaho, where the
Townsend Plan was Endorsed.
Ten or more states which already
had pension laws have enacted
amendments 20 strengthen and ex-
tend their systems in expectation of
federal aid, most of them providing
new revenue or making their laws
statewide in application instead OF
depending ON counties. Wyoming,
Montana, Washington and Oregon
have acted in this direction, making
appropriations of from 100000 to
$40, oO0. 900.
Maryland has both applied sales
tax and made the system statewide.
New Jersey allotted inheritance taxes
to the pension fund.
It is estimated that approximately
100000 families with 28O.500 de-
pendent children are now bene6ting
from mothers, assistance under state
laws. The annual expenditure for
this aid is slightly over $37,000,000.
1t is thought that probably 2O0.-
600 more families now on public re-
lief rolls would be found on investi-
CATION to be of the type eligible for
aid which might with better grace be
given under the title of mothers
pensions-tha& is. families headed
by widowed. separated or divorced
mothers with dependent children
under 16 years old.
The highest average monthly
pension is paid in Maryland-$29.90.
Massachusetts ranks next with
s24.Ss. then New York. $22.16, and
the Territory Of Alaska, which pio-
neered this service. in 1915, follows
with payments averaging $20:S2.
The average for the nation as a
whole in states. giving pensions was
about $te-. in 1885,. shrfnking to
about $3.50 last year, according to
DR.. Edwin .E,witte. star director Of
the committee. on economic security.
Msny, OF: the. payments under state
old-ase7 pension laws have proved SO
far ODE similarly meager. Here
are the way. some of. the state aver
ages ran: Colorado, $3.50 per
month. Delaware. ss.7s; Indiana.
E$es1s; Michigan. $3.50; New Jersey.
saH.z2:
And in i've Of the states which
hare pension laws no pensions, pr