The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-02-21


mendations made by
President Roosevelt; consequently our
principal hope for any success was
through his sanction and approval of
our plea for substantial increase in
the allotment provided in his bill. The
committee appointed consisted OF the
following members: Connery Crosser,
Dunn, Hoeppel, Kenney, Kpppleman,
Maloney, McGrath, McGroarty, Pierce,
Scrug1fam, Sweeney, and White.
For one and one-half hours we bat
tied with the chief executive stated in
part as follows; "All desire a pension
system that will have the threefold
effect of insuring, if | may quote your
message Of last spring to the congress,
The security of the home, security of
livelihood, and security against old are
These standards of security require the
establishment, to put it positively, of
a system adequate to maintain a man
in his home. an independent and free
agent. 1t is the conviction of this group
that the Lewis bill, which the nation
looks upon as your bill. is inadequate
to provide for these minimum features
In addition, provision without which
no pension can be complete success
is lacking, that is, failure to provide
a pension sufficiently high to encourage
older men to leave employment, there
by creating opportunity for youth or
middle age. The cause of unemploy-
ment cannot be aided by your bill as
it now stands. Frankly, we would like
to see a pension that would permit a
man to retire and continue his exist
ence with a reasonable degree of com
fort. Whether man can exist with
out series impairment to his health on
the sum provided in your bill is ex-
tremelv doubtful; and it is certain that
his well-being will not be improved by
the knowledge that after his death his
home will be sold to liquidate the pit
fences paid him during his declining
years"
The President was adamant in his
contention that the finances of the gov
eminent would not stand an increase.
His MAGNETIC personality convinced
many of the congressman, and his
argument so appealed to them that they
suggested that he take to the radio
in one Of his fireside chats.
EmeFaing from the oval room where
! the conference was held. we were IN
iervewed by a score of newspaper men.
/ / told them we intended to insist upon
an adequate pension during this ses-
sion and to take every means possible
| to attain it.
The ways and means committee re-
opened its hearings to DR. Robert r
Doane, who has been heralded as the
Moses who would lead the Townsend
| ties out of the statistical and financial
4 wilderness. DR.. Doane's listed educa-
ton reads like. directory Of higher
educational institutions, and his ex-
perience ranges from financial staff
member of the New York Times t
statistical advisory cons1ltant, United
States department. of commerce. Hi:
testimony indicated that at the presen'
moment, even with general trans
action tax. only a $500 a month pen
sion would be possible. In view of hi.
testimony, | urged meeting of thu
Townsend forces to discuss ACCESSIBILITY
Of their getting behind the figure which
their own statistician advances. Th'
meeting was held "Wednesday, DR.
Townsend as well as the district man
ayers of the Townsend clubs beini
present. and this proposal was discussed
at length. Baked in the house by pre-
vailing rules and parliamentary pro
cedure, we decided the fight should b.
carried forward in the senate, sine
senators have far more parliamentary
power and leeway.
The highest possible benefit shoult
be paid to the aged Of this country
Such is the only means of accomplish