Evening star., 1935-01-14
SOCIAL SECURITY
HELD MAJOR TASK
Roosevelt Plans to Attack
Problem in Special Mes
sage This Week.
By the Associated Press.

oy thC hooOCidLGu 6lcSS.
Congress will come face to face with
its first majcr tasks this week, not
ably the problem of social security
which President Roosevelt plans to
attack in special message expected
to go to Capitol Hill within two or
three days.
Deluged with demands for the
Townsend plan for 5000 a month pen
sions to every one over go, legislators
were looking forward particularly to
hearing the White House ideas on old
age security.
One report In congressional circles
unconfirmed ct the White House-was
that monthly pension Of S48 for
eligible old folk might be the admin
istration's answer to the drive for
the Townsend plan. Another belief,
voiced with equal assurance, was that
the figure would be $50. The pension
age and the other rules for eligibility
also were subjects for varying con-
gressional forecasts.
The week will see two old contro-
versies renewed on Wednesday, the
House Ways and Means Committee
will meet to decide how fast it shall
handle the proposal to pay the ST.
l00,000,000 soldiers bonus immedi-
ately.
Mail Demand Heavy.
As for old-age pensions, veterans
on Capitol Hill say that never before
has the mail brought them such an
avalanche Of demands as 1t Is now
dumping into their offices on the
Townsend plan.
In view Of this, some legislators
are known to be anxious about the
consequences of supporting the ad-
ministration's much more conserva-
tive plan While the size Of pensions
the administration will seek has not
been confirmed from official sources,
it Is reported authoritatively that the
cost will be divided between the Fe-
deral and State Governments, prob
ably on a $3.50 basis.
Outlines of the administrations
plan for unemployment insurance were
more definite, with indications 1t
would conform closely to the general
plan embodied in the Wagner-Lewis
bill of last session.
This proposed a Federal pay roll
tax to be paid by all employers of
more than 10 wage earners. From
this payment employers could deduct
whatever they paid to an approved
State insurance fund.
Though the Wagner-Lewis bill called
for per cent tax, congressional
leaders understand the White House
may leave the exact figure to the de-
termination of the legislators.
Three Points Outlined.
When Chairman Doughton, Demo-
crat of North Carolina, calls his House
Ways and Means Committee to meet
in a round-table discussion of the
bonus Wednesday these points are ex-
pected to be considered:
/. Whether long or short hearings,
or any hearings at all, should be held.
Q. Whether the bill should be expe-
dited.
8. Whether a short delay might
enable presidential supporters to win
approval for a compromise bill.
The Constitution requires that the
bonus bill originate in the House. Ad-
ministration leaders there agree the
House would pass the Patman bill
calling for full and immediate pay
ment. They expect the Senate would
do likewise.
It is the contention of administra-
tion forces, however, that enough
strength could be mustered in the
Senate to uphold presidential veto.
To override q veto two-thirds are
required.
Democratic chiefs in the House ex-
press hope also that they might win
over more than one-third. The
House would ballot first on overrid-
ing veto.
Some leaders hope that a compro-
mise acceptable to the White House
and bonus advocates can be agreed
upon. More than dozen different
ways Of paying the bonus have been
proposed. However, none Of the vet
erans' organizations has agreed to
compromise.