Evening star., 1935-08-14
D. c. SOCIAL BILLS
GIVEN FAVORABLE
REPORT IN SENATE
Committee Approves Many
Job Insurance Changes
Sought by City Heads.
HEARINGS PLANNED
ON TAX REvISIONS
Control of Bill Placed Under
Local Board and District Con.
tribution Eliminated.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.


The Senate District Committee to-
day ordered favorable reports on the
three local social security bills. after
granting most of the important
changes asked for by the Commls-
sioners in the unemployment insur-
ance plan.
Meanwhile, the District Commits
sioners planned tentatively to have
public hearings on proposed tax re-
visions to meet the cost of the Dis
trict social security program, esti-
mated at $1.8O0.000 a year.
Essential changes the Senate group
made In the unemployment bill are:
Struck out the requirement that the
District government pay a contribu-
ton in addition to the pay roll tax
Of employers. 1t had been estimated
this ultimately would have called for
at least 81 l,250,000 a year from tax
payers generally.
Local Board Provided.
Placed control Of the bill under a
local board instead of the National
Social Security Board. The board
would consist of the Commissioners
and two members representing en-
ployers and employees.
Having eliminated the District gov
ernment tax, the committee fixed the
period Of benefit payments to an un-
employed worker at is instead OF 26
weeks a year, which is in line with
trend of State laws and the national
bill.
In one respect the Senate group
gave the bill a wider scope by apply
ing the law and the pay roll tax to
all commercial employers Of "one or
more" persons.
This will make the District &C: one
Of the most far-reaching in the
country.
The House bill applied it to -four
or more" employees. Domestic serv-
ants are exempt. however.
The Senate bill would apply the
pay roll tax gradually at per cent
in 1896. per cent in 1887 and per
cent thereafter. whereas the House
bill applied the 3 per cent rate i'm
mediately.
Per Cent Maximum Provided.
The House bill permitted raising of
the tax as high as S per cent a year
after 1910 on employers with a poor
record for stabilizing work, but al
lowed no corresponding cut in the 3
per cent rate for a good record. The
Senate bill allows reduction to q min
imum Of "a per cent for a good record
and limits increase of the tax to q
maximum Of per cent.
The Senate bill starts benefit pay
ments after two years, instead of one
year. as In the House bill. The weekly
benef1t payments are the same as in
House, namely 40 per cent of average
weekly wage. plus 10 per cent for
dependent wife and per cent for a
child, but not more than SIS.
The other two social security bills
dealing with old age and blind pen
sions were reported out promptly with
a few changes. most of which are in
tended to conform to requirements in
national bill, so that the District will
be eligible to receive Federal grants,
as In the States, to match local pay
ments. The Federal Government will
pay d maximum of SIS a month per
person toward pensions for aged and
the blind, If the District pays that
amount, but the city Is free to add
to this $50 total If it desires.
King Asks for Reports.
Chairman King of the Senate COM
mittee asked the experts to prepare
reports this afternoon so that the
three security bills will be ready for
Senate action tomorrow They will
have to 60 back to the House in view
Of the changes.
In all, the Senate group today re-
ported favorably II bills and postponed
others until the next session. Those
approved included:
The House bill making a dozen
amendments in the District liquor
law, including a modified provision
giving the Commissioners discretion
ary power to require local retailers
to buy their stocks from local whole
salers.
The House bill setting up new
court procedure in handling appeals
from decisions of the Public Utilities
Commission.
Authorizing an exchange of park
lands near Western avenue and West
Beach drive. for other adjacent pri-
vate. land more suitable for park de-
velopment, still requires House action.
Defining the method by which the
Commissioners shall give notice to
property owners and other interested
parties, before filing suits in court