Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-12-20
WARNING ABOUT
OLDACEPENSION
LAWS IS OUT
Schemes To Defraud Aged Per-
sons In Maryland By False
Advertisements
HERBERT O'CONOR URGES
CITIZENS TO IGNORE SUCH

A warning was issued today by Her.
bert R. O'Conor, Attorney General of
Maryland, calling attention to report
ed schemes of promoters to defraud
aged persons in Maryland by mislead-
ing advertisements and solicitations
in connection with the Old Age Pen
sion Laws.
Numerous reports and complaints
have been made to the Attorney Gen.
eral that INSCRIPTIONS persons are
capitalizing the old age pension move
ment "by selling" worthless infor-
nation to elderly citizens of the
State. Mr.. O'Conor issued a general
warning to all citizens to beware of
these promoters and to obtain infor-
nation only from local relief agen-
cies of the county or city, in which
the interested person resides.
"It has come to my attention, Mr..
O'Conor said, that citizens in different
parts of the State have received solicit
tations for funds from persons who
assert they can furnish information
by which elderly people may obtain
old age pensions. These solicitations
generally come by mail from outside
the State. In some cases elderly
citizens of Maryland have actually
sent sums of money to these promot-
ers, asking for the information which
would help them. Naturally they
have heard nothing further from
these persns after they had sent off
their money.
81 earnestly urge the citizens Of
Maryland to ignore such solicitations
received through the mails from per-
sons who have little or nothing to
offer. The only proper way to OBJ
tain correct information about the old
age pensions is by application to the
County Welfare Boards of the Board
of State Aid and Charities. Under
the law passed by the last Legisla-
ture these county units are empow-
cred to administer public assistance
and general outdoor relief and service
to families and individuals in need
including the administration of re-
lief under the mothers assistance
law, the administration of old age
pension relief, the administration of
relief to the blind and other handi-
capped and needy, and the care of ne
elected dependent children which care
shall include the rendering of pro-
baton service to juvenile courts or
other courts having jurisdiction over
"The above quotation is found in
Section 8 (d) of Chapter $50 of the
Acts of 1885.
"Thus it will be noted that the only
official source for information or as
sistance in the counties of Maryland
is from the County Welfare Board,
whose services include not only old
age pension relief but other social
oC4 WIG 1ICoouAO0, IL WAlCI PLO-
vided lor by appropriation"
Mr.. O'Conor added that numerous
citizens in the counties had reported
that they had received printed matter
through the mails from a Midwestern
which stated that for the
sum of $.35 they would send addi-
tional information on how to obtain
an old age pension. Several persons
have sent in their $.35 but have heard
nothing further, Mr.. O'Conor stated.
He also added that National Organi-
cation operating out of Washington
is soliciting funds or memberships"
in this State in connection with old
age pension information. He stated
that it is not necessary for Maryland
ers to pay for this information mas
much as it may be obtained free of
charge, officially and authoritatively
from the local welfare unit.