The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-09-06
SOCIAL SECURITY Law TO BENE.
FIT THIRTY MILLION

When President Roosevelt afixed
his signature to the Social Security
bill which finally reached him after
eight months. grinding in the Con-
gressional mill, he created law
which will eventually benefit nearly
80, 100000 needy people. Persons of
IS or over who are no longer capable
of earning a living and have no
means of support will be given aid,
men and women will be insured
against priods of unemployment, the
blind will be cared for, dependent
children will be provided for, and
public health will be guarded.
Mothers in financial need will be
given aid SO as to preserve their
health, funds will be provided for the
care and treatment Of crippled chill
dren, and other funds will be fur
nished for the vocational rehabilita-
ton of disabled persons. The new
law is the key stone of the New Deal
social reform and the President ex-
pressed his sentiments quite clearly
when informed of the bills final pas
sage by Congress. He declared 1t
was the best news he had received
from the Capitol in a long time.
Other prominent national figures re-
CARELESS of party also had many
words of praise for the act.
While the law will not begin its
long-term operation Immediately,
there will be an immediate appro-
priation of $95,OOO,O0O with which
work slated for the coming year will
be carried out. OF this appropria-
ton $49,75O,0OO will be used by the
federal government to render aid TO
those states which will pay pensions
to unmployable persons over IS
years of age The federal contribu-
tions to the states will be made on a
$3.50 basis, the federal government
matching what state gives, but the
governments share will not exceed
SIS month per person pensioned.
This makes the probable maximum
monthly payment to aged employ
ables $50. The $3.50 basis clause,
however, forces state to do its
share. If 1t fails then the federal
government will make no contribu-
ton whatever for this purpose.
Another $3,OOO,OOO has been set
aside to provide pensions for the
present year for the blind. 1t will
be ON the same $3.50 basis as is the
old-age pension and likewise the fed
eral government monthly share is
not to exceed SIS per person pen
stoned. Almost $25,OOO,0OO of the
total fund will go toward caring for
dependent children. For this pur-
pose, however the national govern
ment throws the bulk of the cost
upon the states, and each one must
spend two of its own dollars in order
to get one of the federal dollars.
The states and their political sub
divisions will also receive their allot-
ted share of 100000 to handle
special public health problems. An
other $3,8OO,0O0 will aid them to
care for maternal health, $3.50, 600
will be contributed for the care of
crippled children, $1,5OO,000 for
other child welfare work, and $841,-
900 will go toward the vocational
rehabilitation of disabled workers.
All the above mentioned expendi-
lures are to take place during the
current fiscal year. When the long
range machinery of the bill gets into
motion, old-age pensions in their
final form will be known and unem-
ployment insurance will become a
fact. Under the set-up of the act
and with the supervision of the
three-man Federal Social Security
Board funds for the payment of old
age annuities will be provided by
taxes upon the employer and the en-
ployee. These taxes will first start
in January, 1887, when one per cent
will be paid by both parties. The
tax will increase until 1949 when 1.
will reach three per cent, and there
lit will remain. Employees contri-
buting to this fund through taxation
but not retiring before January,
1912, shall receive monthly pensions
for the rest of their lives ranging
from $40 20 $S5 dependent upon
their earnings following the institu-
ton of the tax. Farm labor, dOmes-
tics, government employees, and
casual workers, however, will not be
included in this plan.
1t was concerning this section re-
garding old-age retirement that
much of the debate arose during the
bills trip through Congress. Sena-
tor Clark introduced an amendment
which provided for the preservation
of desirable pension plans now being