The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-08
Townsend May Be Choice
of McNutt for Governor;
March Session Indicated
Committee Named to Lay
Groundwork for Social
Security Bills.

Indiana's much-discussed special
session of the General Assembly
probably will be called for March
2 or March 9, it was indicated to-
day following Gov. McNutt's action
in appointing joint legislative
committee from the House and
Senate to prepare social security
legislation.
The Governors committee ap-
pointnents came yesterday after
Congress passed the delayed def
cheney appropriations bill which
provides for Federal aid to states
which accept terms of the Federal
social security program.
Date of the session will depend
in part, Gov McNutt indicated, on
the speed with which the special
committee prepares the contem-
plated legislation. Senator Walter
Chambers, Newcastle publisher, has
been chosen as chairman of the
joint committee.
$5,O00,00O First Year Cost
Gov. McNutt said, however, that
| the session would be held before
May so it will not conflict with the
primary and party congratulations.
Informed persons at the Statehouse
said the most likely dates are the
first or second week in March.
First year of Indiana's participa-
ton in the social security program
is expected to cost the state approx
imately 100000 in excess of its
present bill. The largest item in
the financing is the increased old
age pension made possible by the
Federal governments willingness to
match state pensions up to SIS a
month.
It will be necessary for the spe-
cial session to pass a number of en-
abling acts to coincide with the
model Federal legislation. The old
age pension law will have to be re-
vised to provide either state admin
istration or state supervision of all
counties.
Tax Law May Be Changed
Indiana now grants pensions up
to SIS a month to persons 10 or
older, half Of which is paid by the
state and half by the county. The
Federal legislation permits a maxi
mum of $50 a month on a matching
basis.
Other steps necessary will be en-
actment of an unemployment in
surance system, revision of the
present mothers aid law and
changes in the blind pension, care
of crippled children and child well
fare laws.
Another probable action is revi-
sion of some provisions of the gross
income tax law in order to bring
under the law certain businesses
which have been able to evade pay
ment. Rates are not to be
changed, but by broadening the
payment class, the gross income re-
ceipts are expected to be increased
appreciably.
Personnel of Committee
Members of the joint legislative
committee were selected by Speaker
of the House Edward H. Stein and
Lieut.. Gov. M. Clifford Townsend,
Senate president. The committee:
Senators-Daniel D. Lynch, Ham
mond; Floyd CARROT, Battle
Ground; Elias G. Swihart, Elkhart;
Thurman A. Gottschalk, Berne;
Dale Watson, Russiaville; Charles
j. Kolsem, Terre Haute; William p.
Dennigan, Vincennes; William D.
Hardy, Evansville; Joseph M.
Robertson, Ewing; MIR. Chambers:
Walter Vermillion, Anderson, and
Thomas A. Hendricks, Indianapolis.
Repres tiv s-Martin j.
Downey, East Chicago; Joseph A.
Andrew, Lafayette; Carl E. Wood
ard, Michigan City; Frank G.
Thompson, Bluffton; George w.
Wolf, Peru; Paul F.. Sturm, Dana;
Dan o. Gettinger, Sullivan; Jesse
o. Flock, Ramsey; Frank T. Mills,
Campbellsburg; Fred C. Rowley,
Muncie; William j. Black, Ander-
son, and Fred E. Barrett, Indian
apoliS.