The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-12

ing held in Florida, is to enlist
support for the security amend
ment to the end that this essential
step to Florida's participation in
the provisions of the Social Sc
curly Act may be accomplished
and our state may continue to
maintain its rightful place among
the progressive states CT the
Union.
Four major points are to be con-
sidered: The security amendment,
Old Age Pensions, Aid to the
Blind, and Mothers Aid. The peo-
pc of Florida at the November
election are to decide whether or
not florida may participate on the
three public assistants in the bene-
fits of the Public Assistance Bene-
fits in the Old Age Pensions, Aid
for the Blind and Mothers Aid.
There is no constitutional pro-
vision at the present time on which
the state of Florida may make ap-
preparations for public assistance,
hence the necessity of an amend
ment to the constitution which
will cover this provision. The pro-
posed amendment follows:
Method of Provisions
1.-THE respective counties of the
state shall provide in the manner
prescribed by law for those of the
inhabitants who by reason of age,
infirmity or misfortune, may have
Claims upon the aid and sympathy
of society; provided, however, the
legislature may by general law
provide for statewide systems for
srch benefits and appropriate
money therefor; but no such gem
eral law shall provide benefits for
any person who shall not have
been a resident of Florida for five
years continually next preceding
his application therefor, nor shall
such general law provide for any
person solely on account of age,
who has not reached the age of IS
years; provided further that where
by any law of the United States a
lesser or different period of resi-
dence. age or citizenship shall be
fixed in order for the state of
Florida to participate in any Fed
eral grants that might be made
for sub purpose, the legislature
may make such requirements for
citizenship, age and residence
which will be consistent with and
not in cent let with such federal
law.
In order to encourage each state
to set up a system of old age PEN
sions the federal government Of
fers to match state funds on
fifty-fifty basis and to give five
percent additional towards admin
istrative costs. Monthly payments
to the individual are determined
by the persons needs but the fed
eral government viii in no case
pay more than SIS per month per
person.
Regarding Pensions
About 5000 residents in Flor
ida are over 20 years and will re-
eeive pensions during the next few
months The time for expiration
of this plan viii be July 1, 1887.
The money for these pensions is
being provided by the 81 counties
in the state, and this is the only
state in the nation which is being
financed by the counties.
A surrey recently completed in
Florida shows that there are ap-
proximately $4,000 persons in the
state of IS years of age and over
who are in need and who probably
can qualify for tee pensions.
There is no type of handicapped
person who appeals to our human
,itarian impulse like the blind. De-
spite the great strides made in re-
cent years in training blind per-
sons for vacations, the fact still
remains that a few ever attain
complete economic Independence.