Evening star., 1936-09-20
BY BLAIR MOODY.

tHBtoH.
l. BY BLAIR MOODY.
Altogether the most important and
far-reaching economic experiment,
from the standpoint Of the average
man, that has been attempted by the
New Deal or any other American ad-
ministration, is literally creeping up"
on the country.
It is q colossal and complicated
Undertaking. 1t contemplateS major
change, not only in the Nations basic
economic system, but in its social point
of view and in the psychology and fu-
ture outlook Of millions of women and
their families. It anticipates the
largest expenditure Of tax money ever
made by any country for any purpose,
except possibly war. 1t already Is law.
Yet few persons know much about
It, and fewer still really understand it..
What is social security" all about?
What do the terms unemployment
compensation" and "old-age benefits"
and pay roll taxes" and the others
that have been more or less vaguely
kicking around in our vocabulary
since Congress. in August, 1885, sent
the social security act to President
Roosevelt for his signature, really
mean?
Can Security" Be Attained?
Can real security" ever be attained
by the average wage Garner in our
competitive economic world?
Can the fears that now are lurking
behind the scenes in millions of
homes-of poverty just around the
corner or a destitute old age at the
roads end-of loss of job. poor health,
death Of the bread-winner, relief and
perhaps eventually "the poorhouse"-
be banished forever?
And, if they can, it is possible to
10 the job without sitting the Amer
acan system of individual competition,
Of incentive to excel, of superior re-
turn for superior merit and brains?
Is it possible to do it without taxa
tion that would cripple, or at least
depress, the business and industrial
structure itself and thus defeat the
very end sought to be attained? Is it
true. as one prominent banker-critic
of the security act asserted, that the
road now being taken by the Govern
ment will lead to the impossible sit
uation of 'piecemeal security at the
cost of aggregate insecurity"
Endorsement is Sweeping.
These questions would seem to be
answered In the majorities by which
Congress passed the social security
oct. It held weeks Of hearings. It
had the benefit of expert testimony.
There was virtually no partisan op-
position. The vote in the House was
S71 to 80; in the Senate. rs to 6.
Never has . more sweeping indorse-
ment been given to any major public
policy.
But Congress, or most of its men,
bers. knew little more about the pro-
gram than the public that will be its
beneficiary or victim. Many voted for
the bill chiefly because 1t was
Roosevelt must" measure. Others
knew that mo" vote meant. politi-
cally, Q vote against the poor man" !"
Some criticized the act but supported
1t as q start in the right direction.
Congress specifically urged the social
recommend changes.
In other words, the personal and
community weak spots which this act
seeks to remedy, the financial and
administrative problems that are en-
twined in its operation, are too COM
plex and confusing to swallow at one
gulp.
Nobody thinks the present system,
which Is just rolling into motion, is
perfect. It Is still in the formative
stage. For that reason, and since its
effects travel directly into two score
million homes. and spread indirectly
through the tendrils of our national
economic web, it is timely subject
for objective analysis.
Benefits Are Intended.
The act seeks to allay fear Of un-
employment" by paving the way for a
temporary cushion of income for
workers who lose their jobs through
no fault of their own. 1t strikes at
fear of an INDECENT old age by q
dual and partly interlocked system
OF annuities and relief for the aged.
It seeks also to raise the standards
Of assistance to mothers with depend
ent children. the blind and the Grip
Piled, to extend public health serv-
ices, to promote vocational training.
It proceeds on the theory that what
Is good for the individual is good
for the community and that it is q
moral crime for such large pro-
portion of the population to be forced
to "skimp" through life in constant
dread of the future.
Even before the depression, at least
one-third Of all persons over IS were
dependent on others for support. In
the prosperous 49," about one
twelfth of the industrial workers were
continually unemployed.
But ever these figures do not fully
illustrate the ravages of insecurity
They do not measure the worry and
heartaches In the family that is just
getting by with everything depend
ent on q precariouS Job. They do moi