Evening star., 1936-12-29

the Social Security Board are in three
Categories:
First, public assistance.
Second. unemployment compensa-
ton.
Thicd. the system Of Federal old
age benefits.
should like to review briefly the
progress made in each of these fields.
The act recognizes the need for
Federal participation to aid States to
care for dependency. This form of
assistance cannot be met on a tenn
porary or emergency basis. 1t calls
for longtime and Nationwide pro-
gram. The act makes grants possible
to every State in the Union. 1t pro-
vides flexible but integrated Frame
work OF Federal and State co-opera-
ton.
With Federal cooperation and
financial assistance. the States are
developing more effective administra-
tive organizations. are raising their
standards of assistance and service
and are caring for their needy aged
and blind and for their dependent
children more adequately than they
could alone.
Numbers Widen in Year.
At the end of 1885. a total of 373,-
900 of the needy aged were receiving
assistance under State plans. Today.
only a year later, Federal assistance
makes it possible for the AZ particle
pating jurisdictions to aid over 1.l0o.-
900 of the needy aged. While the in
crease in the numbers of individuals
receiving assistance has been greatest
in the case of the aged. the present
totals Of about $4,000 for the needy
blind and 100000 for dependent chill
dren represent a substantial increase
over the numbers aided in the same
States prior to the passage of the act.
With the exception of one or two
States. it may be said that all pre-
dominately industrial States have
made provision for the protection Of
men and women in periods Of forced
idleness.
W 1900. WlCh SOSidi oC-
curity act came into existence, only
one State. Wisconsin. had made pro-
vision for compensation to the un-
employed worker. Three-quarters Of
the States are now participating in
this program.
Not a Cure-all.
Unemployment compensation Is not
a cure-all. 1t was not intended that
it should be the solution of the broad
problem of unemployment. This fea-
ture of the social security program
was designed to protect employed men
and women against the wreckage of
temporary unemployment; to guaran-
tee to them at least subsistence in
come, not as charity. but as right.
during periods when they are looking
for other work.
As the year draws to a close the
foundation for the Federal old-age
benefits is being completed. Close to
Is, 900, 900 persons participated In the
recent registration. Over $4,000, 900
workers have applied for social secur-
ity accounts in order to insure their
rights to old-age benefits. Many ap-
plicatlons are still coming in. These
millions of applications represent a
unity of purpose and a spirit of CO.
operation unequaled in any country
and. although the largest project Of
its kind ever attempted in the United
States. IT has been accomplished al
most without comment. The Post
Office Department. with more than
IS 900 Offices. and its friendly and eff
cient personnel. and the Government
Printing Of1ice. with other depart
ments of the Government, have made
this possible.
At the wage records office of the
Social Security Board. trained per-
sonnel. with efficient mechanical
equipment, have been taking the mil