Evening star., 1936-09-30
BY BLAIR MOODY.

CtuIes, Us Ucu Us VI LHc Cc"Io W.
Htinistrdtion in Washington.
BY BLAIR MOODY.
There is one part of this social Sc
curity program that has swung into
stride quickly and almost without
criticism. And, strangely enough, 1t is
the only part that makes no pretense
Of being lf-supporting. 1t will be
borne wholly by the general taxpayers.
1t is the "grant-in-aid" system, un-
der which Uncle Sam, matching dollar
for dollar appropriations made by the
States, provides assistance to the
needy aged, the blind and mothers
with dependent children. While the
contributory old-age annuity and the
employer financed unemployment COM
pensation plans have been beset by
hurdles and complications, the Sc
curity boards assistance division. ."
under Jane M. Hoey, New York social
worker. is pouring out approximately
$4,000, 900 in straight pensions this
year as the Governments share Of a
$3.50. 100000 relief program for these
specific classes Of the poor.
The very fact that there has been no
attempt to make this undertaking pay
for itself, and could be none since the
people being aided have no jobs or
resources, is one of the principal rea-
sons it has not been put under fire.
Mere Item in Budget.
For while the money will all have to
come out of the taxpaying public, 1t
will be buried as a mere item in the
general budget, and carries no irritat-
ing payroll tax, such as that which
has stirred hubbub in some quarters
against the annuity and compensation
programs. The taxpayers always seem
to like levy better, or at least swal.
low it with less distaste, If 1t come,
sugar-coated. They want to be allowed
TO forget they are paying.
But there is a deeper reason whJ
the assistance program has so far run
the economic and political gantlet un.
scathed. This is the growing socia
consciousness of the Nation, bringing
general realization that something
from the followers of DR.. Francis E
Townsend and other visionary o.
Vicious pied pipers has made 1t ap.
parent that the question of widespread
aged indigency can no longer be ig.
nored. Beside Townsend's S20O-a.
month panacea, the Government!
s3o-a- month program assumes tn,
mantle of Coolidge economy"
This section of the security act il
built on the premise that a strictl,
relief job, which this is, can be bettel
handled by the States than by on,
centralized bureau. 1t leaves full
power of administration in State hands
except for a few general requirement.
for decent standards"
1t directs the Security Board to pay
one dollar to State for each one dol.
lar Of its own spent to support an agec
or blind person, and one dollar fol
each two dollars the State spends fol
q mother with dependent children. II
limits the Governments share to 81!
4 month for the blind and aged, $6 .
month for a mother and one child
and 81 for additional children.
Starts Other Programs.
1t also starts, in a small way, Fed.
eral-State programs OF maternal care
and vocational training and offer.
an incentive for improvement of State
health services. At the. vigorous In.
sistence Of q highly incensed doctor,
lobby" proposed system of health
insurance, in which medical and hos
pital care would have been assured ir
return for payment of premium,
was stricken from the act.
To get this money, State must
make eligibility rules satisfactory te
the Security Board. 1t must not re.
quire too long q residence in a Stats
by a person seeking to qualify for 8
pension and, within the next few
years, must reduce its eligible age tt
IS years if it now exceeds that. The
Federal funds must be administered
in a manner satisfactory to the board
II they are, the Government adds
per cent to its grant for administrative
costs.
Now this is no new idea. A num-
ber Of States have been pensionine
their needy aged for years. But the
entrance OF the Government ha,
pumped new life into an old and slow.
moving idea.
1t has revamped and revitalized the
whole system. 1t has made 1t none.
tarily worth while for States that
have previously neglected the matter
to enact pension laws, and 1t has pro-
prove their laws.
Liberal political leaders, such al
Gov. Herbert H. Lehman of New York
are using the standards of the Fedora
act to force through higher standard.
in their State acts. They are taking
more needy into the fold of theil
State programs without additional cost
to local taxpayers. New York's recent
reduction of the pension age limi,
from 10 to IS, for instance. will ap.
proximately double the cost Of that
States pension program, from $15,'
100000 to $4,000, ,000-with Uncl,
Sam absorbing the increase.
Vast Number Of Clients
Already 10000 aged families in 81
States are drawing from the Unitet
States Treasury. sums up to SIS {
month, which are doubled by theil
States. Similarly, Is, 900 blind clients
are drawing an average Of $25 6
month, while some 5000 families ar,
receiving aid for dependent children
The comparatively parsimoniou!
provisions of the act regarding chill
Nh Md 3 ii