Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-11-26

and one-third of $12 or $40 a month.
"A dependent child is defined in the
law as child under 16 years of age
who has been deprived of parental
support or care by reason of the
death, continued absence from the
home, or the physical or mental in
capacity of a parent, and who is liv-
ing in the home of it's father, mother,
grandfather, grandmother, brother,
sister, stepfather, stepmother, STEP
brother, stepsister, uncle or aunt.
Under our complex economic sys-
tenn employment depends not only on
Willingness to work but on the func-
tioning of an intricate system. Unem-
ployment means reduced purchasing,
which n turn means reduced produc-
ton and more unemployment and
more idle capital.
"The State-Federal unemployment
compensation provisions of the law
provide relief against loss of income
during temporary unemployment
thereby acting as a shock-absorber
against the jar of idleness and loss of
all income. The program contemplates
State legislation suitable for the part
ocular conditions in each State with
emphasis on unemployment through
public agences, rather than continu-
ed payments.
There is no standard rate or pc
Rod of compensation. These vary
with State laws. Very generally, aft
er "a period of waiting, a person re-
ceives SO percent of his previous
wages for a period ranging from 10
to 20 weeks.
''Old-age benefits should not be
confused with old-age assistance, to
which reference has already been
made. Old-age benefits are form of
insurance which provides an income
for certain classes of individuals when
they become IS years of age. That
provision of the law, unlike the State
Federal programs mentioned here
tofore. is administered solely by the
Federal Government 1t provides for
definite life annuity, with provision
OF payment of lump sum in event of
death. 1t is paid the worker as a
matter of right, without any relation
to the wealth or poverty of the in
dividual During his working years
the individual contributes a CERTAIN
percentage of his wages in the form
of income taxes paid into the United
States Treasury.
For each dollar put in by the
worker, the employer contributes a
matching dollar, collected through an
excise tax on the pay roll, identical
in percentage with the income tax on
the worker.
The program starts on January 1,
but no annuities are paid until five
years after or until January /, 1912.
Annuities are paid only after an indi-
Vldual reaches IS years of age and is
no longer regularly employed The
amount of the monthly annuity pay
ments is computed on the basis of the
wages earned by the individual, in
covered employments, after December
81, 1886, and his s.xty-fifth birthday.
"A minimum monthly payment of $40
and a maximum of $85 has been fix
ed in the law.
One might reasonably ask what
Will be the cost of the social security
program. While no definite estimates
are possible, this much can be said:
we do not let persons starve in this
day and age. We have taken care of
our hungry and unfortunate by vari-
Gus means in the past; by local re-
lief, poorhouses, and private char
lty. 1t is not reasonable to suppost
that a properly organized system. de-
flnltely planned, will prove more ex-
rensive and less effective than the
haphazard methods we have employ
ed in the past"