Evening star., 1936-07-06

blldC the DSI1lO- s+3*5:
Gratis did not
carry out their
1882 platform, the n,r,a r..
persons who
drafted the 1896 platforms of both
parties purposely wrote general phrases
so that legislators would have the nee
essary leeway to meet changing con-
ditions and to deal with the contro-
versial aspects which so often neces-
state a compromise law that appears
to deviate from a platform pledge.
To this series Of six articles deal
ing with important platform planks'
an effort will be made to explain, so
far as possible, the scope of the Re-
publican and Democratic promises,
because, while they may seem In some
instances to be saying the same thing,
an examination of a phrase or word
here and there will show the point of
deviation.
"Social Security"
Take SOCIAL security" which in
cludes a multitude of proposed re-
forms ranging from old-age pensions
to unemployment insurance. One
might get the impression that the New
Deal platform, which happens to be
very brief on the subject, was not
very comprehensive, but the truth is
the social security act already on the
statute books Is the New Deals real
plank on this topic and 1t would have
encumbered the platform considerably
to have attempted to reproduce il:
long clauses.
Still there is in the New Deal plank
q hint of possible change and faint
suggestion Of awareness that perhaps
the Republicans are right in their
charge that some of the provisions OF
the present law are unavoidable.
II one were disposed to be partisan,
he might say that the social security
act was adopted in hurry to get
something written into law and into
operation, and that for hasty job,
It was we'll done But this is only to
concede that social security is one OF
the enormous problems of the genera
ton, and that no matter which party
Is elected in 1885 or 1910 there will be
many changes, in accord with the de-
n1ands Of a public opinion that Will
have a good deal to say on the subject
for the next so years.
Economic Security.
The New Deal platform speaks OF
having built foundations for the Sc
curity Of those who are faced with the
hazards of unemployment and old
age" and that on the foundation OF
the social security law it is planned ito
erect a structure of economic security"
The Republicans devote considera-
bic space in their platform to social
security and insist that New Deal
policies have in fact Endangered it.
Then follows direct charge that the
unemployment insurance and old age
annuity sections of the present law
~are unavoidable" and deny benefits to
sabout two-thirds Of our adult popula-
ton" while imposing, nevertheless, tax
burdens on them. The Republicans
propose substitute system.
So far as unemployment insurance
both parties agree it should be handled
by the States with Federal co-opera-
ton. At present the plan means a
far-reaching pay roll tax. The i'm
portant difference between the two
planks is on old-age pensions.
The Republicans pledge that every
American citizen over 65 years Of age
should receive the supplementary pay
ment necessary to provide "a minimum
income sufficient to protect him or her
from want" This payment would not
come from a pay roll tax, but from a
"direct tax widely distributed" prob
ably a sales tax. The payment would
be made to the individual States who
would administer the program with
finances collected by the Federal Gov
ernment.
Social Security Phase.
The Democrats have something of
this kind, but it is regarded as a rela-
lively secondary phase of their social
security program because they have
set up system Of old-age annuities
to provide for persons who are not
necessarily in want and they think
that this plan would make unnecessary
any special provision for the needy.
In other words, the New Deal plank
assumes that over a period of years
the old-age annuity plan would take
care of those who would be apt to be-
come public burden through relief as
well as those who have been thrifty
and saved through what is really
"forced saving" plan. This at present
means q tax on pay rolls and indi-
vidual employment incomes for years
to come.
The Republicans attack the latter
idea as being fantastic and dangerous.
They declare that the $50, ,000, 900 900
reserve fund which would be built up
out Of pay roll taxes and income pay
ments by employees would be used to
buy in the public debt or would be
invested In. Government projects so
that the money would not be avail
able in case of economic emergencies
and would be mere promise to pay
O sort Of fat money.
On the other hand, the criticism
made Of the Republican plank is that
II olQ-age DEMENT'S are COnuneQ only
to those in need, the tendency for pen
sion rolls on that basis Is to increase
from year to year. It is estimated that
100000 out Of the 100000 persons
above the age Of IS are at present on
relief, 50 that If each got $50 a month
($15 from the Government and SIS
from the States). there would be $3.50
. year or $3.50. .00o, 900 for the 1000, 900
persons on relief. This would mean
$3.50, 100000 q year from the Federal
and $50, ,oo0, 900 a year from the State
governments.
Tendency to Shift.
Such payments would be easy to
spread in the tax mechanism, but the
critics of the plan say that the tend