The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-09-03

y took exception to the Act declaring it his opini at it was just unavoidable under present arrang ents.
 No one holds the Social Security Act to be perfe fact several suggested changes are now being co tered to further facilitate the Act But to say tn is not actually working and never will is going obviously incorrect extreme.
 In view of the discussion relative to the act it tereSting to see what Frank Bane Executive ctor of the Social Security Board, has to say abo Commenting in recent address, Mir Bane sai
 The Social Security Act is a going con- cerL. It is working "a Federal-State pro- gram of action for our common welfare. It is only year since it's passage six months since Congressional appropriations were first made. To millions of American men, wo- men, and children, it has brought in this short time increased measure of security and better chance to lead self-respectng and self-sufficent lives.
 Nearly eight million workers covered by un- employment compensation laws in sixteen States; approximately million of the needy the aged, the blind and children who have lost the support of their natural bread winner already receiving regular cash allowances in 40 States which have set up their own public assistance plans in every State in the Union increased opportunities for health and decent living conditions under child welfare and public health provsions-this is the record of accomplishment during the Social Security Acts first year.
 The States have received more than $55,- 100000 in Federal grants. Each State has also appropriated funds and has put these com bined resources to work within its boun- diaries and for the benefit of its own people. What has already been done is all the more encouraging in view of the short time and the wide variety of problems to be met in 48 diff ferent States Within another year we may confidently expect to see this program in full swing in most of the communities in this country.
 The Social Security Act has gone into ton promptly and effectively because it at tacks this gigantic problem of national secur- ity by old and sure-fire method You all remember the childhood story of the father who tried out his sons by asking each of them to break a bundle of sticks. And you will recall that none of them succeeded until one had the bright idea of taking the bundle apart and breaking it, stick by stick The Social Security Act does exactly the thing. By setting up number of separate plans to meet the most urgent security needs of our people it breaks the sticks" one by
 There are nine of these provisions, and they cover unemployment compensation, old-age security, aid to the handicapped and to under privileged children, and public health With one exception these plans State-initiated and State administered. The Federal Gov ernment, through the Social Security Board created by the Act and certain other Federal agencies, offers to every State its full coopera- tion and substantial financial assistance when the State takes the lead
 The Act contains a number of welfare sections through which the Federal Govern ment offers to share with the States in giving aid to persons definitely in need. One pro- VideS for old-age aSSiStance-Whereby Federal and State Governments can cooperate in order to provide for those aged persons who have worked for lifetime in building this America of and who have not, for one reason or another been able to put by enough to insure decent livelihood in their old age In the past we have had ways of caring for our needy aged but one route has led to the county poor house, and the other to outdoor poor-relief on a subsistence level. We are done with those hope for good, and we are inaugural ing a system which believe will provide for our aged and needy citizens an increas- ingly adequate basis. Under the Social Secur- ty Act the Federal Government agrees to match the States, dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $30 per month, for all moneys expended for this form of assistance And it agrees further to assist the States in the ad- ministraton of this activity.
 Another section of the Act provides aid to dependent children. For years many of our States have been endeavoring to develop effective means by which all children could be assured of certain minimum essentials. They have endeavored through the appropria- tion of funds and through the development of welfare services to safeguard the health of children to make educational advantages available, and to keep unfortunate children in their own homes with their own mothers. Much has been accomplished but much yet remains to be done. The Social Security Act makes the Federal Government CO., partner with the States in this work and obligates it to provide ne-thrd of the funds necessary to insure the essentials of normal home life for all the dependent children of this country
 There is unemployment compensation. Under this provision the States with the CO., operation of the Federal Government can es- tablish method by which an unemployed worker may, for limited time draw payments in proportion to his wages To the nations workers the knowledge that unemployment payments will be available as a cushion against future loss of a job means something very real Unemployment compensation payments are not big enough they do not last long enough, to make joblessness attractive to the average American They do give him a