Evening star., 1937-02-19
A[TMEYER HEADS
SECURITY BOARD,
W|NANT RETIRING
Acting Vice Chairman to
Take Over Duties With
out Confirmation.
MURRAY w. LATIMER
NAMED TO VACANCY
Former Agency Director Likely
to Join New Deal Again,
Roosevelt Intimates.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Roosevelt today announced
G. Winant for reappsintment as
chairman of the Social Security Board
and promotion of Arthur j. Altmeyer
to the chairmanship to replace
Winant. Altmeyer, a former Assistant
Secretary of Labor and one of the
original appointees to the board, has
been acting as vice chairman and will
not need Senate confirmation.
At the same time, the President
sent to the Senate the nomination of
Murray w. Latimer, chairman of the
Railroad Retirement Board, to fill the
Security Board vacancy. His term
would expire in August, 194l. The
third board member is Vincent NJ.
Miles.
Winant, whose nomination has been
before the Senate for some time, had
asked to be relieved because he wanted
to devote his time to personal mat
ters. In amounting the changes to-
day, Mr.. Roosevelt intimated, how
ever, that he expects to have Winant
back in some capacity in the New Deal
in the future. He already has returned
to his home in Concord, N. H.
Ardent New Dealer.
Winant, former Governor Of New
Hampshire, is Republican, but has
been an ardent supporter of the New
Deal
During the last election campaign
he resigned as chairman to take the
stump and personally defend the So
cial security act from bitter attacks
made by the opposition. When the
campaign was over he was reap
pointed to his old place, which had
remained untitled.
Latimer, a New Yorker, Is an expert
on industrial pensions. He came 10
Washington several years ago as an
assistant to the co-ordinator of rail-
roads, but later was appointed chair
man of the Railroad Retirement
Board. This board has been busily
engaged in working out satisfactory
retirement arrangement for the rail-
road industry, and Latimer has de-
voted his efforts toward bringing about
an agreement between the carriers
and the railroad brotherhoods.
In announcing the selection of Lati-
mer for the Social Security Roard, the
President intimated this agreement
has finally been worked out and will
be announced shortly.
Letter Made Public.
The President made public today a
letter from Winant, addressed jan
uary 9, explaining his reasons
wishing to retire:
my Dear Mr.. President:
"At the end of September felt that
situation had developed in relation
to the social security act that did not
permit me to continue on the board
as the Republican minority me...' =.
II believed in the act, although I
recognized the need for change and
amendment. Those who were spokes-
men for the Republican party opposed
it. Therefore, 7 resigned in order to
speak for it.
Immediately following the election
you asked me if would return to the
board, say until the first of the year,
because we were in the midst of regis
tering many millions of benefciaries
under the act and were also faced with
other unfinished business. I feel that
it is proper for me to now withdraw.
"The board is already through its
early difficulties of organization. A
large majority Of the States are al
ready cooperating with the Federal
Government under public assistance
and unemployment compensation, and
the mechanics of ledger accounting
under old-age benefits is well under
way.
THE need for additional space for
this operation is recognized, and ade-
quate building facilities are planned;
technical and substantive amendments
limited to our developing experience
have been prepared for submission to
the Congress; careful and conscientious
preparation has been made by actu-
aries, economists and attorneys to as
(See SECITRTTV PAGE A.4l