Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-03-02

program. He thinks the counties are
not yet able to increase their taxes by
So 100000 a year in order to pay one
fourth the cost Of paying pensions of
from $40 to $50 month to dependent
persons Is years old and older, also
that the pensions contemplated are
too high.
Governor Hoey and those who agree
with his views, maintain that since
the counties are the chief beneficial
ries under the act since it will re-
lieve them of much of the present cost
of the poor and aged that they should
be willing to contribute 81 in order to
get So from the State and Federal
governments. They also believe that
unless there is county participation in
the cost of the pension plan. it will
be difficult to keep the cost down to
reasonable figure. In other words,
they feel that unless the counties are
required to pay part of the cost of
the pensions there is a very real dang
er that the pensions rolls may become
badly padded and the pension system
turned into a gravy train" by local
politicians.
Il realize that I shall probably be
badly beaten, but 1 am going to con-
tinue to fight against county partici-
patton in the old age pensions pro-
gram" Ward said today. For while
am in favor of the old age pensions
and aid for dependent children, I am
opposed to the levying of any proper
~ tax for State purposes or to increas-
ing any CT the present county adval-
orem taxes. Accordingly, I feel that
it S2,O0O,O0O year is all the State can
provide for old age pensions and aid
to dependent children, that the State
should make this amount do, and with
the $2,0Cc,O0O it would get from the
federal government, spread the 81
100000 year thinner instead of try
ing TO carry out an $8O0O,0OO a year
program, with the counties paying
$2OOO,OG0 Of this amount If $4,000 900
year is not enough, the next Gene
raj Assembly which meets in 1889
could then increase it, as business
conditions should be better by that
time
"But an convinced that the coun-
ties canno- a--o-d to increase taxes
enough new 20 raise the $2.OOO,OOO a
year necessary Tor participation in
the old age pensions program as en-
acted by the Senate and 7 am going
to stake my entire political future on
this position"
Governor Hoey and those who agree
with him, however, maintain that it
is not going to impose a heavy burd-
en- on the counties to require them to
raise $z'O00'OC0 year from local pro-
perry taxes when they will get back
tnree times as much from the State
ana Federal governments, or $1,000
eoO a year. which will be allotted and
spent in the counties. They point out
that very large number of those
VINO Will get these pensions are peo-
pie VINO are now being cared for en-
ltrely by tn counties, Or who will
nave to be cared for by them as soon
as the Federal government stops it's
rellef program-and the cessation of
The WPA relief program is now ex-
9ected to come July 1.
Inc counties should really welcome
his opportunity tc &c. S3 for every 81
ne y Will raise from local sources, in
stead OF oppose it, since if the pen
ION plan does not so through, they
VIII be faced with the task OF having
care for the aged and virtually all
OF those now on relief entirely from
-ounty funds after July 1, when Fed
eral relief is expected to come to an
end" Governor Hoey said today. But
If this bill passes, it will enable the