The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-17

stopped.
Privately, New Dealers and
business interests are much dis
turbed by the spread of these
movements. Business men fear
them as an economic menace,
politicians as q danger both econ
omic and political. Drastic re-
vision of the present law Is Sc
cretly planned on the theory that
q stitch In time viii save nine.
First step viii be taken this Fri
day when the Advisory Council
on Social Security, made up Of
employers, labor and public lead
ers, meets to act on O group OF
far-reaching amendments pre-
pared by subcommittee.
These proposals, which definite
" show the effect of pension
movement pressure, are as follows:
1. To increase benefit pay
ments so that both man and
wife receive annuities. That
Is, If the husband IS entitled to
$50 q month his wife will re-
ceive an additional $26 q month
as long as she lives. While
both are alive they would have
O joint income Of SIS monthly.
2. II the wife Is entitled to
pension Of her own. she would
have the choice between hers
and half Of the husbands an
nuity, whichever gave her the
larger income.
3. The widow Of a pensioner,
upon reaching the age Of 65,
would receive 70 per cent Of the
monthly benefit her husband
would have been paid had he
lived.
4. Life pensions to those suf.
fering total disability at the
same rate they would have re.
ceived had they contributed up
to the age Of IS.
5. Monthly benefit payments
for the dependent children Of
annuity holders who die before
IS.
Administration Plan
To better the lot Of oldsters not
In the contributory system. new
proposals are being drafted at the
order Of President Roosevelt by
the Social Security Board. In col.
laboration with Chairman Robert
Doughton = and Representative
John Dingell Of the House Ways
and Mean Committee.
To expedite legislative action, q
special Ways and Means subcom-
mite will begin hearings early IN
December so that q bill will be
ready when Congress convenes In
January. The Administrators
chief revisions are:
I. Increase the present fed
eral contribution for the aged
from SIS to $40 q month. This
would permit he states to add
q similar sum and boosting pen
sions to Q maximum OF $40
monthly.
.. Lower the age limit from
05 to 90 years, thus making
eligible hundreds Of thousands
Of needy who are excluded by
the present law.
3. Increase the federal con-
tribution for INDECENT children
from one-third to one.half. This
would equalise state and federal
grants.
To aid the battle against funny
money, Doughton, In whose com.
mittee all pension legislation must
originate, will shortly make q ma.
tionwide radio speech denounc-
ing the Townsend plan and $50
every Thursday movement.
Medical Monopoly
Justice Department prosecutors
have some real surprises up their
sleeves In the trial OF the Ameri-
can Medical Association and the
District Of Columbia Medical So
ciety for violation Of the Sherman
Antitrust act.
The two medical organizations--
which ar eaffiliated--are charged
with operating O monopoly and
discriminating unfairly against
members Of the Group Health
plan.
One sensational piece Of evil
dence In the hands Of the Jus.
tlce Department II the case of'a
Washington woman whose hus-
band was afflicted with appen-
dicitis. When she took him to
. hospital she found that none
would admit him, merely be-
cause she had q contract with
the Group Health Association.
After making the frantic rounds
Of every hospital in the District
Of Columbia, and with her hus-
bands appendix about to busrt,
she finally was forced to pay $50
In cash In advance, and only af-