Montana labor news., 1938-08-11
Social Security Marches Onward

The remarkable extent to which the Fed
eral Government is contributing to a certain
degree of social security for the masses and
care for dependents is revealed by the report
of the Treasury Department summarizing
the expenses in these fields for the fiscal year
ended June 80.
The grants during the year by the Social
Security Board totaled $271 ,494, 500. They
included $182, 1873, 734 for old age assistance,
$25. 498, 282 for aid to dependent children,
Sc .161, 249 for aid to the blind, SAL, 910,919 for
the administration of state unemployment
compensation 49, IT'S, 545 for maternal and
child health services, $2,691,940 for aid to
crippled children, and $1,364,7 49 for child
welfare services. In addition, the U. S. Pub
lie Health Service expended $8,892,079 for
public health work.
In the field of old age assistance the Fed
eral Government matches up to $15 a month
state old age pensions.
For dependent children the Federal Gov
eminent pays to each state one-third OF the
amount expended by the state.
For care of the blind the Federal Govern
ment pays one-half of the sums expended by
the states.
For unemployment compensation the Fed
eral Government pays the states the total cost
of administering the state unemployment
compensation systems.
In maternal and child health services the
Federal Government pays one-half of the
amount expended by the states.
In aid of crippled children the Federal Gov
eminent pays one-half of the amount eXpend-
ed by the states.
In the field of child welfare services the
Federal Government is authorized to con-
tribute $1,500, 900 annually. Beginning with
an allotment of $4,000 to each state, other
allotments to the limit of the appropriation
are made by the Secretary of Labor to the
various states in the proportion which the
rural population of each state bears to the
total rural population of the United States.
All of the allotments for the social security
services are made by the Social Security
Board, with the requirement that the plans
adopted by the states for each item shall be
approved by the board.
The total expenses for social security and
railroad retirement, the Treasury report said,
amounted to 1927, 1863, 872, including $685.
402, SGT spent for investments for the Federal
old age insurance and railroad retirement
reserve accounts. Inc Olu age ulSuIdllCe
account now totals $762, 661 ,662 and the rail
road retirement reserve SLABS ,942.
The Social Security Board spent $685.
ATT for administrative expenses, and the
Railroad Retirement Board, $2,613,297.
In the field of public health work the Fed
eral Government authorizes the expenditure
of $4,000, 900 annually to aid the states and
local subdivisions to maintain adequate
health services, with 100000 earmarked
for the investigation of disease and problems
of sanitation.
The Social Security Act, passed by the first
session of the Seventy-Fourth Congress and
approved by the President OF August a.
1885, was unanimously supported by the
American Federation of Labor. 1t marked
the beginning of an effort to eliminate for
wage earners and their families the major
economic hazards of unemployment and ole
age dependence, as well as to safeguard the
welfare of children and to provide for matern-
al and child health. 1t has brought these just
benefits to many millions of our people, but
there still remain millions more who must be
made the recipients of this beneficial and
humane legislation.