Evening star., 1938-02-23
0[D,AGE PENSION
VIOLATION HEARD
AT OKLAHOMA QUIZ
More Held Receiving Checks
Than Population of Those
IS Years Old.
BOARD INVESTIGATOR
CITES THREE COUNTIES
Statistics Show $50 of Every
1000 Persons Eligible
Are on Rolls.
BY the Associated Press.

The Social Security Board today
heard that in three counties in Okla
homa more persons were receiving
old-age pensions than the estimated
population of those more than IS
years old.
Rose j. McHugh. one of the boards
investigators. made that statement at
the social security law had been vio-
lated in administration of Oklahoma's S
old-age pension plan.
Only those more than IS are eligible
to pensions. In 10 counties, Miss
McHugh said, more than IS per cent
Of the estimated population more
than IS were on the pension rolls.
The board has charged the State
with granting pensions to those not
needing them. refusing pensions to
those in need and failing to comply
with the State pension plan approved
by the board.
Board statistics show 589 of every
1000 persons more than IS years old
are on the pension rolls.
Thomas Makes Plea.
White haired Senator Thomas,
Democrat. Of Oklahoma opened the
hearing with plea for Oklahoma's S
"old folks" The State, he said. was
in bad shape" because of depression
and drought.
4 do not blame the aged people
who are hungry. cold and homeless
for trying to get some assistance" he
added.
After expressing hope that this
hearing will not develop into a politi-
CA contest" Senator Thomas said he
also hoped the board would work out
some way to continue pensions for all
those now receiving them
Arthur j. Altmeyer, Social Security
Board chairman, said neither Senator
Thomas nor any other Congressman
had put any pressure on the board and
that the Oklahoma congressional del
egation was to be commended for its
attitude.
Boren Asks Exhibits.
When the board started to present
its case. Representative Boren, DEM
ocrat, of Oklahoma broke in to say
that "the old people of Oklahoma
ought to be made an exhibit" since 1t
was in their interest that the Social
CnryritJv rf
Mr. Altmeyer asked Mr. Boren If
there were any practical way of doing
that and Mr.. Boren replied that he
wanted the record to show their inter-
ests. Shortly thereafter he left the
hearings.
Others who attended included Sem
ator Lee and Representatives Mas
singale, Smith and Disney, all Demo-
Gratis.
Miss McHugh said the Oklahoma
State Welfare Commission had failed
to assume proper responsibility for
carrying out the program"
The board issued its orders through
bulletins, she said, which local admin
istrators were not able to understand
both because of their language and
the frequent changes in policy.
She cited five changes in policy re-
garding pensions for aged who had
relatives.
When the plan first went into effect,
Miss McHugh said, the State Board
decided that an aged person was in
eligible for pension if he had been
dependent on relatives In the past.
Some time later. she said, local ad-
ministrato were allowed to determine
whether individual aged persons should
get pensions under a rule that mo
one would suffer"
Miss McHugh also told the board
the State Commission had been unable
to build up a satisfactory staff of
welfare workers because it had no
merit system and that statements of
commissioners tended to discourage
any one from thinking he could get
q permanent job on the staff.
Meanwhile, it was disclosed that in
vestigators for the Social Security
Board are at work in several other
States to determine the honesty and
effectiveness of State systems for ad-
ministering assistance to the aged, the
blind and dependent children.