The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-09-29
Government : Stdte
Dispute Enddngers
AGED Pension Fund
Federation Executives Act
To Protect Welfare Of
Indigent Aged
(By Ohio Labor News Service)

Columbus, O.-Summary dismissal
Of Henry j. Berrodin as Chief of the
Ohio Division of Aid for the Aged by
Governor Martin l.. Davey last Friday,
after Berrodin has accepted the rec
ommendation of the Executive Board
Of the Ohio State Federation of La
Dor to comply with the requirements
of the Federal Social Security Board,
may further jeopardize the payment Of
pensions to Ohio's needy aged.
Berrodin had notified the Social Sc
curity Board that he would comply
with the requirements Of the Board
so that more than $4,OOO,C0O would be
allocated to Ohio as the Governments
80 per cent share of the cost Of old age
pension payments for the balance Of
1888.
His action was taken following a
lengthy discussion with the Executive
Board Of the Ohio State Federation of
Labor Of the points Of controversy be-
tween the Social Security Board and
Governor Davey over the administra-
tion of the Ohio law for aid for the
aged, which had resulted in a threat
from the Board that further Federal
funds would be withheld.
Berrodin had told the Executive
Board of the Federation that he would
follow its recommendation in the con-
troversy, as he felt that inasmuch as
it was largely through the efforts of
the Ohio State Federation of Labor
that the Ohio old age pension law was
enacted, the Federation should be con-
suited in determining the proper
course in protecting the welfare Of the
needy aged and the law
The Executive Board decided unani-
mously that the demands Of the So
cial Security Board were reasonable
and recommended to Berrodin that he
comply as far as possible immedi-
ately and in accord with the Ohio law
and the Security Boards requirements.
While no official statement was
made by Governor Davey following
the action Of the Federation officers
and Berrodin's letter to the Social Sc
curity Board expressing a desire to
comply with its requirements, Berrodin
was replaced by Wray Bevens, one of
the Governors personal secretaries,
be continued.
Federation officials had been in
touch with Social Security Board rep
resentatives for several days prior to
the Executive Board meeting here
September % and %, endeavoring to
prevent any action by the Security
Board which would halt the payment
Of regular pensions to needy aged.
Final deadline for withdrawal of
Federal funds for the balance of the
year was extended from September
10 until the date of the Federation's
Executive Board meeting in the hope
that a satisfactory settlement of the
controversy could be effected
Acting with the welfare of Ohio's
the Executive Board of the Fedora
ton urged that the state comply with
the requirements Of the Social Sc
curity Board, taking the position that
the continued payment of old age pen
slons was more important than polltl-
cal differences or animosities.
Following Governor Davey's dismiss
al Of Berrodin, the Social Security
Board announced that further action
on ALLEGATION of funds to Ohio for aged
pensions would not be taken until Sep
tember q, apparently for the purpose
of awaiting word from state officials
whether or not they would accede to
the Federation's recommendation.
The Executive Board of the Fedora
ton took no further action after Ber-
robins dismissal, expressing the opin-
ion that the continued payment of old
age pensions was ''up to Davey."