Evening star., 1939-06-06
Mccormack Praises
Committees Chances
In Security Act
Forum Speaker Declares
Employers Will Save
Huge Sum in Toxes


Representative John w. McCor-
mack, Democrat, of Massachusetts,
spoke on the subject, Social Secu-
rity Looks to the Future" last night
in the National Radio Forum, ar
ranged by The Star and broadcast
over a Nation wide network of the
National Broadcasting Co. The text
of his address follows:
Ladies and gentlemen of the radio
audience, want to express my ap-
probation to The Washington Eve
ming Star for it's invitation which
enables me to talk over the National
Radio Forum in relation to the
amendments proposed, which are
now pending in the House of Rep
resentatives, to the existing social
security law.
A bill making substantial changes
IN the Social Security Act is now
before Congress-a bill in which
every man, woman and child in this
country has personal stake. This
means you-aS you sit at home to-
night listening to this broadcast; as
you go about your work tomorrow;
as you think and plan for your own
future and that of your children.
We have now had a national social
security program for nearly four
years. Because of this, millions of
persons, in every State and county
throughout the Nation, know what
security means as never was known
before.
More than 27,5OO,OOO persons are
covered by State unemployment
compensation laws. And because of
this protection the gaps between
jobs need no longer swallow up the
savings of those covered and throw
you and your families upon relief,
at least during period of payments
provided by your State law. Those
covered employees who have been
temporarily out of work since YOU
had this job insurance protection
have shared in S575.00O 900 in out
of-wcrk benefits that have been paid
out since year ago January. You
who have benefited do not need to
be told what this has added to your
security and that of your family.
Many States Liberalize Payments.
Benefit payments, as time passes
and experience is obtained, will be
improved upon. Many States have
already liberalized. or are in the
process of liberalizing. benefit pay
ments. That is the history of ali
progressive, humane legislation. AS
particular instance, I refer to the
Workmen's Compensation Act of the
several States which has been i'm
proved upon materially from time
to time.
Some 44,0O000O persons through
out the United States have accounts
under the Federal old-age insur-
ance system. AS participants in this
great national program of mutual
protection. such persons have al
ready begun to build toward a re-
tlrement income-an income which
Will be theirs in their old age by
right, based on their own thrift and
industry. and backed by the United
States Government itself. We all
know only too we'll what the
tragedy Of destitute old age means
For millions of Americans the
haunting fear of such a future lot
will be allayed.
For those who are already old
and in need; for those who are blind
and cannot work; for children in
homes broken by death or another
disaster, the Social Security Act has
also provided an increased measure
OF security through Federal grant
to those States which have passed
approved legislation. More than
2.50O.000 of them are receiving pub
lie assistance from the Federal and
State funds made available under
the act
In connection with these activi-
ties, where need" is condition
precedent to payment, there is no
Federal investigation of applica
tlons, or supervision by the Federal
Government. The Federal Govern
ment does not determine the amount
any person in need among these
classes receives. That is determined
IN accordance with State law. These
provisions of the Social Security Act
as we'll as unemployment compensa-
ton, are State administered. benefits
being dependent upon the State law
The Federal Government makes its
contribution after State or loca
action has been favorably taken.
Uniform Pattern Created.
1t must be remembered that prior
to the passage of the Social Secu.
rity Act there was no pattern OF
assistance for the aged, for the
dependent children, for the needy
blind. A few States made made
quate provisions for the aged, very
few for the dependent blind and
the children, but the great major
ity of the States made no provision
at all. The Federal Government
through the passage of the Social
Security Act, has created uniform
pattern in these fields of relief
activities.
And in addition to all this, the
act has enabled your State and YOU
community to increase their public
health protection, to provide better
services for maternal and chile
health and welfare, and to extenc
their provisions for the vocational re.
Mobilization of handicapped workers
Because the Social Security Ac
was passed by Congress four year.
ago this coming August, all this ha:
been possible. Because Congress /.
now considering a bill to make thu
Social Security Act still more effec.
tive. you may look forward to in.
creases in immediate protection ane
benefits and decreases in immediate
cost.
This new bill was written by tn,
House Ways and Means Committe'
Of which I am member, 1t ha
just been reported out of the com
mittee after four months of con
tinuous study. Testimony taken a
the hearings commenced on Febru
ary l runs to some $500 pages TIL,