Evening star., 1939-03-05

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Millions Of enfeebled voices chorusing
together, raise q strident roar throughout
America today-the refrain of their
chant an insistent demand that the Fed
eral Government provide universal old
age pension system for security in their
declining years at the expense of the
State.
Congress is now in the throes of con-
sidering this issue, which has been boiling
since 1884 and has now reached the su-
per-charged stage, based on what is
known as "the pension sentiment" in the
form of a dozen State or national move
ments.
The House Ways and Means Committee
Is wrestling with the problem, impaled on
the horns Of three-way dilemma. The
frst Is revision of the Social Security Act
Of the administration, to make it more
liberal. The second is the well-known
Townsend plan; the third, the General
Welfare Act of the General Welfare Fed
Grafton of America
There are a half-dozen lesser plans,
ranging from a bill by Representative
Wright Patman of Texas for payment of
$50 monthly to the elderly, to talk by
Senator Sheridan Downey, Democrat, of
California in behalf of bill to pay the
old folks at least 500 month.
Politically, the members of Congress
are on the spot. They do not want to
bankrupt the Treasury-nor do they want
to put themselves out of Office by anger
ing the millions of senior citizens who
can vote. Likewise, the Democratic and
Republican parties have locked horns on
the issue within the Mays and Means
Committee. What the final upshot will
be can be written only in whatever re-
port the committee makes, expected to
show up in mid-March or perhaps wait
over to early April.
Democrats Accuse Republicans
There appears to be a strong desire on
the part of Democratic members of the
committee to put the Republican men,
bers on the spot in the House-now that
all eyes are pointing toward 1910. Their
argument is that the Republicans accept
ed the political aid of Dr. Francis E.
Townsend last fall, and at least implied
support for his program. With this in
mind, there has been talk of reporting
unfavorably the Townsend bill, H. R. 2,
by Representative Hendricks, Democrat,
OF Florida and compelling a record vote.
Some members are understood to favor
reporting out H. r. II, by Representative
Harry Sheppard. Democrat, of California
the General Welfare Federation DILL,
which Is first cousin to the Townsend
bill. The idea here is that while the Re-
publicans can cite the 5000 Townsend
limit as being too extreme and use that
for an alibi on an adverse vote, they can
not argue that way on H. r. II, which
proposes a $50 minimum and $50 max
imun, monthly. But the Democrats are
divided on this strategy, because many
of them figure they will be on the execu-
ton block with the Republicans on the
same ground
In any event. either bill would come
out Of committee without recommended
tion-the way of the House committees
IN making an adverse report. The
chances are considered by those on the
inside to indicate that both bills on
full thought, will be pigeonholed and the
administration recommendation for lib
eralization of the Social Security Act
reported to the floor for action
Wrapped up in the minds of con ittee
members is a hope that, in e ~
one of the several bills beside j.
ADMINISTRATION nrooropo ie ropor -,
be voted down and the flood G. lies,
nickels and quarters pouring from the
thread-bare pockets of the old folks into
pension organizations can be cut off.
Can Do Nothing About 1t.
They knew that thousands of dollars
are pouring into the treasures of old
age pension movements monthly. They
think 1t is unfair, but they can do
nothing about it. These facts were
sharply focused in their minds when the
hearings before the committee in the
first days of February brought out a
feud between the two leading national
organizations.
The struggle is between the highly
touted Townsend movement, the Official
name Of which is the Townsend National
Recovery Plan, and its seeding cousin,
operating under the formidable name of
the General Welfare Federation of Amer
lea, Inc. There are numerous other
Statewide organizations in the arena,
such as the "Thir.y Dollars Every Thurs
day" plan in California, the National
Annuity League in Colorado, and others
devoted to driving pension plans through
State legislatures. There are only the
two outstanding national organizations.
Caught in the middle are the members
of Congress. Were it not for the pathetic
sincerity of the elderly in their desire
for security, the old-age pension organi-
cations could be ridiculed out of exist
ence. As it is, nothing that the leaders
of the movement, as self-appointed
saviors of the old folks, can do, is too
extreme for their followers. They are
the spearheads of that amazing thing,
the pension sentiment" generally Gre
ated by the following recipe: Take the
old adage Honor thy father and thy
mother" add Jealous leadership, mix
heavily with emotion and shake well at
mass meetings with appeals for funds),
then hand out buttons and pledge cards.
Afterward, get bill introduced in Con-
gress, set up a Washington Office and
start In business.
Represented in the results are some