Evening star., 1939-02-28

better to pay to the unemployed
worker a more liberal allowance out
OF this fund already collected from
the people than to pay so small an
amount that he refuses to accept it
and goes to work projects for which
additional taxes must be levied or
money borrowed to be ultimately
paid by taxes. We should either
make it of service to the worker or
abolish it and provide w. P. A. Jobs
for all unemployed.
The bill provides for more liberal
payments to the aged The pay
ments now made by States run from
s35 per month to $3.50 per month.
1t is useless for the Federal Govern
ment to tell some of the States that
it will pay one-half of $50 if the
State pays that much for old-age
assistance. You might just as we'll
offer to pay One-half of $1OO per
month. Many of the States simply
have no means of raising revenue
to make such payments. The Fed
eral Government has usurped the
field of taxation. Local govern
ments must rely chiefly upon taxes
levied upon real estate. 1t is poor
Judgment to lend money to a young
worker to build home and at the
same time force the State govern
ments to levy such high taxes upon
real estate that the man cannot
| keep his home,
The Remedy.
To remedy this condition, the bill
provides that in State where the
per capita income is less than the
average per capita income of the
United States that the contribution
by that State shall be reduced by
the percentage by which its per
capita income is less than the aver
age income. In no case can the
contribution be less than one-third.
| In return for this, however, it is
provided that the average amount
paid by State. including its con-
| tribution from the Federal Govern.
ment, shall not be less than SIS per
| month.
Payments to dependent children
are likewise increased with the same
provision as to the financially weak
States. Through this provision for
dependent children, mothers are
cared for and are removed from the
lists of those who now seek relief
employment.
The old-age insurance benefits
which, under the existing law, would
be first paid in 1912. would be paid
in 1940 To the credit of this fund
there is in the Treasury at least a
billion dollars. It is collected from
a pay roll tax, which is a deflation-
ary tax. If the payments are made
earlier, the increased purchasing
power will lessen the defationary
influence. At the same time, if we
make it possible for man Of IS
years to retire, we provide a Job
for a younger man.
Aid to Handicapped Persons.
I have provided for new cate
CORY of grants to the States where
State provides assistance for handi-
capped persons, who, because OF
physical or mental disability, cannot
secure employment in private enter
prise or on public works and who
are not entitled to help under the
provisions for old-age assistance or
assistance to dependent children.
The Federal Government wou.1
match on $3.50 basis such ex-
penditures by a State In every
State there are persons who are not
sick enough to be entitled to hos
pitalization by State or local gov
ernment, but who are not we'll
enough to do efficient work. They
just cannot get a job and cannot
get assistance. In many instances
sympathetic local officials charged
with establishing the eligible list for
w. P. A. workers place these people
on rolls. When they are unable
because Of their physical or mental
handicap to render efficient service
they arouse the criticism we so often
hear Of w. P. A. workers. The fact
that the State must put up so per
cent of the payments provides q
brake against abuse of. this system.
Because it is restricted to the handi-
capped, 1t does not place the Federal
Government in the position of con-
| tributing to general relief.
There is no reason why the EN-
ployment service, functioning in the
same organization with the unem-
ployment compensation, should not
advise Washington at least once a
week of the number of unemployed
in the State. The Congress and the
people will then know each week the
number of unemployed in the Ma
ton, with the exception of the 1ln-
employed domestic servants and
agricultural workers. If in a par
employment is noted for several
weeks, Government should come to
the rescue Of that section with pub
lie work projects.
Public Works Department.
I provide for q public works de-
partment. The establishment Of
such a department was urged last
year by President Roosevelt and
from time to time has been urged
by leaders of both political parties.
BY advance planning, that depart
ment should have on hand approved
plans for Federal projects and for
non-Federal projects. When in a
particular section it appears that
unemployment is increasing it
should Immediately give the order
to start work upon these projects.
Prompt action may prevent gen.
eral recession Of business. If the
recession spreads then the public
work program should spread. The