Evening star., 1939-06-01

BY the Associated Press.
The Townsend old-age pension
bill was crushed in the House today
by an Overwhelming vote.
The totals were announced as 302
to 81 against the bill.
Just before the final vote a loud
chorus of noes squelched an effort
by Representative Treadway, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts to send
the bill back to committee.
Mr.. Treadway, ranking Repub-
hcan on the Ways and Means Com.
mittee, proposed that the legisla-
ton be returned to that group for
further consideration, with view
to bringing forth bill that would
provide "just and equitable pen
sions' for elderly persons "on a pay
as you go basis
Before debate on the proposal to
pay pensions up to 5000 a month
ended yesterday, Representative
Hendricks, Democrat, of Florida, the
bills sponsor, told the House in ref
erence to its opponents:
When the next election rolls
around there'll be many members
who'll have a most difficult time
laughing it off"
Turbulent Debate.
Arguments for and against the
controversial pension plan we're
aired in the day-long debate. which
at times became turbulent. The bill
was brought up under carefully laid
plans of the Democratic leadership,
requiring the House to accept it or
reject it without changes.
This strategy, it was generally con-
ceded on Capitol Hill, was designed
by the Democrats to force Republi-
cans to make known their position
on the plan. More Republicans than
Democrats have active Townsend
clubs in their districts, some men,
bers contend.
House opponents of the measure
Tor the most part criticized it as i'm.
practical and too costly for the Ma
tion to undertake. It's supporters,
on the other hand. asserted it would
provide not only adequate pensions
for the deserving aged, but also
would stimulate business recovery
and thus cut the costs of relief.
Merriment entered the discussion
several times. Opponents laughed
when Representative Short, Repub-
Gcan, CT Missouri, jibed:
This bill was conceived in igno-
rance, born in obscurity and des-
tined to oblivion"
Parade to Microphones.
In the parade of members to the
House microphones. Representative
Doughton, Democrat, of North Car
olina, said the bill would impose the
heaviest tax ever levied in all our
history" He declared it came from
"Cockeyed. crackpot, selfish econo-
mists."
Representative Hendricks, in ex-
planning the bill. declared:
1T is essentially a national recov-
cry plan or it is nothing"
Representative Oliver, Republican,
OF Maine, agreeing, said the Town
send principle recognizes the need
of underwriting our economy on a
cash rather than a debt basis"
representative Cooper, Democrat.
OF Tennessee charged that "the old
people have been deceived and mis-
led by supporters of the Townsend
movement into believing they will
receive pensions of 5000 a month"
Various proponents estimated the
pension would be about $50 a month
at the start.
Sweeney Issues Challenge.
This led Representative Shafer,
Republican, of Wisconsin to assert
that DR.. Francis E. Townsend,
champion of the pension plan, was
taking the crumbs from the old
people, holding out an impossible
hope"
Representative Sweeney, Republi-
con, of Ohio, on the other hand,
told the House:
Il challenge any member of this
body to prove that DR.. Townsend is
operating a racket organization