Evening star., 1939-11-27
Proposals 10 Amend
Security Act Face
Committee Fight
Several on House Group
Reported Opposed to
Changes Next Session

b the Associated Press.
Proposals for amending the Social
Security Act at the next Congress
session will run into strong opposi-
ton in the House Ways and Means
Committee, the group that starts all
such legislation through the con-
gressional mill.
Representative Buck, Democrat, of
California, a committee member,
said he was opposed to opening the
act to amendment again this year
and that he knew of several other
committee members who held the
same view.
The law was given "a thorough
overhauling" at the last regular ses-
sion of Congress, Mr.. Buck said,
adding that 'in my opinion the
Ways and Means Committee is 60
ing to give the new law some time
to operate before 1t considers other
changes"
Representative Woodruff, Repub-
hcan, of Michigan, another commit
tee member, said he likewise doubted
that the committee would approve
any basic changes in the act next
session. He said, however, that red
tape connected with tax collections
under the law was "a shocking
thing and that he hoped some ad-
mlnistrative changes might be made
to ease the burden of tax returns on
employers.
McNutt for Increase.
Some proposed changes may have
administration backing. Paul v.
McNutt, administrator OF the Fed
eral Security Agency, has indicated
that he favors increased aid for
the needy aged, larger unemploy-
ment insurance benefits and possibly
changes in the system of old age
insurance for workers.
Mr.. Buck pointed out that
changes affecting all three classi-
flcations were made in the recent
amendments. effective next jan
uary /.
The maximum Federal contribu-
ton to States for relief Of the needy
aged was increased from SIS to $40
q month. Unemployment insurance
was extended to include new cat
egory-employeS of banks and SIM
liar institutions-andc changes were
made in its tax provisions. The
system of payments under old age
insurance was overhauled drastically
and new categories added.
Mr.. Buck said it was his view
that these changes should be per-
mitted to operate over a period of
time before further amendments
were considered.
Meanwhile, it was learned that
old age insurance benefits of between
100000 and 100000 workers covered |
by the law are in temporary jeop-
ardy because of mistakes and cmis-
sions in employers wage reports.
Names Are Checked.
John Corson, director of the Bu-
reau of Old-Age Insurance, said his
field force has been constantly
checking with employers since last
June trying to get the correct names
or social security card numbers of
workers whose wage credits are now
listed as belonging to John Doe"
Old-age insurance benefits Of re-
tired workers are figured on the
amount of wages they have earned
since the social security system went |
into operation.
Wage items reported without the
employees correct name, or without |
his social security number, are
suspended until a check is made
with the employer.
Out of the $55 900, 900 900 of wages
reported for some 3O,0OO0,000 work.
ers since the social security system
began operating in 1887, 1.9 per cent |
are on the suspended" list, Mr..
Corson said. In 1887, the suspended
wage items amounted to 10 per
cent Of the total reported.