Evening star., 1939-02-12
Hearings on Byrnes
Public Works Bill 10
StartThis Week
Measure Would Set Up
Department, Broaden
Social Security Act
By ]. A. OLEARY.

An Appropriations Subcommittee
will start hearings this week on
the bill for permanent solution OF
the unemployment problem by
broadening the Social Security Act
and establishing unified depart
ment of public works, Senator
Bvrnes Democrat, of South Caro-
lima announced yesterday.
At the same time Senator Byrnes
gave assurance the measure would
be reworded to make sure the pub
lie works section would apply to the
District on the same basis as the
States if that is found necessary.
He made the statement in COM
menting on the fact one OF the
definitions in the bill as introduced
sets forth that the term State
shall include Alaska, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico. He said there was no
intention of excluding the District.
Within four months from the
passage of the bill both w. P. A.
and P. w. A would cease to exist
as separate agencies. Their func-
tions would be consolidated in the
new department Of public works.
Other agencies that would go into
the new department are: Public
Buildings Branch of the Procure
ment Division of the Treasury, the
Agriculture Department. Bureau OF
Public Roads, the Civilian Con-
servation Corps and the National
Youth Administration.
Follows Committee Findings.
The bill follows in general the
findings of the Senate Unemploy-
ment Committee, which decided that
the unemployment compensation
feature of the social security pro-
gram should be the first line of
defense" in a permanent plan to
keep down unemployment, supple
mented by public works.
Accordingly the bill proposes to
liberalize some of the standards laid
down in the original Social Security
Act which the States must meet In
their local laws in order to receive
approval of the Social Security
Board.
Senator Byrnes said a consider
able number of the States probably
will have to amend their State un-
employment compensation laws TO
come within the more liberal condl-
tions which the bill proposes to add
to the Social Security Act.
One of the new conditions which
State laws would have to comply
with to win approval calls for pay
ment to a laid-off worker of COM
pensation on the basis Of an amount
at least equal to one weeks benetlt
for each four weeks of employment
If the individual, as condition to
receiving the benefit, is not required
to have worked more than 26 weeks
out Of the year. and is not required
to have been idle for more than one
week before compensation starts.
Another new condition would es-
tablish a set Of minimum weekly
benefit rates, based on the workers
salary While employed. 1t starts
with not less than S5 a week for
those who were earning SIS while
employed, and goes up gradually to-
80 Weekly 1OI lllOSe VIII cal lleo
more than $50 week.
John Marshall, in charge of the
Districts unemployment compensa-
ton law, said last night he has not
had opportunity yet to study the
terms of the Byrnes bill in relation
to the local law as it now stands.
He pointed out however, that his
last report recommended that the
present three-Week waiting period
here be shortened. The Byrnes bill
would stipulate a one-week waiting
period. He said his report also rec
commended a formula that would
make the weekly benefit payment
here half the workers average
weekly wage, with SIS as the
maximum.
The Federal old-age retirement
system, which is not slated to start
until July l, 1912, would be moved
up to January /, 1910. This would
hasten the time when workers who
have reached IS would be eligible
to retire on an annuity, thereby
opening up job opportunities in
industry.
Early Consideration Sought.
The bill also amends portions of
the Social Security Act providing for
Federal aid to the States in payment
of old-age gratuities, pensions to the
blind and home care for dependent
children. These features of the law
already are operating, but the new
bill changes the terms under which
the Federal Government adds to the
payments made by the States.
Under the new public works plan,
the amount to be spent in any year
to augment private employment
would have to be apportioned among
the States, one-half on the basis of
population and one-half on the basis
of the number of unemployed.
Whereas the percentage of local con-
trlbution now varies as between
w. P. A. and P. w. A projects, this
bill calls for a uniform requirement
that not less than one-third of the
cost must be the local contribution.
Senator Byrnes indicated he hopes
to expedite the hearings in order to
begin early consideration of the de-