The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-01-18
Special Session Of
LegisIo+ure Urged
Labor and Eugles Demand
ing Action On Old Age
Pension Law
(By Ohio Labor News Service)

(By Ohio Labor News Service)
Columbus, O.-Joint efforts of the
Ohio State Federation of Labor and
the Fraternal Order of Eagles in
Ohio to bring about a special session
of the Legislature for the purpose Of
increasing old age pensions in Ohio
and making needed changes in the ad-
ninistration of the law, are showing
results.
Since the first Of the year senti-
ment has been increasing in the capitol
for special session and it is believed
| that the governor will now consider
issuing a call for a special session for
pension increases and possibility for
relief and one or two other specific
purposes.
For months the chief executive has
turned deaf ear to the demands of
cities, Cleveland and Toledo in par
ticular, that he call a special session
to deal with the relief problem, in
sisting that this should be dealt with
as local problem.
Executive Boards of the Federation
and the Fraternal Order of Eagles
have been in close touch with the
situation and are to meet in Columbus
again January 10 to receive a report
from the joint committee appointed
several weeks ago to study the stu
alton and recommend a plan of pro-
cedure.
Senator Horace Keifer, of Spring
field, who has handled much of the old
age pension legislation for the two
groups has been authorized to pre-
pare specific amendments to the aid
for the aged law which will be pro-
posed.
| Briefly these amendments include
increasing the maximum monthly
pensions from $50 to $40 a month, in
conformity with the recent amend
ments to the federal Social Security
Act and placing the department under
the management and control of a
council Of five instead of the State
Welfare Department
While there has been more or less
discussion as to what the actual bal
ance of the states general fund is at
/ the close of the year, tentative figures
compiled by the governors finance
director disclose S2,425,0O0 surplus
| Treasurer of State Don H. Ebright
reports receipts from the sales tax for
the year 1889 to December % of S45,-
1856, ,796.E or an increase Of 15 per
cent over the amount collected for the
same period in 1888.
At this rate Of increase Sales Tax
revenues for the whole year may ex-
ceed forty-six million dollars, sur
passing the previous estimates which
placed income from this source at
forty-fve million dollars for the year.
Sales tax receipts for the week end
ing December % were 81 ATS, ,383.54 or
an increase of 20 per cent over the
same week of 1888.
| With this neat surplus in the state
treasury along with the prospect Of
continued business improvement it is
felt that it is easily possible for the
state to finance the increase in pen
sions to the needy aged of the state
also to adequately finance relief needs.
Legislative leaders are said to be
favorable to special session for the
purpose of increasing the old age
pensions inasmuch as the federal gov
ernment will finance half of the in
creased cost. The consensus Of opin-
ion is that it should be called early
in February.
However the final decision rests
with Governor Bricker. He is the
only person who can convoke a special
session and he must specify in his call
the subjects to be considered.