Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1940-10-17
Substance Of Secrests Speech On The Townsend Bill
Saturday Night October Il, In GAINESVILLE Auditorium

hood to secure or retain the pen
sion, he forever forfeits his right to
receive it, These penalties are such
that no man would wilfully attempt
to defraud the government. The
amount of the pension would be de-
termined entirely by the funds col
lected and the number of appli-
cants. In the congressional debate,
the author of the bill predicted
pension between $50 and $50. Even
though the amount be much less, We
will do the country a permanent
service by providing for the pay
ment of pensions as we go. Under
this system, no debt could accumu-
late and there could be no bank
ruptcy To secure the pension, the
applicant must agree not to engage
in any occupation. According to the
census bureau, over four and one
half million people are gainfully
employed working for others in the
United States. Less than one-half
that number are now employed on
the WPA. If one-half these people
gave up employment for an adequate
pension and gave their jobs to WPA
workers, the government would
save from one to two billion dollars
each year, in addition to the vast
amount of money spent by local
governments in sponsoring projects.
If more than One-half gave up their
work, hundreds of thousands of
young men would find the first op-
portunity for employment in their
whole lives.
This is the only bill in congress
that gives any substantial hope as
a solution to unemployment. 1t is
about the only bill that provides for
collecting the money before it is
spent The bill provides that no
pensioner shall support an able
bodied person in idleness, except
such person be a spouse. If he does,
he is subject to the penalties of los
ing his pension Neither can an
annuitant pay to any person salary
or wages out Of proportion to SER
vices rendered. Every annuitant
while receiving his annuity, must
pay each month his rent, and must
pay for all purchases or services
rendered. He is not only obliged tc
live within his income but must
pay his bills. Further, he must ap.
ply 1919 of every monthly install
ment on just obligations incurred
prior to his receiving the pension
: None of the money received as a
} pension can be used in gambling
. Every annuitant covenants and
, agrees to comply with all the pro-
} visions of the act, and, if he fails
he is subject to the most sane and
severe penalties ever imposed in
: any act of the congress.
In no legislation will you find
more solid, 100%, American prin-
ciples, and / say to you that if ev-
cry bill passed by the congress had
the same provisions, the moral and
spiritual fiber of the people would
be increased enough to bring this
country out of the depression in one
year SO much for the terms of the
bill.
Now, let us turn to the broader
questions involved. The present
Social Security Bill was a necessary
step to encourage all states to adoDt
, pensions as Ohio and many other
states had done prior to the passage
of the bill If this had not been
done, all industry would have NOV
ed to the few states which did not
tax for the payment of old age pen
sions Under the Social Security
Act, no farmer nor agricultural
worker, nor any man in business
for himself, has any right to con-
tribute funds for his old age retire
ment. A man in business may pay
tax on his employees for twenty
years. he may then go broke. His
employee, when they reach 65, re-
tire under the Social Security Act.
The employer, who pays ! % of his
employees wages now, 2@o after
1943, 21a % in 1916, and $50 in
1910 will find the man working for