The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-14
BY GERRY DICK
NEA servIoe staa Corresponaent

NEA Service Stan Correspondent Washington, Aug. 14.-There will be fireworks if the, National Defense Commission recommends postpone ment of the governments antitrust suit against 22 major oil companies. Some liberals in Congress who feel the administration Is becoming "too conciliatory" to big business promise q congressional tnvestiga- ton if the case is buried.
 And Thurman Arnold baked for the first time since he became chief of the Justice Departments anti trust division may have to be fired ''to eliminate interference with the production of war essentials.D Arn- old will go down fighting, even if he has to fight the administration.
 The administration may put pres sure on, Arnold to postpone the suit or to suspend antitrust laws. Tn that event Arnold will likely wind up on the outside. Such happen ing would be embarrassing all the way around to the New Deal in this election year.
 The suit was ready several days ago.. but 1t wasn't filed. Instead there was a polite exchange of notes between Attorney General Jackson and the Defense Commission. Now the case is being held up temporar- fly at least until the commission in- forms itself of the effect of such action on the defense program. It was to be the antitrust suit of the century, and this delay has made lot of people sore.
 Anti-trust division lawyers deny the suit would disorganize petro- leum production and distribution now, point out that 18 months at least would be required to bring the case to court.
 SOCIAL SECURITY
 FIVE YEARS OLD
 Aug. IA marks the fifth anniver- sary of signing of the social security bill by President Roosevelt. Changes since the laws original passage have made it more generous to benefic- iaries and have reduced the amount of the taxes levied on business to maintain the aged, indigent and un- employed.
 Nearly two billion indigent in 48 states are now receiving monthly checks. The exact number as last computed amounted to 1883, 300 in- dividuals who drew total of $1 ,502- 0O9, 9,565 for one month. Half of this amount was in grants from the fed eral treasury and the remainder came from state treasuries. The social security act permits payments of as much as $40 month to each dependent person. Most states pay less.
 Benefits for needy children are fixed at SIS 8 month for the first child and $12 for each child after the first. Today there are 807,- 300 dependent children who draw a total of $350, 0,154, ,088 each month. Needy blind number 48000; they receive $46, ,990 ,532 monthly.
 THIRTY MILLION
 HAVE INSURANCE
 FIICy mllllOn people are now on the books of the board of old age insurance. Many of the people are inactive because they have gone into business for themselves or for other reasons. Active participants would probably number between 28,000,0 ,00O and 30,00O,000.
 Under this insurance law em- N& their wages into a federal fund. The empower pays the same amount. The fund is held by three trustees the secretary of the treasury, chair man of the social security board, and the secretary of labor. On June 30 this year the fund amounted to $1,738, 100000.
 Insurance payments are made to 102,941 persons monthly, for total of $1,900,000.