Evening star., 1943-01-21
Green Cites Security
Benefits in Bill for
New u. 5. Employees
Senator, in Forum,
Says Many Now Losing
Rights Stored Up

Senator Green, Democrat, OF
Rhode Island said last night in the
National Radio Forum, sponsored
by The Evening Star, that many
thousands of new Federal Govern
ment employees, who are now en-
dangering their social security rights
after paying contributions for sew
eral years in private employment
would be qualified for benefits in
the event his bill for broadening the
Social Security Act is approved by
Congress.
Senator Green said in his address,
which was broadcast over WMAL
and the Blue Network. that this
protection should be extended to all
workers, except those who have
been certified by the Civil Service
Commission.
Those not given civil service re-
tirement protection, Senator Green
asserted, at present are left out in
the cold" These include employees
in war agencies here, and in arse
mails and munitions plants.
Lose Protection After Time.
Il hope" he said, that most of
these workers will before very long
so back to private employment and
it is important for them that all of
their work, including this Gov
ernment employment, should be
counted together in determining the
benefits to which they may be en-
titled"
He pointed out that when they
reported for Government work their
social security benefits decreased
and "as time goes on they will lose
whatever protection they may have
had and they do not acquire any
similar protection in Government
employment"
He added that most employees in
regular Government departments
come under the civil service re-
tirement system, "but this provides
little protection for dependents or
survivors, and nothing even for the
workers themselves until they have
been employed at least five years"
Some Special Systems.
llC Sdlu.
"The problem here is complicated
by the fact that there are a num-
Der of special retirement systems for
various Government groups unre-
lated to one another although a
given worker may be affected by
several of these systems during his
working life time.
In my bill I outlined a plan
which will provide coverage under
the Social Security Act for all Fed
eral employees, except those who are
certified by the Civil Service Com
mission to be covered under some
other satisfactory program. This
seems to be the simplest way to ges
at this matter for the present. Some
day it may be possible to merge all
Of these separate systems"
Senator Green's bill follows pro-
posals by the Social Security Board
for extension of coverage to groups
now excluded, permanent and tenn
porary disability and hospital care.
1t does not go along with the boards
recommendations with respect to
liberalization of the State con-
trolled unemployment compensation
system.
He said he proposed to leave un-
employment compensation just as it
Is now" until further studies are
completed. He explained that this
system has become so confused with
political, If not partisan, issues of
States-rights versus Federal admin
istration, that it may be difficult to
consider unemployment insurance
on its merits"
Proposes Per Cent Tax.
Senator Green proposed an per
cent tax on payrolls to pay the costs
of the expanded program. This
would call, he said, for contributions
OF 212 per cent each for workers
and employers, which does not in
clude the 3 per cent unemployment
compensation tax now being paid by
employers. Secretary of Labor Per-
kins, in speech Tuesday, said the
new social security program would
call for 10 per cent tax on employ
ers and employees.
In conclusion, Senator Green
said, when peace comes at last, we
will have discovered that a wealth
Of material things, such as America
has boasted of in the past, is not
enough.
I'VE must consider the needs of
all classes and kinds of people and
we must serve them. There will not
be enough wealth in the world to
save us If it is indiscriminately
packed as so much cargo on one side
of the ship, unbalanced. We shall
pitch over, and the gorged and the
hungry will go down together. But
balanced and nationally distributed
for the rightful sharing of all, our
cargo will keep and nourish and
prosper all Of us, the lesser as well
Is the greater, the last as we'll as
the first. This means social Sc
r1ritv "