The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-10-18
Michigan in
Washington
sy Esther ian Waoon.r Tuftv

BY Esther IAN Wagner Tufty
The top man at the social securi.
ty hearings before the Finance
Committee is Senator Arthur II.
Nandenberg. Not only because the
Michigan senator was the man who
twice froze the payroll tax rate at
one per cent. But because no one
knows now including Vanden-
berg whether he will fight
the new proposal to raise the tax
for old-age insurance on Janu-
airy first from one TO two per cent
for both employer and employee.
The increase will occur automa-
tically under existing law, unless
Congress takes action before De-
cember 81. To Vandenberg. it's
matter of deciding whether the in.
crease is necessary. Social securi-
ty Chairman Arthur j. Altmeyer
said, To-day employment wages
and national income are at record
levels. II we depart again from
the original schedule at time
when ability 10 pay is at a maxi
mum, we increase the uncertainty
as to when the next step-up OF
rates will occur"
Besides, he stressed again and
again that the increase would be
deterrent to initiation.
Neither DR.. Altmeyer nor Sena-
tor Vandenberg were dogmatic.
The senator said that he shared
Altmeyer's desire to keep the sys-
TEN on a sound basis.
Senator Vandenberg, who has
been spending days on his arithme-
tic in preparation for these hear
ings, says il the rate goes up from
one TO two per cent, on employer
and employe, the reserve fund at
the end of the next FIVE year per-
iod would be between $1l,350, 600
600 to s14,600,O00,00P. depending on
unpredictable factors.
Vandenberg complimented Ait
never on his persuasive testl-
mony. But told reporters, immedi'
atelx after the first day hearing
that he was still unconvinced an
increase was utNCoodi = bNN ~
was keeping an open mind.
Once every three years, the
Daughters of tn American ReVo-
luton elect new president-general
at a Congress of their own in Wash
ington. Also, slate of officers. Is
elected too. . but the real int
crest is for the presidency.
The politicking is terrific, Much
OF the precinct work, OF course Is
done back in the home state OF the
candidate. When a OAR candidate
is running for office, the procedure
is subtitle. The candidate must be
modest. She's given no opportunl-
~ to make campaign speeches.
Many arrive by the letter route.
influential OAR. members write
bevy of their friends, scattered
here and there about the country,
The right publicity and lots OF II
is considered imperative.
Like the politicians for public OF,
flee there's apt to be sectional
blocs. The Michigan bloc is all
out for coping the coveted honor
for one OF their own at the next
election in April. She's MRS.
George d. Schermerhorn. Of Read
ing. a former State Regent. Now
an honorary advisor. she's coming
TO Washington October IS for Ma
tional Board meeting.
II looks like a close race this
time. Two other candidates are
in the field. The South is back
ing Mrs. julius Y. Talmadge, OF
Georgia. and in the Middle West,
the Michigan woman has opposi-
ton in the Illinois contestant, Mrs.
Samuel Campbell.
The Florida Barge Canal fight.
which was killed by one vote of
Congress last year has begun all
over again. Rep. Joe Hendricks,
Florida Democrat. has introduced
bill TO approve the - million dol
lars for the already authorized ca
nal.
The approval of two Michigan
men is highly sought by the sup
porters for the construction Of the
Emile link in the 1000 mile wat
erway from the Texas oil-felds TO
the oil-starved East.
They're Senator Arthur Nanden-
berg and Congressman Albert En-