Evening star., 1949-03-24
A|tmeyer0 0ut|inesP|an
For Tax Stamps 10
Boost Social Security
By the Assoeiofsd Press

OVV9I JVIIoI JCIulHy
BY ths Asseeiatsd Press
A new "stampbook" tax-paying
system was suggested today by
the administration to help make
possible q vast expansion Of social
security.
The stamp system is designed
principally for farm workers and
household help who would be
among the 100000 new workers
blanketed under old-age insur-
ance If Congress approves the
expansion.
Arthur j. Altmeyer, social Sc
eurity commissioner. projected the
tax plan as he laid before the
House Ways and Means Commit
tee the details of President Tru-
mans program.
The program would:
l. Increase the coverage of old
age and survivors insurance from
30,000,000 to 50,000,0O0 workers;
2. Nearly double insurance bene-
hts: 3. Create new insurance
program for disabled workers, and
(. Reduce the pension age" for
women from IS to go.
Stiff resistance already has
formed against Mr.. Truman's pro-
posal to increase the security tax
take from the present $1,000, ,OO0,-
600 a year to around $5,000,-
100000.
AS a part of the battle to pre-
vent "destitution," Mr.. Altmeyer
said. the insurance program
should be expanded to include
100000 farm operators, 100000
urban self-employed Qawyers,
doctors. businessmen. etc.. 3.000,-
900 domestic or household work.
ers and 4.7o0,0OO hired farm
workers.
And while the President had
some rough things to say about
pollsters after last November's
election, Mr.. Altmeyer today
quoted from a Gallup poll to
show that most farmers want
social security insurance.
The categories of employed
persons he listed were skipped
when the Social Security Act first
was passed IL years ago because
of administrative difficulties. par
ticularly in the collection of the
tax.
Mr.. Altmeyer said this problem
has been licked. largely by the
idea Of a stamp book system. He
explained it this way:
Under such a system each
employe would receive stamp
book in which stamps would be
placed by his employer to evi-
dence contributions made by the
employer and the worker.
Post Office Would Handle Stamps.
In rural areas the employer
could purchase these stamps from
the mail carrier, and in urban
areas they could be purchased at
Post Offices. A stamp plan could
be used also by small industrial
and commercial establishments
which found it more convenient.
For regular workers on large
scale farms, where pay records are
already kept, the system OF re-
porting now used in industry might
be most convenient.
For the rest-that Is, for the
workers on small farms and the
temporary help employed during
rush seasons-it might be more
convenient to use a stamp plan.
Whenever he paid his workers,
the farmer could place special
social security insurance stamps
in books carried by the workers.
Half the cost of these stamps
would be borne by the employe.
Reports Would Be Eliminated.
THE books would be accepted
by the Social Security Admins
tration as evidence Of earnings.
and the farmer would not need to
make any report or keep any spe-
cial records for the purpose.
It is assumed that the same
plan would work for the house.
hold servant-with the housewife
operating the stamp system when
she paid her maid.
But the great bulk Of social Sc
curity taxes still would be collect
ed through levies on employees pay
and employers payrolls. Mr.. Alt
meyer said most of the farm op-
orators and city self-employed. II
they were brought under the pro-
gram, could report their income,
for purposes Of social security
coverage. as part Of the income
tax returns.
The administration also wants
brought into the program public
employees. workers for nonprof1t
organizations and those statesmen,
insurance agents and others ex-
cluded last year.
Mr.. Altmeyer proposed that all
World War II veterans receive
wage credits for their service, in
computing social security benefits.
Part of Program Opposed.
A survey of House Ways and
Means Committee members indi-
Gated today that this group is
ready to reject fatty the Presi-
dents plan to extend direct Fed
eral financial aid or home relief"
to all needy persons. including the
unemployed. Such relief now is
limited to the needy aged, the
blind and to dependent children.
AS for the proposal to increase
payroll taxes, Representative Mills.
Democrat, Of Arkansas, said: