Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-01-06
Program For Raising Low
Income Up To Congress
BY NATHAN ROBERTSON
for Labor Press Association

w ings have given Congress program based
on remarkable unanimity of opinion from
experts on what needs to be done to raise the
incomes Of 10 million American families now
forced to live on less than $4,000 year.
Rarely has Congress faced tougher or
bigger problem Yet rarely has there been so
much agreement on how to handle a major
national problem. More than 30 experts from
within and outside the government, including
economists social workers, spokesmen for
farm and labor groups, educators, and rell-
gious leaders appeared before the Joint Con-
gressional Economic Subcommittee headed by
Senator John Sparkman d., Ala) to offer
suggestions. Most of them agreed on what
needs to be done.
The subcommitte is now preparing re-
port for the full committee. If it follows the
suggestions OF the experts, the Committee VIII
recommend enactment of the whole Fair Deal
program submitted by President Truman, plus
other measures going beyond what the Presi-
dent has asked. Virtually everything that la
Dor and liberal groups have been fighting for
would be approved by Congress.
Heading the recommendations from almost
every witness was the maintenance of lasting
full employment. 1t was generally agreed that
without that as starting point little could be
done to improve the lot of the millions of
families and individuals now existing In pow
erty or near poverty
But there was almost complete agree
ment on a whole program Of positive legisla-
tive proposals. Here Is summary:
Social Security: Almost every witness
backed pending proposals to modernize and
liberalize the social security laws so they
would cover more of the population and pro-
vide more adequate benefits for the aged and
handicapped Some witnesses went far be-
yond pending proposals, urging nationaliza-
tion of the unemployment insurance law and
insurance for temporarily disabled workers,
neither of which is provided in the bill which
passed the House last session,
Minimum Wage: Many proposed higher
minimum wage than the rs cents fixed by
Congress last session, and all who discussed
the subject urged expansion Of the coverage
through both federal and state legislation.
Health Almost every witness stressed the
necessity for federal action in the field of
health, the American Medical Association to
the contrary. Many specifically urged enact
ment Of the proposed national health insur-
ance bill. Others talked in more general terms
of the need for federal action, stressing the
part bad health plays in cutting down family
incomes
Education: Almost every witness stressed
the importance OF better educational facilities
for American youth and recommended federal
action to provide them. The federal aid-to-
education bill now pending in the House was
series of other proposals including scholar
ships better vocational training, and eXanded
appropriations for school construction and
teachers salaries
Regional Development: Witnesses stressed
the problem areas where most of the inhabi-
tants are in the low income category because
OF regional or area problems. The experience
OF IA was frequently cited AS the pattern for
solving such regional problems.
Rehabilitation of the Disabled: Expansion
OF current rehabilitation programs was gen
orally recommended Most of the witnesses
stressed that IL Is cheaper to rehabilitate the
disabled than TO support them as invaids
Low-Income Farmers: Witnesses generally
agreed on expansion Of help to low-income
farmers through the Farm Home Corporation
program extension of social security and the
wage-hour law to farmers, and broad pro-
gram 10 help migrant farm workers.
Fair Employment Practices: Many of the
witnesses stressed the special handicaps faced
by minority groups in getting Jobs and recon-
mended enactment of the FEPC legislation.
This, however, faced strong opposition from
Chairman Sparllman
There was little discussion OF the cost OF
these programs but most witnesses stressed
the idea that in the long run il would be
cheaper TO enact these measures than to do
without them. The~cost of poverty to COM
munities and the nation was heavily empha-
sized. Many OF the proposals were offered as
good investments, or as more economical ways
of handling the problem than the way we
handle it now
The program outlined by the witnesses in
these hearing will be enacted sooner or later.
The sooner the better for the &C Intry-the
rich as well as the poor.