Evening star., 1952-07-19
House COP. Danced
To ANA Lobbyists
1une,' Truman Says
BY the Assoeiated Press

BY the Assoeatsd Press
President Truman has under
scored his anger at Republican
Congressman by promise to tell
the voters 'how the Republicans
dance when a well-heeled lobbyist
pipes q tune"
Mr.. Truman signed last night q
bill increasing social security bene-
fits by $40 million a year. But
he declared maneuvering by the
American Medical Associations s
lobby had impaired insurance
protection for millions of disabled
Americans"
He insisted "this victory for the
lobby. at the peoples expense. was
accomplished by a great majority
Of Republicans in the House"
While secrecy enveloped Mr..
Truman's choice of a Democratic
presidential nominee, he made no
secret of the kind of campaign
he wants leveled at the Republic
cans in tWo-page statement &C
companying the signing of the
social security legislation.
The bill. one of 234 the Presi-
dent acted on while away from
his Office, increases old-age and
survivors insurance benefits by an
average of $6 a month. 1t makes
certain increases in the minimum
benefits under the railroad retire.
ment system.
These increases become effec-
tive for the month of September
and will add to the incomes of
more than Az million people now
drawing benefits from these in
surance systems" he said.
Benefits for Servicemen.
Both systems increase from $50
to $75 month the amount a
person can earn without losing
his Insurance benefit. In addi-
ton, members of the armed forces
serving from l947 through 1858
will receive the same employment
credit under the social security in
surance system that was granted
Servicemen in World War II.
An increase of $3.50 million a
year in Federal contributions to
the States will make it possible
to increase assistance payments
to million dependent children
and aged, blind and disabled citi-
zens now receiving State help.
The increases amount to about
So a month for children and SIS
a month for the rest, the Presi-
dent said.
Mr.. Truman called the meas
ure legislative achievement for
Chairman Daughton of the House
Ways and Means Committee, who
is retiring this year. He credited
Mr.. Doughton with leading the
fight against the provision which
drew his fire.
This, he said, supposedly pre-
served an individuals insurance
rights in the event of disability,
but was in which Congress takes
away with one hand what it ap-
pears to give with the other"
Sentence Added.
The President said this was done
by making the provision pur-
portedly begin July /, 1858, but
adding a sentence saying it will
cease to be in effect on June 80,
1858. 7
The President said that the
House committee headed by Mr..
Doughton recommended that aged
persons whose disability ha d
forced them into early retirement
be permitted to have their bene-
fits recomputed so that lost time
would not count against them.
He said this objective was. in
effect. defeated in such a reveal
ing example of how the Republi-
cans dance when a well-heeled
lobbyist pipes a tune that I think
1t warrants being brought to the
particular attention of the Ameri-
can people in this election year"
The medical profession had OBJ
jected to a system proposed for
certifying disability, contending it
gave the Federal Security Agency
too much authority in prescribing
rules for medical examinations.
When the House voted, nearly 10
per cent Of the Republicans were
against the bill, Mr.. Truman de-
clared.
Many Changed Minds.
The bill was sent back to COM
mittee, the President continued,
and, when the story got around
as to what had happened, great
number of Republicans apparent
ly decided "they couldn't take the
heat when they got caught. for.
when the bill was reported and
again brought to the floor, only
IL per cent Of the Republicans
persisted in their opposition"
While the bill passed the House
June II, on its second try. the
President said, "the American
Medical Association lobby had
accomplished what it wanted just
the same" He said the months
delay in the House created such
situation that the Senate could act
before adjournment only by dis
pensing with hearings. Faced
with the medical associations de-
mand to be heard on the disability
provision, the President said, the
Senate committee decided to drop
it rather than schedule time
consuming hearings which might
lose the chance for Senate action
on the bill.
Mr.. Truman said that what the
lobby could not engineer out
right, it won by delay" with the
help of a great majority Of House
Republicans.
"They were perfectly willing to
deny to millions of Americans the
benefits provided by this bill in