Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-12-30
kean Predicts
Curtis Pension
Plan Defeat
Brood Proposal
Called Threut to
Security Fund
BY the AsseeIatsd Press

Representative Kean, Republic
can, of New Jersey predicted
today neither the Eisenhower
administration nor Congress will
adopt a key Republican COL
leagues plan to pay social Sc
curity pensions to almost every
one over IS.
Representative Curtis, Repub-
lican. of Nebraska. chairman Of
social security subcommittee of
the House Ways and Means
Committee, outlined the far
reaching new program yesterday.
It seemed destined for heated
controversy when Congress re-
convenes next week.
Mr.. Kean, fourtll-ranking Re-
publican on the Ways and Means
Committee. has been an Eisen-
hover supporter and has taken
a special interest in social Sc
curity. He said Mr.. Curtis plan
would undermine the social Sc
curity trust fund.
S45 Minimum Proposed.
Mr.. Curtis called in effect for
pensions now for all retired per-
sons over IS years old. and for an
increase in the monthly mini
mum social security benefit from
the present $25 to $45.
He estimated this would add
some S million new aged per-
sons. $4,000 children and $780,
900 widows or orphans to the
old age retirement and survivors
insurance benefit rolls, more
than doubling the present num-
Der.
Mr.. Curtis said the new mini
mum would increase benefits for
more than 100000 aged per-
sons. 100000 orphans and 100.-
900 widows already on the rolls.
He called for tax contributions
from all workers under IS, levied
on all types of income. He would
let the rate Jump from IL to 2
per cent Of incomes UP to $500
annually. paid by workers and
employers alike, as scheduled
Friday. He estimated this would
bring more than 10.5 million
doctors. lawyers. farmers and
others from the present working
force into the system.
Would End DuaI Program.
His universal pension plan
would end the present dual pro-
gram Of aid to the aged. The old
age program provides retirement
or death benefits based on con-
tributions from workers and en-
ployerS.
A separate program has pro-
vided more than 81 billion an
nually in Federal welfare grants
to some 2.5 million aged and de-
pendent children. based on their
need. State and local govern
ments also contribute to this pro-
gram and administer it locally.
Mr.. Curtis would abolish the
Federal portion of this program,
but State and local governments
could provide welfare payments
to the needy if they wished.
Since the welfare program is
included in the regular Federal
budget, while social security trust
fund operations are not. this
would give a billion dollar boost
to the G. o. P. drive to balance
the regular Federal budget.
dishonest Approach"
Mr.. Kean said it would be "a
dishonest approach to let the
present aged population raid the
social security trust fund built
up by contributions from workers
under the present system for
their own future protection"
He said he thought the Eisen-
hover administration definitely
would oppose such a move and
added: Il shouldn't think it
would have much of a chance
in Congress"
He termed the Curtis pro-
posal a baby Townsend plan"
and predicted it would cost more
than $23 billion before all the
present aged, who have made no
social security tax contributions.
exhausted their benefits.