Evening star., 1954-01-15
Congress Is Pleased
AT Call for Expansion
OF Social Security
By the Associated Press

Dy tHe SNSSOG'0IS0 TtSSS
Congress appeared set today to
give delayed but enthusiastic ap-
proval to President Eisenhower's
plea for bigger benefits and more
taxes under a social security syS-
tenn covering almost the entire
population.
Seldom, in fact, has a White
House message on such a vast
and controversial subject pro-
duced so little vocal dissent as
the program sent to the Capitol
yesterday on old age and surviv-
ors' insurance.
House Speaker Martin gave
this appraisal today: There
isn't any question but that this
Congress will enact legislation
substantially carrying out the
Presidents program"
Democrats Support Seen.
A key Democratic leader, ask
ing not to be quoted by name,
said you can bet your bottom
dollar that few Democrats will
oppose it."
Chairman Daniel Reed of the
House Ways and Means Com
mittee praised the program and
said his committee will go to
work on it probably in early
March.
Mr.. Reed, who has fought the
President on other points and
who has opposed plans of Demo-
cratic administrations to liberal
ize social security. introduced
two bills to carry out the Eisen-
hover proposals.
One of Mr.. Reeds bills en-
braces the main proposal for ex-
tending coverage, raising bene-
fits and increasing from $500
to $4,000 the individual income
limit on which the 2 per cent So
cial security tax would apply
a S12 yearly per capita increase.
The other bill would put into
effect what is expected to be
the more controversial part of
the presidential program-revi-
sion OF Federal contributions to
States for direct relief to per-
sons not covered by OASI. in
Guiding some needy aged. blind.
disabled persons and dependent
children.
Bill Designed for Division.
Repeatedly. Mr.. Reed divided
the legislation so that. if opposi-
ton makes it necessary. OASI
expansion can be pushed with
out becoming involved in any
hight over the welfare program.
Monthly benefit increases
would go to those already re-
tired or receiving survivors pay-
ments and in larger measure to
those becoming eligible in the
future. The increases would
range from SIS to, ultimately.
$3.50 or more for families.
OASI coverage also would be
extended to almost the entire
working force-10.5 million ad-
ditional persons including doc
tors. lawyers and farmers.
Whether by design or COIN
cidence, the likely effective date
Tor increased benefits to some
six million persons already ELI
gible would be just before the
November congressional elections
one factor that undoubtedly
contributed to the popularity of
the program.
Acceptance Predicted.
Representative Kean, Repub-
hcan. Of New Jersey, Ways and
Means Committee member who
SpecialiZes in social security.
predicted Congress would accept
the Presidents OASI program
substantially as proposed"
He said he foreSeeS little seri-
GUS opposition to the benefit in
creases. or to a proposal permit
ing retired workers to earn UP to
$1,000 annually and still draw
social security benefits. The
present law forbids such pay
ment to worker between 65 and
rs for any month in which he
earns as much as SIS.
Mr.. Kean said the American
Medical Association would fight
expansion of coverage to include
doctors. and a proposal to give
permanently or totally disabled
persons full benefits based on
their period of work. not count
ing the period when they would
be forced out of covered employ
ment. But he said he thought
these sections would be approved.
MIR. Kean said some Congress-
men NAV onn0Sn incrna Sin0 tho