Evening star., 1954-01-04
Kean Asks Early Vote
On Bills 10 Broaden
Social Security Area


the House Ways and Means
. Committee warned Congress to-
day not to let committee delays
or impractical proposals" stall
action on social security meas
ures.
Representative Kean, Repub-
lican. of New Jersey called for
sprompt passage of several meas
cures previously introduced to
broaden social security coverage
and liberalize provisions.
q Another committee member,
Representative Simpson, Repub-
lican. of Pennsylvania, report
edly planned to introduce a bill
that would restore the social
security tax to is per cent each
on employers and employees.
That rate automatically went
up to 2 per cent on January /.
Presidents Views Awaited.
Meanwhile. House and Senate
members returning for the ses-
sion that opens Wednesday
awaited President EiSenhower's
message and it's recommended
tions on social security The
White House several months ago
wanted the tax rate frozen at
is per cent. But there was no
certainty at the Capitol today
that the administration still
wants it.
Ways and Means Committee
Chairman Reed. Republican, Of
New York: Representative Cur
tis, Nebraska Republican who
heads a subcommittee winding
up a year-long study of social
security, and Mr. Kean are
among many in Congress who
believe the rate increase should
remain in effect.
Mr.. Kean's comments on pos
sible legislative changes in the
social security system, however.
seemed aimed directly at Mr..
Reed and Mr. Curtis. His views
were more in line with the far
reaching program expected to be
submitted by the Eisenhower ad-
ministration. This is expected
to provide for a bigger social
security tax base and somewhat
higher retirement and survivors
benefit payments.
Curtis Seeking Changes.
Any program to be offered by
the White House and any Sug-
geStions by the Curtis subcom-
mittee would call for Ways and
Means consideration and prob |
ably long public hearings. Mr..
Curtis. moreover. personally will
put in a bill this week for major
changes in the social security
law, especially by providing for
monthly benefits of $45 for prac-
tically all retired persons over
IS.
Mr.. Kean recently predicted
that neither Congress nor the
Eisenhower administration would |
adopt that plan. He declared ,
today that Congress should act |
on several practical. sound and |
urgently needed" proposals for
improvements instead of slow |
ing down the wheels of progress |
with impractical suggestions
which Congress will inevitably |
reject"
Broadening Of COverage.
Urging Congress to reach gen. |
eral agreement on the extension
and broadening of coverage rec
commended earlier by the admin
1stration. he continued:
1--WE should also give addi-
tional protection to the benefit
rights Of those covered by the
social security program. Today
many thousands of people are
unable to realize the full amount
OF benefits under social security
because of permanent and total
disability. think the kind of
discrimination we should remove
from the social security system
is to enact a waiver Of premium
provision and protect the bene-
'f1ts OF those who become perma-
nently and totally disabled.
mo protracted hearings
would be necessary to enact this
legislation. The House passed
my provision to this end in 1852
but it is not now in the law.
Steps should also be taken this
year to liberalize the wage clause
which sets a minimum of $75 a
month on earnings without loss
OF social security benefits to
eligible persons over 65."