Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-22
By ]. A. O,LEARY


Proposals for far-reachins
changes in the Social Security
law are shaping up as one OF
the major issues for the next
session Of Congress.
They affect the armed forces
and Government employees. as
well as workers In private in
dustry. and probably will be
among the first problems tackled
by the Senate Finance Commit
tee.
One member Of that commit
tee. who was not ready to dis
cuss the merits Of the several
plans at this time. said he
thought they should be con-
sidered simultaneously, since
they would all have some effect
on the Social Security fund.
He indicated also that q thor
ough study Of the various pro-
poSals will be going on quietly
during the recess in prepara-
ton for hearings when Congress
reconvenes.
Two Bills Passed by House
Two bills on the subject-af-
fecting workers in private in
dustry and the armed forces
passed the House but reached
the Senate Finance Committee
too late for adequate hearings
before adjournment. They were:
/. A bill making women
eligible for Social Security re-
tirement at 81 instead of IS;
providing benefits to disabled
adults at SO. and extending COW
erage to additional groups Of
self-employed. except doctors.
q. A bill revamping the entire
system Of Government benefits
to survivors of servicemen and
veterans. While this is not pri-
marily q Social Security measure,
one section of it would place all
persons in the armed forces un-
der Social Security on q con-
tributory basis. This provision
would be a substitute for exist
ing law. which gives all men and
women in uniform q temporary
$3.50 per month gratiuitous
Social Security wage credit.
Federal Employe Coverage
The proposal to combine the
Civil Service retirement system
with the Social Security system
Ia not In either of the pending
bills. but has been under dis
cussion for several years. 1t was
brought into the picture as an
other Social Security issue for
the January session by President
Eisenhower a few days ago. when
he announced he will ask Con-
gresS to bring Federal employees
under the Social Security system
next year.
This may prove a highly con-
troverslal phase of the Social
Security problem. since most Of
the Government employe unions
are opposed to combining the
systems. They prefer to have
any improvement in the Govern
ment retirement benefits kept
within the framework Of the
separate Civil Service retirement
law.
The President made his views
on the subject known in vetoing
o bill which would have given
credit for retirement purposes to
employees in Federally- financed
state agricultural programs.
Joint System Urged
The President noted that the
number of persons who have
worked at various times for pri-
vate industry, Federal and State
Governments is increasing and
that only a joint Civil Service
Social Security system can solve
the problem.
The military survivors BENEFITS
bill individually will be kept as
o separate measure in the SEN
ate, because it contains many
important features which have
no bearing on Social Security.
But since the same committee
will be considering that bin and
general revision Of Social Sc
eurity for private industry, COM
mittee members are likely to
weigh the effects Of the section
in the military survivors bill
which would bring servicemen
under Social Security.
Veterans Get Gratuitoas Credit
The House report on the sur
vivors' bill estimated that more
than 20 million men who have
served in the armed forces since
September Is, 1910, have been
granted the $3.50 gratuitous wage
credits. Offlcials of the Depart
ment of Health, Education and
Welfare recommended that the
gratuitous wage credits be ter
minated and servieemen placed
under the contributory social