Evening star., 1955-06-21
|DernocratsBa
Social Security
Open Hearings
By Robert X. Walsh

BY Robert X. Walsh
Democrats of the House Ways
and Means Committee today re-
|jected a request by Welfare Sec
retary Hobby for full and OPEN
hearings on proposed social SCI
Ieurity benefN changes she said
might cost more than 50 billion
Ia year.
On straight party votes. is to
10, the Democratic members also
defeated Republican motions not
only for public sessions but also
for consideration of a much
wider range Of possible amend
Iments than was suggested BY
Chairman Cooper, Democrat, of
Tennessee.
The closed sessions which
started this morning. principally
on three main revisions recon-
mended by Mr.. Cooper, original
ly were scheduled to last three
days. Members said later that
the hearings probably will con-
tinue next week.
Mrs. Hobby's request was in a
seven-page letter she wrote in
reply to Mr.. Cooper's invitation
to department and social secur-
Iity officials to testify or provide
comments on his proposals. Sew
eral of the officials were present
at the hearings today.
Letter Raises Questions
Although Mrs. Hobby did not
specifically approve Or disap-
prove the Cooper recommenda-
tions for changes in disability
benefits provisions and the re-
tirement age for women, she
showed no enthusiasm for them.
Her letter raised numerous ques-
tions she said should be dis
cussed thoroughly by Govern
ment and other expert witnesses
at extensive hearings.
"It is our firm conviction"
she wrote, that a thorough
going review and inquiry into
the issues raised by the draft
tMr. Cooper's amendments) are
essential. We believe this COM
mittee could best serve the
American people by setting up
la study commission or advisory
council as was done in 1916
by this committee and in 1948
Iby the Senate Finance Com
Imittee.
"A commission or council,
particularly if given a mandate
Ito consider certain specified
problem areas, could assure that
no important consideration is
overlooked and that the views
of all are taken into considera-
|tion. Either this committee or
Ithe study commission could con-
Iduct full and open hearings on
measures of the type in the
draft"
The committees first session
today did no reach a discussion
of financial aspects Of the pro-
posed changes in the social Sc
lcurity system. Mrs. Hobby's
letter did not say whether these
proposed changes would necessi-
tate a higher social security tax
Cost Put In Billions
The letter, however, estimated
that the average annual cost
would exceed 50 billion.
| 1t also emphasized the neces-
sity of protecting the "integ-
Irity" of the old age and sur
vivor's insurance trust fund.
THE integrity of the fund
cannot. in my opinion, be pro-
Itected if we are to commence
now to deviate from the pat
tern of deliberate. full, and care
Iful consideration which has
marked all prior mapor amend
ments to the OASI system. The
actuarial status of the fund is
too vital to the welfare of our
people. the employed, the self
Iernployed and their families, to
permit of even the possibility of
hasty action without full under
standing by all members of this
Icommittee, Congress and the
american people, of the impli-
Ications of that action she said
Sought Other Changes
Republican members of thu
committee said they sought
not only full public hear
/ ings but also consideration o1
: a much longer list of possible
changes. These included pro-
4 Iposed reduction in the retire.
ment age for men, extended COW
erage to several hundred thou
t sand persons not now included
t in the system. and a provision
= whereby aged persons receiving
h benefit payments could continue
to earn larger income from spe'
!, Gifted types of employment.
/, Before the committee met
. several Democratic members sale
a they were confident that a bill
a containing Mr.. Cooper's pro-
posals would be reported ou
\ very soon and passed by tn,
House.
r In the Senate. however. ther'