| Show NO HAM AND EGGS pension sentiment eav expected V acted to boom when vaen payments start next month by STEPHEN BRAINTREE released by western newspaper union ASHINGTON TIT HINGTON califor WAP mans wont eat ham and eggs this winter nor will dr francis E townsend cash a a month pension check ohio has repudiated the bigelow old age retirement plan too but the smart politicians arent fooling themselves the high pressure pension advocates will bust into full fury before elections have become history the ruffled gray hair of americas elders may be smoothed somewhat on january 1 when first benefits are paid under the federal old age retirement plan A little is better than nothing but its only a drop in the bucket compared to the demands instead of placating the aging voters in a presidential election year the small social security payments payment s may well boodea bo boomerang omea back to the white house you cant taste cake without wanting more pension payments costly its no trifling sum that the social security administration will hand out to some persons next year congress having advanced the starting date of payments from 1942 an estimated will be paid out starting january 1 to primary beneficiaries wives and widows over 65 years of age to young widows with de dependent P eident children dependent children and dependent parents this is entirely apart from social tys old age assistance program already operative in 48 states district of columbia alaska and hawaii under athe he latter plan which distributed to if M fp J p al I 1 6 4 gr mil gg am 1 vill 4 gig jj 1 I 1 rp e 4 i 5 11 1 exama z Q m A P ira gulp culp right 74 year old Cl evelander and his companion unidentified both worked for the Bige plan which ivas defeated in ohio last month it would mould have paid 50 a month to all a 11 persons over 60 money to be raised by a state income tax and a spec special ial levy on high priced land but ohio like those in california arent downhearted recipients during november alone the federal government matches state contributions up to 15 a month per beneficiary thus if the state provides a cash allowance of 1250 a month for old people in in need the U S will supply another 1250 california leads how this plan has mushroe mushroomed med is shown in records of five states wherein more than needy get monthly checks there are in illinois and in california ohio texas and new york are the others california home of the pension movement heads the list in amount disbursed in november that land of sunshine and honey handed out insist the nation can stand a large scale retirement program but realists in the administration doubt that we can afford it they regard the 1940 payments as a modest start and refuse to make any more concessions concessions to hold the pension vote next year pensions go to congress its not expected that 1940 elections will make congress any more pension minded than it was last june when the house voted down the townsend plan plain to 97 that plan would give a pension of a month to all persons over 60 who retire from work the money to come from a 2 per cent tax on all transactions Townsend ites are fighting furiously with another group which wants the same general idea wrapped up in another package this is the general welfare federation whose bill is now pending in the house it would amend the social security act to give 30 to 60 a month to all persons over 60 the cost to be paid by a gross income tax of 2 per cent deductions would be permitted from gross income of the cost of materials used in the products of industry and of the first 60 per month or per year of gross income received seek early vote the potency of this plan is shown by the fact that house members have signed a petition to discharge the house ways and means committee in whose hands the bill now rests and bring it to the floor the old age retirement plan which goes in effect january 1 is figured this way beneficiaries will receive a basic amount equal to 40 per cent of the first 50 of the average monthly wage plus 10 per cent of the next of average monthly wages to this is added I 1 per cent of the basic amount for each year in which the individual earns at least in covered employment thus a worker whose average monthly income was would receive monthly benefits of 2575 it if married he would receive an additional 1288 for his wife if over 65 and 1288 for each dependent child on the same basis a widows benefits would amount to 1931 per month a widow with one dependent child would get and a widow with two dependent children no benefit may be less than 10 a month and the highest will taxpayers will decide rational and unbiased observers of the pension movement can see dangers dancers on both sides A citizen chos worked hard all his life and now faces indigent old age is apt to be a bit too demanding on his government ern ment and youngsters who fall heir to their elders jobs and must foot the pension bill arent apt to be very sympathetic it wont be necessary to worry about alleged crackpot retirement schemes on some not too distant day one of them may be legislated into being but not for long eventually the electorate will decide how big a tax load it can carry |
