Show Ham and Eggs From Slot Machines New Pension Wave Sweeps US U.S. U. U S. S 15 k fr r S SS' SS S' S 4 S. S f I I p j cx I r IJ- IJ S S s- s jt November Election Brings Big Crop of Old Age Assistance Plans Promising Congressional Debate on Little Townsend Bill By JOSEPH VV W. LaBINE Someone long since established that a man cant can't pull himself up by his bootstraps but that does not stop several million aging Americans from clamoring for three square meals a day This means that America is again besieged with a deluge of pension plans economically unorthodox but capa capa- capable capable capable ble of drawing a huge vote at the November 8 election Pension plans have a way of blossoming out each time theres there's a depression It happened in 1934 a la Ia Dr Frances E. E Townsend At the rate its it's happening again this year the 1938 depression is a world beater On November 8 the resi resi- residents residents residents dents of at least 16 states will vote yes or no on old age pen pen- pensions pensions pensions to be supported by ev ev- everything everything ev- ev everything from slot machines to dog races For each of these plans theres there's a black and white solution that looks good goodon on paper but leaves the economists a little skeptical You can prove any of them will or wont won't work No enlightened American denies that the pension Idea is economical economical- economically ly sound provided it can be financed Under a modern social order it is logical that youth should work and age should ret r-cs But wizened ob ob- observers observers ob- ob observers servers are hoping ho i g this years year's crop of Utopian Ideas will die out that Instead next winters winter's congress will arrange a sensible substitute Again But Is the most fa fa- favored favored fa- fa favored substitute and how sensible is At least con con- congressmen congressmen congressmen gressmen are behind the modified version of this plan which calls for monthly 50 payments to old peo peo- people people pIe financed by a gross 2 per cent transaction tax This bill is spon sport sponsored sponsored by Wisconsin's Rep Gerald Boileau Business already taxed to the hilt complains that a 2 per cent levy would remove what little profit now remains from commercial transactions But the must be sat sat- satisfied satisfied satisfied or stamped out Thus far they've shoved from office such prominent men as California's Sen William Gibbs McAdoo defeated in inthe inthe inthe the primary by Sheridan Downey who rode the crest of a new pension wave advocates the scrip plan despite the failure of ot scrip in Alberta a couple of ot years ago Thirty dollars in scrip would be issued each Thursday to every Californian over 60 CO years old ol To pay for it a two cent state stamp bought with real money would be pasted each Thursday on the back backof of ot each 1 piece of scrip in lation At the end of ot a year the scrip would carry In stamps and would be redeemed for in in cash has spread to other states notably Ohio where the chief arguments center around aro nd payday Shall it be Wednesday or Thursday Ohio's rival petitioners have thus far tar failed to provide financial ma ma- chinery As in California the bat battle tIe tle cry Is for ham and eggs A group g of ot Nebraskans hope ham hamand hamand hamand and eggs will come from slot ma ma- chines for on November 8 that state will vote on an amendment relating to public assistance wel welfare welfare fare and social security to provide revenue for the state assistance fund from the proceeds of an an an- annual annual annual nual tax to be levied on owners owners and operators of operated coin de de- de- de vices Mysteriously sponsored and cleverly phrased the th Nebraska pe pe- petition petition pe- pe petition was probably signed by many people who didn't realize that the tax would be on slot machines in in- instead instead stead of plain vending machines The resultant complaint has changed the amendment to read machInes machine of ch chance nce Oregon to the tIre Rescue Oregon has two petitions one me me- memorializing congress to call a na na- national national na- na convention for a constitution constitution- constitutional al amendment establishing the Boi Boi- Boileau Boileau leau lean bill bID The other calls for a 2 per cent transaction tax to give old people a month North Dakota U Is voting on an amendment to pay 40 a month to all aU people over 65 Including the 15 federal aid The state has thus far been unable to raise money for its half hall of the pres pres- present present ent 30 pension Arkansas would support its 50 a month pension with present sales taxes and fees from dog and horse borse races slot machines and pool rooms Oklahoma may try the same method while Washington seeks merely to establish the principle of at pensions In Georgia Tennessee North Carolina and Texas candi candi- candidates candidates candidates dates are running on pension plat pint forms In contrast to this mad race for old age assistance is Colorados Colorado's at at- attempt attempt tempt to repeal its constitutional amendment adopted In 1936 calling for a 45 15 monthly payment to aU all needy people over 60 Sponsors ot oL the petition claim the pen pen- pension penI I sion has ruined state finances point- point LEFT LEFT t. L. L K Adams of oj Kansas City Kan Kant would give 25 each Tuesday to 10 every Kansan Kaman more than 55 years year old and for Jor every dependent legitimate child RIGHT Roy RIGHT Roy C. C Wallace in in- independent independent dependent candidate for Jor gov gov- govern ern or in Tennessee proposes 20 a week to all i imore more than 50 years year old Ing lug out that the guaranteed 45 a month has bas never been more than 25 argue that economy economy economy my would produce the full pension Conservative Support But the 1938 variety of Is not always a fanatic In Idaho the level-headed level Sen William E. E Borah has announced himself as not no unfriendly to old age assistance movements In Maine three Republican Republican lican Heart congressmen elected with Townsend help have pledged their support to the full lull month a pen pen- sion Massachusetts Republicans recommend early congressional ac ac- action action ac- ac action tion on the Boileau measure These campaign promises fore fore- foreshadow foreshadow foreshadow shadow a heated battle in congress next winter whiter but they may also fore fore- foreshadow foreshadow foreshadow shadow adoption of ot many state pen pen- pension pension sion plans on November 8 Through the entire campaign the national administration has maintained a off hands policy feeling that if Colo Cob Colorado's Colorados Colorados Colorado's rados rado's sad experience hasn't taught taugh people a a lesson they can find ou out for themselves After all aU every state has a right rigl to try |