Show PENSION NEWS HELD UNTRUE Congressman V Scores Townsend Weekly WASHINGTON Jan 30 UP UP- UP Representative Jasper Bell D. D Mo charged today that the Townsend Townsend Townsend Town- Town send Weekly official publication of the Townsend old age pension plan had issued misguiding and untrue information regarding attitude of congressmen toward the tho plan Bell who introduced a a. resolution for investigation of or the Townsend and other old-age old pension plans charged that the weekly had attempted attempted attempted at at- tempted to place several members in tho the position of supporting the plan although they had bad not committed committed com corn themselves This information Is misguiding and untrue he said in o. o statement Congressmen whose names appear on the Townsend list are unjustly and unfairly put in a crack with their constituents back home Strong house leadership support swung today behind the resolution to investigate thoroughly the Townsend Townsend Townsend Town- Town send and similar old ago age pension plans The Initiative for the inquiry was taken in a resolution offered by Representative Jasper Bill Bm D. D Mo It was referred to the house rules committee It was considered zest ost Important Important Important tant that Committee Chairman John J. J OConnor O'Connor D. D N. N Y an administration leader said he ho favored favored favored fa fa- fa- fa the investigation and that his committee will wm act promptly on it Indications were however that a bitter fight tight might develop from the Townsend bloc in tho the house which claims from 50 to GO 60 votes Representative Representative Representative John S. S McGroarty D. D Cal CaI said I guess the Townsend plan officials can take care of at themselves themselves themselves them them- selves in Sn this situation I McGroarty J who is the sponsor of ofa a bill to pay a maximum pension of monthly to persons over 60 said ho he had no connection with what ho he called the business end of at the Townsend group This part he explained is handled handled han han- died by three directors directors Dr Dr Francis FrancisE E E. E Townsend R. R E. E Clements and Gomer Corner Smith The resolution resolution followed followed repeated Continued on Page Two Column Two PENSION NEWS I HELD UNTRUE C Continued ed from Pare Page One outbreaks on the tho house house- floor dur- dur durIng lug Ing ng the last two weeks on mer- mer ith ts and th the the- weaknesses weaknesses' of ot the Townsend proposal Bell charged tha the plan is wholly visionary fantastic and impossible ot of f fulfillment since sinco a a. tax levy eight ight times as s large luge as the present would be necessary to raise rale annually Bells Bell's resolution charged that for several years individuals individual and gr groups ups have conc conceived and promoted pro pro- promoted numerous schemes under the pretext of obtaining pensions for tor the he aged and needy and that now now several groups group of ot fraudulent promoters promoters' are enri enriching themselves enriching themselves by working the tho called so-called pension plan racket The activities of ot these schemers and promoters promoter are not only cruelly r raising ising false e hopes in the tho minds of ot distressed and aged people and unemploYed unemployed unemployed un un- un- un employed but are ara having a strong tendency to injure injure- the th-e chances chance for successful operation of sound and workable old age pension laws Bells Bell's resolution said His measure calls upon Speaker Joseph W. W Byrns to appoint a seven- seven m man n committee with powers to sub- sub pens pena books book records and witnesses |