| Show Round Merry-Go-Round By DREW PEARSON and ROBERT S. S ALLEN WASHINGTON Administration and business business business busi busi- ness leaders have decided that the existing old- old age pension system will have to be broadened next congress if it the mounting tide of funny money schemes is to be stopped Privately new dealers and business interests of these move move- are much disturbed by the spread ments Business men fear them as an economic econom c menace politicians as a danger both economic and political Drastic revision of the present lavis law lav lawis lawis is secretly planned on the theory that a stitch in m time will save nine First step will be taken this Friday when the advisory council on social security made up of employers labor and public leaders meets to act on a group of reaching far-reaching amendments prepared by subcommittees These proposals als which definitely show the effect of pension pension- movement pressure are as follows 1 To increase benefit payments so that both bothman bothman bothman man and wife receive annuities That is if the husband is entitled to 50 a month his wife will receive an additional 25 a month as long as she lives 2 If the wife is entitled to a pension of her own she would have the choice between hers and half of the husbands husband's annuity whichever gave her the larger income 3 The widow of a pensioner upon reaching the age of 65 would receive 75 per cent of the monthly benefit her husband would have been p paid id had he lie lived 4 Life pensions to those suffering total disability disability disability dis dis- dis- dis ability at the same rate they would have re received received received re- re had they contributed up to the age of 65 5 Monthly benefit payments for the dependent depend depend- ent children of annuity holders who die before before before be be- fore 65 Administration V To better the lot of oldsters not not in the contributory contributory contributory con con- system new new proposals are being drafted drafted draft draft- t ed at the order of President Roosevelt by the social security board in collaboration with Chairman Robert Doughton and Representative John Dingell of the house ways and means committee To expedite legislative action a special ways and means subcommittee will begin hearings early in December so that a bill will be ready when congress convenes in January The administrations administration's administrations administration's administrations administration's ad ad- ministrations ministration's chief revisions are 1 Increase the present federal contribution for the aged from 15 to 20 a month This would permit the states to ad add a similar sum arid and boosting pensions to a maximum of 40 monthly V V V 2 Lower the age limit from 65 to 60 years thus making eligible hundreds of thousands of needy who are excluded by the present law 3 Increase the federal contribution for indigent indigent indi indi- gent children from third one to one This would equalize state and federal grants To aid the battle against funny money Doughton in whose committee all pension legislation legislation legislation leg leg- must originate will shortly make a an n wide ion radio speech denouncing the Townsend plan and Thursday every move move- ment Medical l l Monopoly V ly Justice department prosecutors have some real surprises up their sleeves in the trial of the American Medical association and the Distri District Dis- Dis Dis Dis- tri td t of Columbia Columbi Medical society for violation of the Sherman antitrust act The two medical organizations which organizations which are affiliated are ted are are charged with operating a monOpoly monopoly mo- mo and discriminating unfairly against members of the Group Health plan One sensational piece of evidence in the hands of the justice department is the case of a Washington woman whose husband was afflicted afflict afflict- ed with appendicitis When she took him to a hospital she found that none would admit him merely because she had a contract with the Group Health association After making the fr frantic rounds of every hospital in in the District of Columbia and with her husbands husband's appendix about to burst she finally was forced to pay in cash in advance advance advance ad ad- vance and only after this was her husband admitted admitted admitted ad ad- to a hospital Union Contract J V Another case which will be presented by the justice ustice department is that of an Illinois doctor who previously had a contract with an employer to give medical attention to his workers After t the expiration of this contract the doctor signed a contract with a labor union to give its members medical attention The contract with the labor union was identical identical identical iden iden- with th that t signed by the employer However However However How How- i ever members of the American Medical association association asso asso- elation immediately moved to bar him from usang using using us us- ing ang the tIie hospitals of that city and in the end he was barred from all but one Justice department officials believe their case against the two medical associations is sufficient sufficient sufficient to sustain criminal charges They have dug up the acts of congress under which the medical a associations ve were e incorporated a and d which specifically specifically prohibit doctors from regulating the price of medical or attendance on such persons as may need those services This This is is in jn direct conflict with the Jaws by-Jaws of the District Medical society which sets up a ascale ascale ascale scale of fees plus a committee which creates a a closed shop for doctors and even provides V that each member of the medical staffs of all V hospitals institutions and clinics must be approved approved ap proved V by the Medical Society of the District of Columbia V V V Copyright 1938 V for The Telegram grami 4 i v j Jt i 4 i. 1 d f i i. i c f N |
