Show NO HAM AND EGGS pension sentiment expected to boom when payments start next neit month mon th by STEPHEN BRAINTREE release d by western newspaper PaPer union ASHI N califor Call for anians W anians wont eat ham and eggs egg s this winter nor will vill dr di 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 burst into full fury before elections have become history the ruffled gray hair of americas elders may be smoothed somewhat on january I 1 I 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 v voters oters in a presidential election year the small social security payments may well boomerang 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 alu aiu be paid out starting january I 1 to primary beneficiaries wives and widows over 65 1 years of age to young wid 1 aws with dependent 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 the latter plan which distributed to recipients during novem I 1 Y PENSION ira gulp culp right 74 year ar old Cl evelander and a his com both wor ed orthe bigelow plan which was defeated in ohio last month it would have paid am a month to all persons over 60 money 6 to be raised by a state income tax and a special levy on high priced land but ohio like those in california arent downhearted her ber alone the federal government matches state contributions up to 15 a month per beneficiary thus it if the state provides a i cash allowance of 1250 12 50 a month tor for old people in need the U S will supply another 1250 12 50 california leads how this plan has mushroomed 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 af 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 1040 payments as a modest start and refuse to make any more concessions to hold the pension vote next year just a lew few weeks ago security administrator paul mcnutt emerged from a white house conference to tell reporters it would be unwise to predict any broad revisions in the thel present system there has been talk batting the war inspired merchant marine depression via social security and of expanding the present plan to include self employed persons but the new nevy deal promises it will sponsor sponsor no increase inday in payments 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 d down own the townsend plan to 97 that plan would give a pension of a month to all persons over 60 who retire from work the money 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 wr wrapped app C I 1 up in another package this is the tha 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 CO 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 ot 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 tact fact that house members have signed a petition to dis charge the house bouse ways and means committee in whose hands the bill now rests rest sand and bridgit 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 or first st 50 of the average monthly wage plus blits 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 1283 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 morth 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 be 85 the funds come from a social security tax of I 1 per cent each assessed against emil employers and employees plo covering all wages up to an annual total of taxpayers will decide Mat rational ional and unbiased observers of the pension movement can see dangers on both sides A citizen chos worked hard all his life and no now w faces indigent old age is apt to be a bit too dem demanding aiding on his government and youngsters who fall fail heirty their elders jobs and must oot foot the pension i bill arent apt to be very sympathetic about large pensions at the same time however youth Is becoming more ren pen sion lion conscious 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 tarry carry |