Mr. SCHAFER. They include self-employed businessmen, they include the widows of dentists and others the professional class-they include nurses who have been deprived of social security in the past, and they include farmers and others, all pleading that they be included in this system.

(The document referred to follows:)

TESTIMONY OF OTHERS

The situations in which our old folks find themselves, stated hereinabove, are evidenced in the following extracts from letters received from many old men and women, in which they plead for the approval of the plan proposed herein without delay.

Fred R. Dambly, Philadelphia, Pa.: From 1936 to 1945 I was an employer who paid the amount required to match the tax paid by my employees. I was compelled to go out of business on account of ill health. In 1949 and 1950 I took a job and have paid tax for 5 quarters, but owing to my age, which is 74 years, I was compelled to retire again. My wife also has paid some tax where she worked for awhile, but she is now 66 years old. The Social Security Office informed me nothing could be done for me.

Mrs. Hanna P. Levy, Philadelphia, Pa.: I happen to be one of the old folks, now 67 years. In the beginning of social security I was employed and now have to my credit four quarters, which as you know is not enough to receive benefits. I would be most grateful if your suggestion is approved.

Mrs. S. May Kear, Watsontown, Pa.: I have four quarters in social security, but because of my age I can't make up the rest. The plant I worked for closed up several years ago. I will be 73 years in September. I sure would try to pay any token tax your plan requires for me to get the minimum. I want to tell you what a lift it would be.

Andrew J. Sloss, Philadelphia, Pa.: I am one of those who is lacking two quarters to be eligible for social security and due to illness have never been able to work again to make up the two additional quarters needed. This plan certainly would bring great happiness to me as I am now dependent on others.

Mrs. Margaret Magee, Philadelphia, Pa.: My husband died almost 10 years ago. He had been employed for 25 years in the same place, but wasn't under social security. As there was no hope of a pension or social security, he changed jobs and was under social security for 9 quarters when he died, but it had to be 13 quarters for me to become eligible at 65 years. Now it is only 6 quarters, yet I cannot get social security, although 72 years old.

Mrs. Florence A. Elliott, Philadelphia, Pa.: My husband worked for a company for 30 years, but died in 1934, 2 years before social security. I have worked for 6 years, 3 nights a week, in a reading room, but I am not eligible for social security. I get nothing.

Otto Liebl, Philadelphia, Pa.: I was born in 1870, consequently not entitled to social security. I worked in a shop for 41 years, but fate delivered me a heavy blow in 1938 when I was taken ill with a serious heart affliction and since then I was unable to perform any work. I have tried twice to secure a job in a hospital, but to no avail. Although afflicted with a serious handicap, yet willing and able to work for a bare living, I find a closed door all over the city and all over the country.

Mrs. Elsie Bach, Philadelphia, Pa.: I am 70 years and worked 3 years in seasonal work. They deducted security tax, but I did not have enough credit to pay me benefits. I would be willing to pay the tax cost to be eligible if your plan is made effective.

Louise M. Sornberger, R. N. Lansdowne, Pa.: I am a registered nurse, graduated in 1902 and have nursed continuously to 1950-48 years. I nursed for 5 weeks in 1953, but didn't earn enough to begin social security. I will be 77 years old in August. I would be only too glad to pay the tax as you suggested.

Miss Kathryn V. Kane, Philadelphia, Pa.: When social security first started I worked under it for a short while. Then my mother died and I was compelled to stay at home with two invalid sisters. I was not able to go back to work. As I am past 70 years and now at home with no income I pray that this plan will go through and I shall be allowed to pay the required tax and be put on social security.

William C. Raynor, Ocean City, N. J.: I am past 86 years old and was in busi ness from 1900 to 1945. I paid social-security taxes as an employer from the time it started until I was forced out of business by the Second World War. I applied for social security and was informed I was not eligible. The men I employed are collecting social-security benefits, and I paid part of the tax. This is one instance of the injustice of the law. I cannot work for anyone.

George E. Fornwalt, Harrisburg, Pa.: I am 68 years old and unemployed, I worked 21⁄2 years for the State authority as a senior building inspector but was dropped as there was no place to assign me. The State authorities do not provide for social security or unemployment compensation. At my age I cannot get a job and it seems the State agency don't try to get me a job.

Mrs. Mamie Honner, Chester, Pa.; I am 70 years old, and buried my husband a year and a half ago. My husband never had social security as he was selfemployed. If he had I wouldn't be living under these conditions. Am I too old to take out social security if I pay the tax cost, or would I have to be employed to get it? I would like to live my time out with a little peace.

Mrs. Cecelia M. Wright, Philadelphia, Pa.: I am a widow of 69 years, and was the wife of a dentist, which as you know was not covered in social security. As I do not have old-age pension could I pay the tax cost and be eligible?

Miss May A. Pabst, R. N., Philadelphia, Pa.: I am quite sure there are many nurses, of whom I am one, who have worked in nonprofit organizations, namely hospitals, for many years and were not given the opportunity of joining in the social-security plan when it became effective in 1937. I am now 65 and because of an attack of sciatica I was not able to continue my work as a social worker and clinic executive to get the benefit of the change in the law which enable persons of 65 or near that age to work for 18 months and thus become eligible. I worked in hospitals for more than 30 years. Would it be possible for nurses and others such as myself to pay our own tax plus the employer's tax and thus become eligible?

Miss Sara V. Kelly, Philadelphia, Pa.: They didn't have social security in the hospital where I worked. I hope we will get social security under your plan. Mrs. John Greeby, Willow Grove, Pa.: I read about your social-security plan-would that be a godsend to farmers and others. We sold our farm as we could not keep it up any longer as our health gave out. We are 70 and 72 years old. We have a friend who worked 18 months over 65 years and gets $120 a month for man and wife. I hope your plan goes through with God's help.

Mrs. John A. Davis, Gettysburg, Pa.: My husband and I worked on farms all our lives and just a few years ago we were able to buy our own place. Now we are in our middle sixties and too old to farm, but we will have no income as social security did not cover us. Yet we helped feed the world and did our part in the world's business as much as the factory man. We are writing to Rep resentative Daniel Reed, asking him to favor your plan.

Mrs. G. Bain, Philadelphia, Pa.: I am a widow now 70 years old. My husband died in 1945 but had ill health since 1932, so I do not get social security or pensions of any kind. No one wants me for any work, they say I am too old. I do babysitting and a little nursing but I cannot continue. I would like to register to make me eligible for social security.

Mrs. Elsie Shapiro, Atlantic City, N. J.: Your suggested plan sent to Representative Daniel Reed is just perfect and you are doing God's will by your plan to give decent independent living to all citizens. I am now 67 years of age and in the army of millions that are yet ignored by social-security benefits. Your plan would mean from poverty to riches for us three sisters. We lost our sav ings and home and business during depression years and now have nothing. My oldest sister is past 70 and worked up till a year ago and had to stop due to her health. My other sister is not able either and I have defective hearing and my eyesight none too good. I worked 31⁄2 years at Wright Field, Ohio, in last war but no social security was in force at the time I was there. May God grant that your lifesaving plan will be enacted soon.

Mr. SCHAFER. These old people are the very ones who need financial assistance from social security. A collateral benefit would be to the large group of old folks in homes for the aged. Because of the lack of assurance that women in the Old Ladies' Home of Philadelphia could receive public assistance or social security, the burden on the community was considered too great for a citizens' committee to pre

vent the home's closing in January 1954 after caring for over a hundred old ladies for 78 years.

As a consequence those ladies were dispossessed from their home and scattered all over the region. It was a tragedy to many of them and caused them untold mental anguish and torture.

That, Mr. Chairman, is the conclusion of the statement which I want to make and the plea which I bring to the committee to not ignore these old people-some who have been in the system but cannot complete the provisions of the law, because of their health or infirmity, and others who have not been in the system previously but are too oldup in their eighties, even seventies, they cannot ever perform the requirements of the law. There must be some way we can allow them to come in, even if we set up the proposition that they should designate themselves as self-employed, but don't make them go into that business, for a year and a half, which is a lot of nonsense, I believe.

Senator CARLSON. Mr. Schafer, I want you to know you have called our attention to a very pressing problem and one that I hope this committee will give consideration to. Not only that, it is a humanitarian suggestion. I appreciate very much your statement. Mr. SCHAFER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator CARLSON. That concludes the hearings for this morning. The committee will stand in recess until 10 o'clock next Tuesday. (Whereupon, at 11:20 a. m., the committee recessed to reconvene at 10 a. m., Tuesday, July 6, 1954.)

SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENTS OF 1954

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1954

UNITED STATES SENATE,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE,
Washington, D. C.

The committee met, pursuant to adjournment, in room 312, Senate Office Building, at 10:07 a. m., Senator Walter F. George, presiding. Present: Senators Millikin, Williams, Flanders, and George. Senator GEORGE. The committee will come to order.

The chairman of the committee is detained but will be in after a short while. Many members of the committee, of course, are absent from the city, attending the funeral of Senator Butler, who was for many years a member of this committee. I make that explanatory statement in order that you may understand. The record will, of course, be read by the Senators and the members of the committee who are, unfortunately, not here this morning. Dr. Blasingame, you may come around.

STATEMENT OF DR. F. J. L. BLASINGAME, ACCOMPANIED BY DR. FRANK DICKENSON, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Senator GEORGE. I explained, Senator Millikin, that you would be in shortly and that others were attending the funeral of Senator Butler but that a complete record will be made of all the testimony. Doctor, you may proceed as you wish. Do you wish your whole statement to go in the record or do you wish to present it?

Dr. BLASINGAME. It is a brief statement, Mr. Chairman and I should like to read it.

Senator GEORGE. You may proceed.

Dr. BLASINGAME. I am Dr. F. J. L. Blasingame, of Wharton, Tex., where I am engaged in the active practice of medicine. I am a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association and am appearing today on behalf of the association in connection with H. R. 9366, 83d Congress, currently being studied by your committee.

Many of the provisions of the bill pertain to sections of the Social Security Act which do not have primary medical implications. The association has not taken any position with regard to these sections of the bill. My testimony will be directed primarily to the section of the bill which provides for the waiver of social-security taxes during periods of permanent and total disability and for the exclusion of these periods in the computation of old-age and survivors insurance benefits.

Before commenting on this portion of the bill, however, I should like to relate briefly the position of our association concerning the com

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