(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
An investigation of the present status of old age pension legislation in various states, with a view to stimulating interest in providing security for the aged, is being made by Abraham Epstein, authority on the problems of old age and pensions, and for eight years director of the Pennsylvania state old-age pension commission.
Mr. Epstein addressed the City club yesterday.
Sponsoring the investigation is the American Association for Old Age Security, of which Bishop Ethelbert Talhot of the Pennsylvania diocese of the Protestant Episcopal church is president and Mr. Epstein is secretary. Jane Adams. Dr. John A. Lapp, Prof. Paul H. Douglas, Joseph L. Moss. Thomas E. Burke and George F. Mulligan are among those identified with the organization.
“Only China, India and the United States are wholly without constructive provision for the worn-out aged,” Mr. Epstein declared. “The eastern countries revere and respect their aged, but in the United States the tendency is to lose regard for the old as soon as their income stops.
“The poor farm was not very desirable even under an agricultural society,” Mr. Epstein said. “In this industrial era, when men cease to be in demand in industry after 45 yars of age and where public hygiene is steadily lengthening human life, the poorhouse fails lamentably to serve the needs of those too old to support themslves. There are 2,000,000 persons 65 years of age or over who are dependent for all or part of their support upon some one else. Only a fraction are shiftless. Most of the dependency arises out of industrial superannuation, inadequate wages, physical incapacity and lack of relatives who can be depended upon for support in old age.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
