Communications
Hayes, Carlton J. H. & SHERMAN, P. TECUMSEH & KEATING, REV. JOSEPH
COMMUNICATIONS AMERICA AND THE AGED New York, N. Y. TO the Editor:-In The Commonweal for January 29 appeared a criticism by me of an earlier article therein by Professor Carlton J. H. Hayes,...
...Nevertheless I will specify "precisely" that I am opposed to pending proposals for state guarantee, from public funds, of a substantial income to every citizen (with minor exceptions) who is over either sixty-five or seventy years of age, for the reasons that such a guarantee would be demoralizing, pauperizing, wasteful of the public funds and not an "up-to-date" but, on the contrary, a distinctly discredited method of dealing with the problem of old-age poverty...
...At best, his plan seems to me to be dreadfully complex, difficult of attainment, overwhelmingly expensive, and, in so far as it favors the perfecting of institutions, dangerous to the home...
...That is hardly fair while he limits himself to a declaration in favor of "any reasonable and up-to-date state-guaranteed security for old age," regardless of details...
...He names France and Argentina...
...The Commonweal requests its subscribers to communicate any changes of address two weeks in advance, to ensure the receipt of all issues...
...I don't know about Argentina-its 8,000,000 inhabitants would hardly affect my statistics...
...COMMUNICATIONS AMERICA AND THE AGED New York, N. Y. TO the Editor:-In The Commonweal for January 29 appeared a criticism by me of an earlier article therein by Professor Carlton J. H. Hayes, entitled America and the Aged, followed by a reply from Professor Hayes...
...and Mr...
...New York, N. Y. TO the Editor:-I did not state that 650,000,000 people abroad are "effectively" protected in old age...
...Rev...
...2) Since old-age poverty is largely due to sickness and infirmities in middle life, that the community multiply its provisions for after care and rehabilitation...
...Notwithstanding the number of Greek texts extant, the substantial meaning of the various parts of Scripture is beyond dispute and can be more easily reached through the medium used by the sacred writers...
...I would let the discussion end there were it not that in his reply Professor Hayes challenges me on two points...
...In reply I can name France and Argentina, in which countries respectively the Workers' and Peasants' Old Age Pension Law of 1910 and the Compulsory Insurance Law of January 28, 1924, have literally "broken down...
...Tardieu and Loucheur are fully committed...
...Criticizing as exaggerated his statement, in the article cited, that 650,000,000 people abroad are covered by state systems of old-age protection, I said, inter alia, that in many countries "the state systems of protection have broken down, are not yet in effect, are not yet developed," etc...
...P. Tecumseh Sherman...
...Perhaps if he had seen the account of the Westminster Version which you were good enough to publish in your issues for January 1 and 8 he would have realized that a project which aims at promoting the devotional reading of the Scriptures by Catholics and which for that reason presents a clear and accurate translation in an attractive form, should not be condemned because it does not, at the same time, cater to the advanced student, with all the apparatus of critical learning...
...But about France, with its 40,000,000, I do know...
...Professor Hayes challenges me to name the countries in which "the state systems of protection have broken down...
...3) Since a large proportion of the aged poor need institutional care, appropriate institutional care should be provided, preferably in religious or private philanthropic institutions, but, so far as necessary, by the state...
...I cannot see, however, that it represents any great advance over the present utterly inadequate methods of caring for the aged poor in America...
...Sherman to name countries in which "the state systems of protection have broken down...
...Sherman has been induced to adumbrate a counter-plan of his own...
...The principles for such assistance are well stated in section 77 of the Public Welfare Law, of New York, which took effect January 1, as follows: "It shall be the duty of public welfare officials, in so far as funds are available for that purpose, to provide adequately for those unable to maintain themselves...
...As an alternative to this truly up-to-date method, I advocate as preferable for America: (1) That the people, through voluntary thrift and insurance, strive to prevent (instead of propagating) dependence upon the state in old age...
...4) That all persons, regardless of age, who are unable to maintain themselves but who do not need institutional care or control, should be otherwise assisted by the state...
...TO the Editor:-A letter in The Commonweal of January 22 condemns, at least by implication, an enterprise in which I am interested-the Westminster Version of the New Testament from original Greek texts...
...I am glad that Mr...
...Then he invites me to specify "precisely" what is the "reformation of our existing methods of relief for the needy" that I advocate...
...I asked Mr...
...Joseph Keating, Joint Editor of the Westminster Version...
...This means that county farms and almshouses should be replaced by better institutions but not by pension...
...Effectively" is a too-debatable word...
...Sherman is mistaken...
...THE NEW CATHOLIC BIBLE London, England...
...The up-to-date method abroad of safeguarding against destitution in old age is through compulsory insurance covering sickness, invalidity, old age and survivors, with unemployment also now coming to be covered...
...They shall whenever possible administer such care and treatment as shall restore such persons to a condition of self-support and shall further give such service to those liable to become destitute as may prevent the necessity of their becoming public charges...
...I submit that, in view of the purpose for which it is intended, the Westminster Version is not obnoxious to your learned correspondent's criticism...
...The Old-Age Pension Law of 1910 has "broken down" only in the sense that it has been superseded by the far more general and drastic National Insurance Law of 1928, to the practicable enforcement of which the present conservative French government of MM...
...He only confirms me in my conviction of the necessity of a system of old-age state insurance or pensions...
...I do maintain that foreign countries, whose populations total at least 650,000,000, have undertaken to afford some measure of old-age security by means of state insurance or pensions...
...I favor the provision of adequate funds and appropriate administrative machinery to carry the foregoing principles into effect...
...Your contributor says bluntly -"such a translation is worthless...
...And I renew my criticism that the old-age protection under foreign state systems does not effectively cover even one-third of the number of people stated by Professor Hayes...
...I may add, paraphrasing Professor Hayes, that "I am tired of" insinuations that those who profess opinions such as the above, adverse to old-age pensions, are adherents of the Elizabethan poor laws and contemners of the teachings of Leo XIII...
Vol. 11 • February 1930 • No. 17
