POINTS OUT BENEFITS OF
THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
E. L. “Bob” Bartlett, member of
the Fairbanks News-Miner editorial
staff, has been appointed Information
Service Representative of the Alaska
office of the Social Security board at
Juneau, it was announced recently by
Hugh J. Wade, chairman of the Ter
ritorial Social Security office.
One of Mr. Bartlett’s duties will
be ito furnish Alaska newspapers
with pertinent information relative to
the Social Security Act.
Mr. Bartlett has resigned his po
sition with the News-Miner to ac
cept his new duties. He was suc
ceeded on the Fairbanks paper by
Noel C. Ross, experienced writer from
the States, who, with Mrs. Ross, has
been making his home in Fairbanks
for the past several months.
Regarding the Social Security Act
as it affects Alaska, a careful study
made by the Alask office of the Social
Security board indicates that the Ter*
ritory can amend existing laws re
lating to pensions, so as to conform
with that section of the Social Se
curity Act relating to old age assis
tance without any undue strain on
the Territorial treasury.
CTS1_ r _ flUliAnnk Q 1 UA
far as the Social Security board is
concerned, and made only to throw
light upon a subject " about w hich
there has been some confusion, shows
that, an additional annual appropria
tiort by the Territorial Legislature
of enly about $50;D00 Would enable
Alaska to participate ^ in the many
benefits conferred by the federal -act.
“The records of the United States
Census Bureau disclose that in 1930
there were 2935 residents of the Ter
ritory of Alaska 65 years old or old
er, or 4.9 per cent of the total popu
lation of the Territory,’’ said Hugh
J. Wade, teritorial attorney of the
Alaska office of the Social Security
board and in charge of the Alaska
office. “Of this number 946 were for
eign born and 871 were natives, or
2.9 per cent of the native population
in 1930 was composed of so-called
aged peoplfc.
“The. census records for. 1920 dis
close that .1727 aged people resided
in the Territory of Alaska, or 3.1
per eent of the total population. Of
this number 463 were foreign bom.
The aged nat ive population in 1920,
was 769, or 2.9 per cent of the total j
native population'of that year.
“From the above figures, it will be
noted that in the period bewteen 1920 ,
and 1930 there was an increase of ;
aged persons in Alaska of 1.8 per i
cent of the total population. How
ever, there was the same percentage
of aged natives in Alaska in 1930 as ;
there was in 1926.
“It is fair to assume that there j
will be the same proportional in- i
crease noted in the aged people of
Alaska during the period from 19301
to 1937 and I have assumed that the j
total population of Alaska has in-,
creased to 69,000 with the increase
in the native population being liber-!
ally estimated at 30,000. It is also j
fair to asume that there will be no i
increase in the percentage of aged
natives during this period, as there
was no increase during the 10-year
period 1920-19341. '
Over 3,600 Eligible
“If the above assumptions are fair,
6.2 per cent of the totai -population
of the Terftory of Alaska is 65 years
old or older. This means that this
year there are a total of 4278 people
in Alaska who are 65 years old or
older. Of this number 956 are na
tives and 3322 are whites. As stated
above, of the total population in
1930, 946 cf the aged people were
foreign bora. It is assumed, there
fore, that all the people wto have be
come aged in the past seven years,
54 are foreign born. That would
mean a total of 1,000 aged persons
who are^ foreign bora. I think it is
a fair assumption to state that at
least 40 per cent, or 400, of these
foreign born persons are still aliens.
This meaizwthat there are 2922 white
American citizens, 190 of whom are
wnWinmates, of the Pioneer Home
leaving a total of 2732, and 956 na
tives who would be eligible for pen
sions if the territorial law provided
relief for all citizens over the age of
65.
“It is difficult to estimate what
percentage of the eligible people are
| or will be needy, but let us take an
arbitrary figure and asume that 35
per cent of the aged white popula
tion will be needy and therefore eli-,
gible for pension. This will mean j
! that 956 eligible whites are needy,
j Assuming that 75 per cent of the na
i tive population will be needy, it will
mean that 708 natives will be eligible i
for pension, making a total of 1664 j
persons in the Teritory who will be
eligible for pension.
“The average pension paid under i
the present Alaska old age assistance
law is $24.50 a month, or approxi
mately $200 a year. In 1935 the Ter
ritorial L e g i s 1 a t ure appropriated j
$400,000 for the aid of needy aged:
persons for the biennial period, or i
$200,000 per year. With this amount
666 persons could, receive an annual j
pension of $300. If the Territorial'
law is amended sd as to comply with
■the Social Security Act, there would'
be available from the federal govern- '
merit an aditional $200,000 a year.1
Therefore, on that basis, 1333 persons 1
could receive an annual pension of
i $300 without any increase in the j
j present appropriation.
“If my estimates of the number of
aged needy are correct, the Territory
I of Alaska will have to appropriate a
sufficient amount of money to care
for 331 additional persons. If the
! same annual average pension was
maintained, this would mean an addi
i tional appropriation of $49,660 would
be necessary to care for 1664 needy
aged persons.”
1
NORTH NEEDS AIRMAIL
SAYS. SENATE COMMITTEE
Saying- that the development of
Alaska “depends on more adequate
co.-Esnumcatioxi and transportation *
the senate commerce committee this
week recommended the appropriation
for what it trmed “foreign” airmail
service between Juneau and. Fair
banks.
“The postoffice department might
well request an amendment to the Al
aska star route law which will permit
the postmaster general to provide a
reasonable surcharge on mail carried
over those air lines,” the chairman
of the committee said.
On the basis of the 1935 report of
Governor Troy that $2,200,000 is
needed for aviation aids, the commit
tee invited special attention to that
problem, advocating generous appro
priations to meet it.
The committee said the aids are
needed “not only to cover the needs .
of national defense, but to make pos
sible the only feasible transporta-!
tion system that can be installed to
develop the country.”
LUMBER STRIKERS GET RAISE
SEATTLE, Mar. 23—Seven Seattle
lumber mills resumed operations af
ter a 16- day *■ strike. The strikers
came to an agreement with the- op
erators and settled on a seven and
one-half cent per hour increase.
Wherever you may be located,
send in whatever news you may <
have and help us -to produce a real!
newsy newspaper. - Send some today.
TAKOTNA
SCHOOL NOTES
Holiday Friday—
We are having a holiday Friday! '
Freddy Has Plane Ride—
Freddy had a ride to Ophir with
Pilot Goodman Wednesday evening.
The rest of us would liked to have
been along.
Making Easter Baskets— -
We have been making Easter bas
kets and cards during mir art ■period
this week.
Fonr Earn Most Stars—
Frances, Vilma, Freddie and Henry
earned the most stars- last week.
Stars Awarded—
Those who'have received ‘stars' all
week for their inspection tests are,
Adeline, Vesta, Vilma, Vida, Frances
Arthur David Henry and Freddie.
Take Teacher for Ride—
Freddie and Henry took Miss Peas
guod for a dog sled ride last Satur
day.
Spring Has Come—
Spring has come and thoughts
turn lightly to - poetry. Fred
die wrote the following poem this
week:
St'KlJNti
When springtime comes it bring?
us cheer,
The brightest season of the year.
In April come the birds and showers.
In May come leaves and springing
flowers.
The snow has melted on mountain,
river and hills.
The pretty flowers bloom beneath;,
the window sills; -
The sun shining brightly in the
azure s£y.
While to and fro the swallows fly.
The robins twitter in their nesta
among the trees,
While the tree tops sway f ently in
the March breeze.
The green grass corns p eping
through the ground
While over it the happy rabbits
bound.
The children laugh meirily in
their swings,
Happy hours to them the
springtime brings.
The birds, the flowers; and every
living thing
Seem to herald the return of
Spring, joyous Spring!
PRESIDENT PLANS TRIP TO
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 28—
President Roosevelt informed the
Philippine representatives today that
be will plan on making a trip to the
Islands in the near future and study
Ihe progress made to date in their
self government setup. The Philip
pines are very desirous of obtaining
their freedom.
Remember the Advertisers
Frank J. Guskey
NOTARY PUBLIC •
Takotna, Alaska.
GEORGE amnrpsnM
1 EXPERT PIANO TUNER
Ami Alaska Agent for (Tuckering, Koler-Brambacb
Pianos for Sale and Rent; also Coin Operated Phono
graphs and Pianos. Expects to be in Flat this coming
Sommer. Anyone in need of Expert Piano Toning ««»
Repairing or Sales Service in the Purchase of a‘new or
Rebuilt Piano, Radio or write George Anderson.
i ANDERSON’S MUSIC SHOPP
JUNEAU, ALASKA
SPORTS AT A
GLANCE
BY T. R. McROBERTS
Sohmeling Still After Braddock—
It looks like the .Germans are very
anxious to see their idol, Max
$chmeling, get a crack at the'world’s
champ. James Braddock, with a se
lect number of Hitler’s judges in the
box. They see the chance 'Of £uctra
match being pulled off in Germany,
slipping and have boosted the offer
up to $350,000."' Braddock informed
them decidedly, that when they con
sented to a $400,000 guarantee, and
deposited the same in an American
bank, he would take the first boat to
Berlin, and not until then. Ger
many’s offer is just pin money to the
American heavyweight champ.
Dizzy Dean Holding Out—
Dizzy Dean insists on hold
ing out for $50,000 or nothing
for this coming season. He has
had an offer Of $25,000, but re
fuses to even consider the offer
stating that he is ready to quit
organized baseball unless he
gets his price.
Predicts Knockout in Sixth—
. Jimmy Braddock confidently states
that he'is going to knock the-Detroit
Hinge for a roll not later than the
sixth round. He seems to think, or
at'least is trying to make the public
believe that he' thinks, the Brown
Bomber has no punch, and is a suck
er for a good right, which he, Brad
dock, has. We haven’t seen much
of Braddock since he won the champ
ionship, but if he hasn't become rusty
through idleness and happens to hit
one of those days when he is right,
The Black Boy and his admirers a.-e
in for a big surprise one night in
June.
M AKES RECORD DIVE FROM
SAN FRANCISCO EH IDG E
SAN FRANCISCO. Mar 22—Ray
Woods, an experienced high diver,
dove off the new Francisco Bay
bridge, a drop of 1S6 feet. He made
a backward double jack-knife dive.
He suffered a slight" concussion of the
brain and was picked up by passing
boats.
He had made several previous at
tempts to make the dive, but was
stopped by the police.
BUY AT THE
T£FGTKA
CASH S70EE
If Ycu Wert Arytfcirg
in the
GROCERY
LIIIE
GIVE DS AH ORDER
• 9
Let Us Do Ycur Freighting
• 9
A. H. TWITCHELL
Proprietor
LOUSSACS DRUG STORE
Anchorage, Alaska.
Drugs Rubber Goods RCA Radios
Liquors of All Kinds. Olympia Beer.
Special, Prompt Attention Given All Mail Orders.
BRANCH POOL HALI
FLAT, ALASKA.
HOT LUNCHES
Served Anytime
BEER
WINES
CANDIES >
CARD TABLES
BARBER SHOP
EVERYTHING FIRST CLASS
B
“Where Sociability Reigns”
ANDREW MISCOVICH
HAIiEY WILSON