the lead. The· movement for such pensions traces ‘_
back to the White House Conference on the Care
of Dependent Children, called by President * *k
Theodore Roosevelt in 1909. This conference
directed national attention to the fact that it '
was not only socially desirable to keep depend-
ent children in their home environments, but
‘ also in many cases it was cheaper than main- •
taining them in state or local institutions.  
The first definitie legislation for mothers}; pen-
sions was enacte in Missouri in 1911, ut it °
applied only to the county in which Kansas City  
is located. The first statewide law was that of
Illinois, enacted in the same year. Colorado , I
followed suit in 1t9?2hand in 1913 me)thers’ pen-
sions were esta is ed in 17 ot er states. .
Mothers’ pensions are now being paid in all but A StudY of Proposed Logislaf I
three states. I- ‘ _
At first only widows were eligible, but the ` non Its AdVant&g€S’
laws were gradually broadened to ingzlude wom- 5 Its D&11g€fS, and Its
en who were dependent because o desertion,
divorce, imprisonment or insanity of their hus- Background
bands, or other causes. Several of the states
specifically include unwed mothers, and in
others unwed mothers are covered by adminis-
trative practice. The statutory age limit on * * *
allowances for children is usually 16 years, but
scarcity of funds during the depression has
caused some states to geduce the gimit ig actual j
practice to 14 years. tudies ma e by t e Chi - N .
dren’s Bureau indicate that about 280,000 chil- an 1:1gl0;:1;;,hi2;;;§g1;;m:;;;;?:;i:?nav:£(;
dren in 109,000 families are now covered by Segnd efd neegssa OH yefFede1_e1i iS_
mothers’ pensions. The average pension _is about laden for eeeuemileygeeuzty by attempgne
fzga m¤¤fh per family and $11 Per child- . .0 ......1, .. 0.. ...0 .............. .. ....1. ....0..
n act to provide Federal aid to maternity actual experience has provided guidance
and infant welfare was in effect from 1922 to fer the permanentl Safe direction ef Such
1929. Renewal of appropriations under this act eiferts ,, y
was recommended by Presidents Coolidge and A ` -1mmku¤ n.n¤¤m»e1¢
Hoover, but no action was taken by the Con- . .nmumy17.19ss
. gress. .
·I· ·I· I- ·I· ·I· ·I·
The pending Wagner-Doughton Bill covers a
tremendously broad field. If passed, none of
its provisions becomes effective before the fiscal
year 1936. The Federal tax on payrolls under ·*
the unemployment insurance plan is not effective
until January 1, 1936, and the tax on earnings
and employment for old age pensions not until
January 1, 1937. In these circumstances there
can be no excuse for hasty action. There should
be enacted after due consideration a law or laws AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE
which within our Constitutional system will pro- NatamaI Haaaaaaatays
vide a substantial measure of economic security NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
without jeopardizing the credit of the govern- WASHINGTON D_ O_
ment or imposing an excessive burden on in- °
dustry.
 4 * *
Document No. I3
j' February 4, 1935 C