STATEMENT OF DON BLACK, CHAIRMAN, "JOBS AFTER 40" PROGRAM, FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES

When the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt presented a fountain pen to the worthy president of the Grand Aerie of Eagles in 1936, history was made. The pen was used to sign the Eagles program of social security into law. The Eagles called it a crusade for old-age pensions in 1919. The 1936 social security law was the result.

The desire to assist the senior citizens has been an Eagle long-range objective. In February of this year, Congress received a petition signed by 800,000 Eagles requesting Federal legislation to end discrimination in employment against our senior citizens. This presentation of petitions, a culmination of the jobs-after-40. campaigns, received responses from Senators Humphrey, Minnesota; Neuberger, Oregon; Mansfield, Montana; Javits, New York; and many others.

Senator Yarborough, of Texas, introduced S. 3188 amending the Federal contract law relaxing the maximum age requirements of the employed worker. The House of Representatives had similar legislation pending at the close of its session. '

Senators Neuberger (Oregon), Morse (Oregon), Humphrey (Minnesota), Mansfield (Montana), Kefauver (Tennessee), Magnuson (Washington), Carroll (Colorado), Yarborough (Texas), Proxmire (Wisconsin), and Douglas (Illinois), introduced in the Senate the jobs-after-40 bill recently with specific application to Government contracts and to firms which supply the Federal Government. The designation of the new bill is S. 1172. John McFall (California), also reintroduced the jobs-after-40 bill in the House. Congressman McFall wrote to Secretary of Commerce Lewis Strauss urging special consideration be given to those over 40 years of age in hiring the estimated 200,000 workers to be required for the U.S. census taking.

Many States, among them Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, have State laws in their legislative agendas or in their codes. Counties and municipalities have followed suit throughout the width and breadth of the United States. Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Oregon, in early summer of this year, passed Eagle-sponsored jobs-after-40 bills.

Eagle-sponsored jobs-after-40 bills are pending in the legislatures of New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, New Hampshire, Michigan, Nebraska, Alaska, and California.

The Eagles jobs-after-40 format calls for:

1. Legislation: Removing upper age limits in hiring by declaring job discrimination based on age to be an unfair employment practice.

2. Persuasion: Convincing employers to give equal consideration in hiring to qualified older workers in competition with other qualified workers.

3. Education: Securing a favorable climate of public opinion for the concept that ability to perform the duties of the job should be the deciding factor in hiring procedures.

This then is the project phase: To sell the program, nationally, the Eagles implemented the broad idea. The Eagles placed the program so that it could be made worthy of acceptance to all walks of life.

It is interesting to observe what happens when a person like your speaker. takes part in this program. One of the great tests of any project is how does it stand up to discussion, debate, and execution. I have discussed this program

I have debate it in public forums and on TV panel programs. I have helped execute it on community, county, and State levels.

I would like at this time to give you the benefit of my experience in the execution of this great project, and at the same time approach with appropriate humbleness the prospect of what the future holds for all of us.

When Judge Robert Hansen, past Grand Aerie president and now chairman of the Grand Aerie program committee, assigned me to the jobs-after-40 campaign, I did not realize how great the task was to be. To begin with, as I traveled about various State, I saw the many agencies-town, village, city, county, State, and Federal-which are directly involved in the welfare and supervision of male and female employees.

I realized that to create a better climate for jobs after 40, it was not merely sufficient to pass a law. Another ordnance, another statute, is not the complete solution.

When I appeared on a television panel show, one of my worthy opponents, an educator, stated that "education" was the solution. The professor insisted:

Educate the employer, the community, to this need for jobs-after-40 and you have the solution. A poll of the audience indicated that they did not agree with him.

On another occasion, I appeared for the Grand Aerie at a political convention committee. I heard a speaker proclaim that jobs-after-40 was primarily a welfare program.

So, there you have it, gentlemen. Take your choice between legislation, education, and welfare.

We are a long way from solving this problem, but we have shown great progress. Here is a timetable, that I, as a representative of the Grand Aerie, am proud to present.

The first milestone is

1. The creation of awareness and civic consciousness. The Grand, State, and local Eagle Aeries are doing this. In every State, we have an Eagle jobs-after-40 chairman. One of his duties (and one undertaken with zeal of a crusade, I might add) is to bring to the attention of his State legislature the Eagles jobs-after-40 proposed legislation. Across the country, we have received publicity for which we are grateful. The current issue of the Journal

of Lifetime Living carries a story of the Eagles' jobs-after-40 program entitled, "Who's Too Old To Work?", a copy of which has been made available to you. Note also the endorsements of the program by public officials.

2. Acquaint the local employer, the hiring commission, the insurance carriers, that a man or woman past 40 is not a calculated, but a sure, risk as far as efficiency, work output, and factory and shop safety are concerned. Not too much community education is needed. These facts are self-evident. This phase I would call education.

3. Secure the cooperation of welfare and social agencies for individual and family case guidance. Adequate housing is a corollary.

4. Prepare the candidate for jobs-after-40—for a readjustment as to wages and skills. A consistent tabulation in your State and county employment bureau for classification of after-40 jobs available as opposed to persons available. This has proven to be a great help. It would be a greater help if the State employment bureau would keep such current figures.

I have given you four milestones on the road to success. They are based on experience.

In closing, I would like to point out that the higher level from which this program can be directed will insure its greater success.

The Federal Government can do a great amount; the State also—and this, of course, is primarily our purpose in coming before you. If the drive and initiative can proceed from this level, it is good for the program. The execution on the program at the community level can likewise be assured.

Since you can furnish the motivation, I urge you to do so. The problem is there. The need is now. The solution cannot wait. Even as I spoke to you these few minutes, thousands of people have become eligible to jobs after 40.

REPORT ON MAJOR EAGLE NATIONAL PROGRAMS, 1958-59

"Jobs after 40"

U.S. Senators Richard Neuberger and Jacob Javits, both Eagle members, have reintroduced jobs-after-40 bills in the U.S. Senate. Congressman John McFall and others have introduced similar measures in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Eagle-sponsored jobs-after-40 bills have been introduced in New Jersey, Illinois, Montana, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Michigan, Alaska, California, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Nebraska.

Journal of Lifetime Living, April issue, salutes the Eagles jobs-after-40 program.

Home on the Range

Ground-breaking for Eagle Hall, Home on the Range, Sunday, May 24, at Sentinel Butte, N. Dak. "Let's Finish the Job" slogan successful ending to 3-year campaign. Eagle Hall to include recreational hall, library, and dormitory. Phil Bigley, grand worthy vice president, and Ben Cherry, P.S.P., Illinois State Aerie, cochairmen of Home on the Range committee.

Damon Runyon fund

Million dollar pledge to Damon Runyon Memorial Cancer Fund now completed. For past 8 years aeries and auxiliaries, by parties, by donations, have raised money for this cause.

Naples house

A youth training project established in Naples, Italy, at Casa Materna, famed orphanage. It is the first radio and television training school in southern Italy. Object: To combat Communist influence in Italy and signify Eagle good will to the Italian people. Project made possible by donations from aeries and auxiliaries.

Catania house

A like project to be set up in Catania, Sicily. School will train machinists. California Eagles have undertaken this as a State project.

Muscular dystrophy

A continuing auxiliary program (seventh year) with more than $200,000 already contributed by auxiliary members to continue the fight against this crippling disease.

Bellringer aeries

Approximately 225 aeries qualified for the special award and their worthy presidents have been presented with the town crier bell.

Bowling tournament

Fifth annual handicap bowling tournament for men held at Madison, Wis Second annual handicap bowling tournament for women held at Flint, Mich.

STATEMENT OF CLARK W. BLACKBURN, GENERAL DIRECTOR, FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Hon. PAT MCNAMARA,

JULY 31, 1959.

U.S. Senate, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, Subcommittee on Problems of the Aged and Aging, Washington, D.C.

MY DEAR SENATOR MCNAMARA: I have been trying all week to make arrangements to accept your kind invitation to present testimony to your Subcommittee on Problems of the Aged and Aging at some point in the next few days. Thus far I have been unable to work out a satisfactory plan to have a person present and am, therefore, submitting a short statement to you for your records.

The Family Service Association of America is currently made up of 285 member agencies throughout the country. Our basic job is that of working with families, and casework counseling is our chief method of helping. All of our agencies have a concern with problems of aging. Let me enumerate them briefly.

1. The majority of cases that come to us for counseling are brought in by the middle-aged children of older people who are concerned about either some living plan for the aged person or some difficult problem of interpersonal relationships. I am sure your committee is well aware of the fact that aged people are much more isolated than they were formerly and when problems arise, the children seem to show considerable guilt because of the fact that they feel they haven't done what they should for their parents. This does not mean that there appears to be any trend toward taking older persons into the family homes, but rather help is sought in making other living arrangements.

2. Family agencies have pioneered in trying to find new ways of helping to make proper living arrangements. Foster care is being experimented with in a number of places and it has proved meritorious. Many older persons do not wish to live in institutions or in any form of group care. Therefore, it is our belief that further development of foster care for older people is indicated.

3. We have also pioneered in the development of homemaker service for older persons. We have found that a homemaker visiting the home periodically can often help an older person or an older couple to maintain their home, whereas without such help it would often be necessary for these same persons to go into a much more protected situation. Our organization is greatly interested in the development of homemaker service throughout the country and has recently worked closely with the Children's Bureau and about 24 other national organizations in holding a special conference on homemaker service. It is anticipated that a report will be published by the Children's Bureau this fall.

It would be helpful to your committee for us to solicit some case illustrations on the three services mentioned above, I will be glad to do so if requested. I know that specific examples are helpful in pointing up needs as well as services. Beyond this it seems to me that our testimony would tend to parallel very closely what the Committee on Aging of the National Social Welfare Assembly would have to say. We have worked closely with this committee, and I understand that a representative will present testimony to your subcommittee.

Just one additional thought. In talking recently with a representative of a local agency, the point was made that this agency is finding more and more that there is an increasing number of older people who need protection. This means numerous forms of protection, such as legal and physical. This is a matter which I hope your subcommittee will consider further, and certainly it is a question which our group will be studying in the months ahead. With every good wish for the success of your endeavor.

Sincerely yours,

CLARK W. BLACKBURN, General Director.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF CLAUDE P. CALLAWAY, M.D., SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL SERVICES OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE

Gentlemen, I am representing the views of the American Society of Internal Medicine, an organization of over 6,000 specialists in the field of internal medicine with offices located in San Francisco, Calif.

My remarks are necessarily limited to the broad scope of the problems of the aged and the aging because I am speaking for a national organization which is a federation of 45 component societies throughout the United States and its territories.

However, our society does wish to present certain fundamental needs of these persons, both as patients and as citizens as we see them each day in our offices. The doctor-patient relationship is of necessity so intimate we feel that we have a particular insight into not only the medical but the family economic and indeed the whole sociological aspect of this growing problem which we believe to be the greatest medical and socioeconomic challenge before the Nation. We therefore feel well qualified to present our opinion as to the needs of these persons and certain basic concepts and requirements for any enduring and successful program.

We fully concur with previous statements presented by the American Medical Association on this problem but we feel that we are in a unique position to observe and make recommendations because the nature of the practice of the medical specialist, or internist, encompasses the great majority of the diseases affecting the aged and the aging. Indeed, the greatest portion of the internists' professional services is and will increasingly be devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of this group.

The problems of the aged must be viewed as one total sociological problem with areas of medical care, hospital, nursing home and other institutional services included in that consideration. But even before these can be solved we must provide useful actiivty for these persons such as continued employment on a part-time or full-time basis. The present laws and regulations for retirement are neither medically nor economically sound.

Long medical experience, rapid scientific discoveries have greatly extended the years of productivity beyond present-day arbitrary laws and rules. This conclusion is abundantly confirmed by many recent sociological experiments. We deem it important above all that the older individual be allowed to retain his identity as a useful,productive member within his community for as long as it is medically possible and he so desires, thus retaining his personal dignity and economic status. We consider arbitrary retirement a great loss to the Nation, but to many individuals the consequences of economic insecurity, loss of status in the community, idleness and loss of purposeful living are altogether catastrophic. It follows that any program prepared for these citizens must avoid any impression that they have lost their usefulness to the Nation and to their families.

Both as physicians and as citizens we see in the future of our population growth, the proportion of persons over age 65 increasing at such a rapid pace that the medical consequences are but dimly realized. We know that persons in this age group require 21⁄2 times as much care as those in lower age brackets. Thus, within two or three decades, in at least some of our States, 50 percent of all medical care will be rendered to this group. Further, if a major break

through should occur in arteriosclerotic or hypersensitive vascular disease or cancer, the resultant sociological and medical problems will be overwhelming and are presently incalculable.

Those persons who are presently the aged and aging have been productive workers and contributors to the wealth of this Nation during their working years. They have become accustomed to the finest medical care in the world. We are convinced that under no conditions should they become second-class citizens. Furthermore, we are convinced that there can be in these United States no second-class medical care. Professional services must be made available in quantity and more particularly in quality, free from undue restrictions or administrative controls. Projected medical services should allow for the traditional doctor-patient relationship in which the patient's needs are paramount and where he may choose his own physician. Mass medicine or "bargain basement" care will not be tolerated by this older age group and will be violently opposed by the medical profession. The creation of Government controlled hospitals and clinics will not provide the essentials of quality and dignity so peculiarly needed by this group. Professional medical care will be best rendered at lesser cost in the physician's office and in the hospitals of the patient's community.

The problems of the aged with respect to medical, economic, and social needs will vary from one area of the country to another. Thus the problems arising in the great cities will be entirely different from those in the small towns, rural areas, and the great western plains. It is essential that these local needs of the community be recognized. One single mass program at a national level will not take these factors into consideration. We, therefore, heartily approve of the regional hearings which your subcommittee has scheduled and we request that we be called upon to provide the names of appropriate officers of our component societies who desire to be heard at those hearings to present area problems and suggested solutions to improve the medical care of the aged.

Finally, we believe that the attitude of our Nation toward this group should be entirely different from the views of other nations. The enormous productivity and wealth of the United States provide financial resources to purchase firstclass medical care for the aged. Any attempt to equate our wealthy capitalistic system, its capabilities, and respect for individual rights with the feeble resources and totalitarian techniques of many other nations is obviously impossible. To summarize, we place the problems of the aged in the following order of

concern:

1. We recommend a reappraisal of the present compulsory retirement customs and laws of our States and Nation.

2. We respectfuly suggest that you carefully analyze all proposals which may be submitted to you, so that the dignity of the aged person will be preserved and his rights and usefulness to society as a producer will be maintained rather than be classified as a "wornout second-class citizen."

3. We recommend that any program including the medical care of the aged should envision the fact that within the foreseeable future possibly one-half of all professional services rendered by specialists in internal medicine will be given to the group under study. Therefore, any program or recommendations should insure that the present high quality of medical care now available shall continue. Any program must have an economic base upon which medical schools may continue to increase the quality of their instruction as well as attract intellectually gifted young men and women into the medical profession.

4. We recommend continued study and long-range planning by yours and similar committees in recognition of the fact that medical break-through or discoveries may alter completely the problem as we see it today.

5. We recommend that the committee dismiss from its consideration any rigid programs formulated on the basis of the experiences in other nations. These should not be used as a model for the United States of America.

STATEMENT OF JAMES A. CAMPBELL, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

The welfare of the older members of society is a matter of deep concern to the American Federation of Government Employees as an organization that has a vital interest in the conditions under which employees in the public service earn their livelihood. Our direct and primary concern is with the employees of the Government of the United States and of the District of Columbia, since our chief obligation is to them as members of this organization.