The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 168, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 22, 1954 Page: 3 of 20
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Coverage Extended --
New Social Security Benefits
Increase $5 to $35 After Jan. 1
THE BAYTOWN SUN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1954 — RASE 3
Editor's Note: Social Security
coverage will be extended to mil-
lions of Americans under new
laws effective Jan. I. In addition
Increased benefits are in store for
those who retire after Jan. 1. This
Is (he second ol two stories on
the new Social Security laws,
By HEX CHANEY
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22- UP—
Social Security benefit increases
ranging from $5 to $35.30 a month
are in store for workers who re-
tire after the new Social Security
law becomes fully effective Jan. 1.
There will be tax increases on
some, too, to help pay for the high-
er benefits. Beginning with the
new year, the 2 per cent Social
Security tax will be levied against
the first $4,200 of an employe’s an-
nual pay, compared to a tax
against the first $3,600 under the
old law.
The effect of this on workers
Who earn $4,200 or more a year
Is that the Social Security tax on
an annual basis will be $84 in 1955,
compared to $72 in 1954. The
matching amount paid by em-
ployers directly to the government
will go up correspondingly.
The tax and benefit increases
are part of the new law enacted
by the last* Congress. Besides
boosting benefits, the new law ex-
tends coverage to some 10 million
additional persons, including farm-
ers, many farm and household
workers, architects, accountants,
engineers, many state and local
government employes, and clergy-
men.
Persons who become tots tty dis-
abled are given special considera-
tion under the new law. And it is
now possible for a retired worker
between 65 and 72 to earn as much
as $1,200 a year without sacrificing
any Social Security benefit rights.
Under tile old law the maximum
earnings permitted was $75 a
month, or $900 a year.
Persons covered by Social Se-
curity who already have reached
the retirement age of 65 started
receiving their benefit increases in
checks mailed about Oct. 1.
These increases ranged from a
minimum of $5 to a maximum of
$20.30 for a retired worker who
had been drawing a benefit check
of $127.50 for himself and his wife.
Persons retiring in the future
will fare even better. Those who
retire after paying in at the
$4,200 annual base for the next 18
months — until July 1, 1956 —will
get the maximum increases. The
top payment for a retired worker
will go up to $108.50 a month, com-
pared to the previous top of $85.
Tlie maximum for a retired
worker and his wife will jump
from $127.50 to $162.80. The top
payment for a surviving widow
with at least two children will go
up from $162.75 to $200.
These benefit increases are
based on three actual changes in
the old law.
The first was hiking the tax
base from $3,600 to $4,200,
The second was a new “drop
out" provision. Under this provis-
ion, a worker can forget about his
four years of lowest earnings,
which might pull his overall aver-
age down. Thus, it becomes easier
to qualify for higher benefit pay-
ments.
The third chfinge which contri-
buted to an increase in benefits
was in the basic formula. Under
the old law, a worker used as a
basis of computation 55 per cent
of the first $100 of the average
monthly wage, plus 15 '•per cent
of the remainder up to $200.
Under the new law, the benefit
is figured by taking 55 per cent
of the first $110 of average month-
ly earnings and adding 20 per cent
of the next $240 of average earn-
ings.
Congress changed the law to
permit persons between 65 and 72
to earn up to $1,200 a year without
losing any of their Social Security
benefits. Above 72, a person can
earn as much as the traffic will
bear without any limitation on
earnings. The old law put the
earnings restriction on persons be-
tween 65 and 75.
The new law also provides spe-
cial treatment for persons who be-
come totally disabled. The earn-
ings record of disabled persons is
“frozen” while they are unable to
work. Thus, a period of low earn-
ings or no earnings at all would
not have to be counted in figuring
average earnings.
Parr's Downfall Biggest News
Rio Grande Flood Second During 1954
By UNITED PRESS
The breakup of the political
empire of George Parr in Duval
county and the Rio Grande floods
were the two biggest news stories
of 1954 in Texas, a poll of United
Press editors in Dallas, Southwest
Division headquarters of the wire
service, disclosed today.
A Duval county grand jury
Tetum many indictments of
alleged wrong-doing in the South
Texas area and Parr himself was
indicted by the federal government
on income tax evasion charges.
,,The Rio Grande floods took at
least 28 lives, stranded a loaded
passenger train for hours and
caused millions of dollars In prop-
erty damage, but the new Falcon
dam saved the Lower Valley from
flood.
The stories, as picked by U.P,
editors:
i 1. Duval county investigations.
\ 2, Rio Grande floods.
( 8. Oklahoma torch murder in-
volving charge against David F.
Hagler Jr., Fort Worth business-
man and subsequent suicide of
Frank St. Claire, expected to be a
key witness in Hagler's murder
trial.
4. Special legislative session to
raise teachers’ pay.
5. The trial and conviction of
Cpl. Claude J. Batchelor on
charges of collaborating with the
Reds while a prisoner of war in
Korea.
6. The narrow victory of Gov.
Allan Shivers in the first Demo-
cratic primary and his unprece-
dented third term election over
Ralph Yarborough by a wide mar-
gin in the August runoff. Also the
■election of a Republican congress-
man in Dallas county for the first
time since Reconstruction days.
7. Investigation of alleged land
fraud in the $100 million veterans
land program. |
8. State attorney general’s In-
vestigation into operation of a
Dial
6961
dozen ‘or more Insurance compa-
nies and subsequent court orders
putting some of them out of busi-
ness because of lack of assets.
9. Ouster by the State Supreme
Court of C. Woodrow Laughlin,
79th Judicial District judge In the
controversial Duval county area
and his subsequent re-election to
the post.
10. The Port Arthur strike, jjg
Family Teams
Up To Halt
'Poor1 Thief
CORNWALL, Onf., Dee. 22 —
UP— Detectives who picked up
Raymond Rouleau, 24, weren’t
sure whether they were arresting
_ him or rescuing him.
Rouleau made the mistake of
trying to rob the fighting Lan-
dry family’s groceteria.
Roland Landry threw a knife
that plunged four Inches Into
Rouleau’s stomach. Then the
rest of the family pitched In.
Mrs. Landry hit him with a
shopping basket, Jean Landry
threw a hunch of bananas at him
and Roche Landry beat him with
a coal shovel.
Rouleau was taken to the hos-
pita],
Texas Has Most
Radio, TV Stations
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22—UP—
The Federal Communications Com-
mission Wednesday said Texas leads
allI states in the total number of
radio and television stations oper-
ating and authorized.
FCC figures show Texas has 281
AM, FM and TV authorizations.
California ranks second with 245
and Pennsylvania third with 218.
Texas has the most TV author-
Izations and also leads the AM or
standard radio station list. But Cal-
ifornia has the most FM authoriza-
tions.
All states now have TV stations
operating or authorized, with' 48 In
Texas, followed by 39 in Califor-
nia, 38 in Pennsylvania, and 37 in
New York.
New York leads In the educa-
tional TV field, with seven non-
commercial stations authorized.
Among cities, the FCC said, Los
Angeles has the most TV stations,
with nine. New York and Chicago
have the most standard radio sta-
tions, with 15 each, and New York
tops the FM radio list with 14
stations.
Independent Firms
To Aid Kodak Co.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -UP-
Attorney General Herbert Brownell
Jr. announced Tuesday that the
Eastman Kodak Co. has agreed to
let independent competitors process
Eastman’s .color film.
He made the announcement si-
multaneously with the filing, in
Federal District Court at Buffalo,
N. Y„ of a civil anti-trust suit
charging Eastman Kodak with at-
tempting to monopolize the color
film processing industry.
Eastman’s agreement to let com-
petitors process color film it man-
ufactures was contained in a con-
sent decree filed with the Buffalo
court along with the anti-trust suit.
If accepted by the court, the con-
sent decree would have the effect
of automatically terminating the
suit.
The Justice Department said the
dual action was in line with the
policy of its anti-trust division, by
which companies accused of vio-
lating the anti-trust laws are given
a chance to negotiate an agreement
to end alleged illegal practices
without a long court trial.
Slight Delay
MT. MORRIS, Mich. — UP —
On Nov. 30, 1954, Paul Paulson re-
ceived a postcard mailed April 25,
1912. Tie card was mailed to him
at Boyne City, Mich., where Paul-
son lived at the time. There was
no explanation for the 42-year de-
lay in forwarding.
PEiWEY’S
ALWAYS FIRST QUALITY!
- v y i>4
Santas Still at Penneys...
2 MORE DAYS TO SHOP!
AFTER CHRISTMAS
REDUCTIONS NOW!
ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE .T. WE'VE GONE WITH THE
RED PENCIL, MARKING DOWN ITEMS WHERE WE BOUGHT
TOO MANY, SOME ARE ONE AND TWO OF A KIND, SOME
ARE DISPLAY PIECES! CLOTHING, GIFTS & TOYS REDUCED
TO CLEAR!
•V \
CASH IH oH| SAVIN6S!
m I .......
TOMORROW
v:30 A. M. to 8 P. M
ENTIRE REMAINING STOCK-
DOLLS REDUCED
88
AND
88
/
Women's Fall Cotton Blouses Reduced to . :......1.66
One Big Rack Women's Better Dresses Reduced to . . 3.88
One Big Rack Women’s Better Dresses Reduced to . . 5.88
Entire Stock Girls' Fall Dresses Reduced to J’; . . . . 2.88
Entire Stock Girls' Fall Coats Reduced to . . 10.00 & 15.00
ENTIRE STOCK WOMEN'S HATS DRASTICALLY REDUCED
ENTIRE STOCK MEN’S AND BOYS'
WINTER CAPS REDUCED TO
Boys' Better Corduroy Shirts Reduced to ....... . 2.00
Men's High Colored Plastic Jackets Reduced to ... . 5.00
Boys' High Colored Plastic Jackets Reduced to ... . 3.00
15 Pairs Men's All Wool Slacks Reduced to......7.00
10 Men's All Wool Suits Reduced to..........17.88
100 Pairs Men's Leather Dress Gloves Reduced to. . * 2.00
Men's 100% Orion Sweaters Reduced to........5.00
FLOOR DISPLAY PIECES
BIG WHEEL GOODS cars, bikes, ETC.........reduced
00
10 ONLY HIGHER PRICED PIANOS REDUCED TOv . 10.00
This is a good opportunity to pick up
an extra gift or toy at a reduced price!
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Hartman, Fred. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 168, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 22, 1954, newspaper, December 22, 1954; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1042078/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.