CLASS OF 1876
The following extract from the EasternUnderwriter, date of October 24, 1930, would seem to contain material too interesting and significant to be omitted from the records of Dartmouth men in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE:
"Frank H. Hardison for a dozen years was the head of the Massachusetts insurance department, following a period of nearly as many years as first deputy under Commissioner Cutting. Mr. Hardison retired from office in 1919 under the operation of the age retirement law of that state for its employees. Four years later he was appointed by Governor Cox as chairman of a commission on pensions to investigate and report upon the many and varied pension laws of the state respecting public servants and upon the subject of an old-age pension law for its needy citizens. After spending two years and $40,000 in making its investigation, mostly into the needs of the aged poor of the state, this unpaid commission made its report to the legislature.
"It was an investigation of extraordinary thoroughness into the financial condition of aged persons, and covered many representative sections of the state. The report was a volume of some 300 pages. While the members of the commission agreed as to the facts, they split on recommendations. The majority favored a straight, flat, old-age pension for the needy of $7 a week, and presented a bill for that purpose. The minority, comprising Mr. Hardison and Prof. Young of the economic staff of Harvard, disagreed, and presented a plan for giving relief to needy aged citizens by charging public welfare boards now existing with the broader duty of taking care of the needs of such aged persons in their own homes where practicable in a gracious and dignified manner, and not sending them to the poorhouse or such institutions. The State Welfare Board was to have supervision of all local boards and pay one third of the cost of such service.
"This is a mere outline of the provisions of the bill, which was supported by a frank discussion of the advantages of such legislation over a flat old-age pension, which would give the same amount to each of its beneficiaries regardless of their special individual needs. These reports and appropriate bills were presented to the legislature of 1925, but no action was taken. For the next four years the issue of old-age pensions was annually before the lawmakers with nothing being done. The legislature of 1930, however, took up and enacted the Hardison-Young plan, changing only the form of the bill in order to engraft its provisions upon legislation already existing as a part of the public welfare code of the state. New York and California at the 1930 sessions of their legislatures enacted laws embodying this same plan for old-age assistance of the needy citizen.
"Mr. Hardison, although past the age of four-score, was fortunately spared to see the plan enacted of which he was co-author, but his associate, Professor Young, passed on two years ago, a great loss.
"In his campaign for re-election, Governor Allen takes much credit for the enactment of the plan, which he declares to be 'a progressive and humane measure,' and that he takes pride in his own personal interest in its behalf. Governor Roosevelt, although he signed the act, says he hopes to see it superseded by an old-age pension law in the near future."
Mrs. Frank H. Hardison died suddenly January 15, 1931. An admirable woman in gifts and attainment, she had maintained through many years of invalidism a brave and uncomplaining spirit. Besides her husband, two daughters and grandchildren survive her.
Secretary, 411 High St., West Medford, Mass.
ATTENTION ALUMNI! Have you any summer jobs? The men "working their way" have been hard hit by the unemployment situation. If you know of any summer jobs that students can fill, please notify THE BUREAU OF PERSONNEL RESEARCH, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
