Evening star., 1922-01-31
HUGE SUMS Spent
FOR WAR VETERANS
$780, 900, 900 Used for Dis
abIed Men, Bill Sent to Sen
) ate Reveals.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

More than $45o,000,000 a year.
which in pre-war years represented
half the amount spent for the entire
government budget Of the United
States. is TO be expended during the
coming year and doubtless for the
next five or six years to pay comnen-
sation to disabled veterans and in
surance on the lives OF those who
were victims Of the war.
While the agitation for a soldier
bonus, to be given to those who were
physically uninjured by the war,
continues. the facts OF what the dis
ernment are gradually being dis
closed.
1t was not generally realized until
the House of Representatives TO-DAY
sent to the Senate the veterans bull
that SO large an amount is being ex-
pended as result of the war.
$45o,OOo,0oO Yearly Cost.
The best estimates available indi-
cate that the s45o.oo0,0oo Item will
continue to be a part CT the budget
for the next several years. 1t Is one
eighth Of the total cost OF govern
ment nowadays and may be cut
pense dininshes. but in general the
expenditure will be in the neighbor-
hood of $500, 900.
There's one item however, which
will grow. 1t is rarely spoken Of in
connection with estimates OF the fu-
ture. but it is as much debt as
anything else in the long tabula-
tion of government expense In the
budget sent to Congress the words
indefinite appropriation" are used.
set aside fully a billion dollars dur
ing the next twenty years to meet
payments on the insurance policies
Of those who died during the war.
point only $S50.000,000 in premiums
were collected during the war to meet
the insurance policies that might be-
come due. The potential liability Of
about s1,3OO.Oo0.OOo. Thus far the
payments have been made out of the
premium collections of sS5O.000.000,
but this will come to an end in year.
the billion-dollar deficit. The pay
ments are graduated over twenty
years, SO 1t will not strain the gov
eminent at one time. but it means
Veterans Bureau will always carry it
Heavy Burden Ahead.
In other words. If the days Of nor
malcy should ever come, the debt Of
the government to the disabled vet
Grams will require at least half q
billion dollars. The chances are that
America will never see pre-War
budget of billion dollars for at
. least twenty years to come.
Another item which promises to be
of long duration is the interest on
the public debt, which amounts now
to about $500, 100000 a year. This
are retired, but it,, as seems certain.
the allies are unable to pay the
principal the United States govern
ment will have to keep on borrowing
and keep on paying interest through
out this generation
The reason. the bonus is really
being fought 50 aggressively by the
men whe know the fiscal side of the
government is that they know If a
bonus is paid it will be a continuing
item The government will have to
pay annually. and once the precedent
of. government aid to those who were
uninjured physically is established
the chances OF indefinite appropria-
tions for a period of years are ap-
preciably increased
Analyzing the appropriation for dis
abled veterans. one finds $26,000.000
for salaries and Administrative ex
penses. Only about $6.000.00O of
this is spent in Washington and
giona1 offices. where the government
tries to keep in closer touch with the
veterans by a decentralized scheme
rather than by one national headquar-
terS.
Vast Sum for Compensation.
More than $160.000.000 is required
this year to pay compensation to the
families of those who lost their lives
and to those who were disabled.
About $72,000,000 is being spent for
hospitals and medical and surgical
aid still being extended to victims
Of the war. This item may diminish
somewhat in the next five years. Vo-
cational education and training is
costing about $130.00O,0e0 a year.
These are the principal items.
1t was thought at first that the aid
to the disabled would be cut down
three years after the war. but while
the government spent $380.00o,0 900 in
the fiscal year 1921 for this purpose.
the amounts needed for 1922 and 1923
average $450,00o,0 900. On top of all
this a soldier bonus lis declared by
government officials to. be an un-
warranted strain, with more disad-
vantages in the long run to the in
dividual who receives the bonus than
advantages.
Copyright. 1927 -.-=. :,