Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-29
SENATE FIGHT DUE
. ON VETERANS BILL
Battle, to Start Tomorrow, to
Center on Demand for
Increase. So" ..'.
Continued From First Page

tCOntnueo FROM First Page)
and the bill become law without much
delay.
No one was willing to predict just
how long the debate on the veterans
bill would run In the Senate. The most
optimistic placed the vote probably on
Tuesday. Some Of the opponents of
the London naval treaty were not
session Of Congress for another week
or even more, believing that such a
course will In the end make 1t impos-
sible to keep quorum of the Senate
here to dispose Of the treaty when the
special session is called by the Presi-
dent. Should 1t become necessary to
send the veterans bill to conference
between the two Houses, that also might
occasion delay The administration
leaders are straining every nerve to
pass the veterans bill without the
Walsh onnally amendment
Supporters of the original veterans
bill. vetoed by the President, are criti-
cising the House and the President for
agreeing to the new bill, which sets up
for the first time a disability pension
for World War veterans. Hitherto, the
veteran legislation has provided only
for compensation" where disability
occurred in line of duty or was trace
able to military service. The new bill
is straight out pension for disabled
veterans Of the World War The critics
of the new bill insist that by thus
starting so soon a pension system for
the 100000 men who served in the
World War. the House and the Presi-
dent laid the ground for heavy pension
expenditures within the next few years.
Legion Approval Aids.
The approval of the new bill given
by the American Legion head is ex-
pected to facilitate its passage through
the Senate; as 1t undoubtedly aided in
bringing q favorable report from the
finance committee. After adopting a
number of minor amendments and re-
Jecting the Walsh Connally proposal
the committee unanimously reported
the bill to the Senate. The objection
made to taking the bill up tomorrow
by unanimous consent was made by
Senator Norris of Nebraska, who COM
planned he had not yet been able to
have a printed copy of the committee
report before him for consideration.
The finance committee amended the
House bill by striking out a provision
which would have prevented veterans
who pay income taxes from receiving
the benefits of the proposed pension.
Another Senate committee amendment
strikes out a provision of the House
bill which would deny the benefits of
veterans legislation to men who haG
enlisted after the signing of the Armis-
tice, November IL, 1918. About 5000
men in this class, who now are recsiv-
ing aid from the Government, would
cease to benefit If this provision was
enacted into law.
Retain 9O-Day Clause.
The Senate committee retained the
clause in the House bill requiring 90
days service for veterans benefiting
under its provisions. An effort to have
the bill amended so as to give to vet
Grams who contracted venereal diseases
while in the service the benefits of
veteran legislation was rejected in the
committee on a tie vote, 8 to 9. The
committee accepted an amendment to
allow an extension of one year for the
period within which suits for which
war risk insurance claims may be filed.
The finance committee reported IA
voiably bill providing for the consoli-
dalton Of all veterans agencies under
one bureau. II enacted into law 1t will
mean the consolidation of the old
Pension Bureau with the Veterans Blu
reau and the establishment Of O new
bureau
Republican leaders of the Senate and
House are seeking to wind up the busi-
ness of the present session as early as
possible. II they do not get an ad-
journment by Thursday night it is like
ly that the session will continue into
the following week. Many of the men,
bers of the Senate have made speaking
ENGAGEMENTS for july 4 and a demand
for an adjournment over the national
holiday and the week end is expected
unless Congress can conclude its labor
and quit before the Fourth. There was
talk of the possibility of an adjourn
ment Tuesday night or Wednesday
But some OF the Senators felt that
Thursday would be the earliest possible
date of adjournment, depending upon
the final disposition of the veterans bill