Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-04
JOHNSON DISCUSSES
VETERANS RELIEF
Praises Hoover's Veto and
Defines House Bill Passed
by Congress.

Seto OF the proposed World War pen
btons bill and defining the House bill
Cor the relief of disabled World War
veterans, passed in che final hours of
ehe last Congress, Representative Royal
@. johnson Of South Dakota. chairman
Of the House Committee on World War
Veterans Legislation, last night told the
history Of veterans legislation to the
Nation through the National Radio
Forum, arranged by The Evening Star
and broadcast over the cosst-to-coast
network Of the Columbia Broadcasting
System.
Referring to the bill which brought
on a bitter battle between the Chief
Executive and members Of Congress,
and on which Mr.. Hoover's veto was
upheld by the House. Representative
johnson said:
Bill Manifestly Unfair.
1.-THE President vetoed this bill on
June &c. 1880. In my Judgment he
could not have done otherwise 1t was
Ynanifestly unfair and discriminatory.
TO the man who was fortunate enough
70 secure bed in a hospital, it gave an
allowance Of from $50 to $50, depending
on his dependents. To the man not
fortunate enough to secure a bed in a
hospital. who was willing to fight his
way in the world outside the hospital,
3 "
gcurvy, ricketts,, pellagra and some other
diseases, 1t gave compensation. To the
man with certain forms Of heart
trouble, phlebitis, bronchitis, dysentery,
malaria, pleurisy and other diseases.
which were entirely disabling, it gave
nothing. 1t took approximately 77000
men unquestionably suffering from
certain specific diseases and gave them
everything. To 100000 men equally dis
abled it gave nothing. Men suffering
from diseases included in the bill might
have enlisted In June, 1921, nearly three
years after the close of the World War
served only few days, been perfectly
sound as to health until December, 1929,
and receive the same COMPENSATION as a
man who fought throughout the World
War and suffered every disability.
1T was so discriminatory that no
President could fail to see it and, having
seen it, fail to veto it,
Frankly Pension Measure.
Of the bill which was passed by the
Congress, and which had President
Hoover's approval, he said:
Like every one of the bills proposed
by every veterans organization and in
every bill presented to Congress this
Winter, it is frankly pension measure.
The other proposed laws grant pensions
by presumption. This grants pensions
Is matter OF right.
Its passage was from the beginning
advocated by the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and its commander, Hezekiah N
Duff. He is a Spanish War veteran
and World War veteran.
In its final stages it was Endorsed
by the American Legion, by its COM
mander, o. L. Bodenhammer who
recognized the fact that it treated every
one alike and gave substantial benefits
70 all seriously disabled service men.
SO FAR as I know, it has not been
opposed by any veterans organization"
Text Of johnson Speech.
The speech follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen Of the Radio
Audience: Since Congress convened in
rs present session, on December 9, 1929,
ehere has been continuous debate in the
House, the Senate and the press con-
perning legislation for veterans Of the
world War. and have been asked to
discuss that legislation because of the
eact that have been chairman of the
Committee on World War Veterans
legislation since the organization Of
ehat committee. Much controversy has
existed and some acrimony developed
because Of the divergence in views Of
sponsors OF different statutes
In this discussion, however, I shall
bvoid all personalities and ATTEMPT
sather to analyze the provisions Of the
o1nerent bills which have been presented
20 the Congress and the measure which
vas vetoed by the President on June
26 last. 1t has been the custom for
many years for the three recognized
veterans organizations, the American
81 It
and the Disabled American Veterans,
% meet in annual convention and pre-
pare resolution for recommendation
% Congress and it has been my custom
rs chairman of the committee to intro
Guce those proposed bills at the request
Of the organizations referred to in
order that they may be brought before
Vie committee for action.
Measures Have Much in Common.
As would be expected, there is much
N common In the provisions of all of
these measures because veterans talk
among themselves as do other groups
follow closely and in much detail the
activities Of all veterans organizations
and have much the same viewpoint on
legislative matters.
The original American Legion pro-
gram 1 introduced on January 7. 1880,
and 1t became House bill No. 8l33. II
mad a provision increasing conpensa-
ton and giving further preferences to
those suffering from tuberculosis, but
the particular section Of direct interest
was an amendment to section 200 of
existing law, which provided that ex-
service persons who could be shown to
nave had before January l, 1925, Ger
tam speclf1c diseases should have been
presumed to have secured those diseases
aron their military service. The Legion
named q long list Of diseases, most Of
which are those which are extremely
disabling, such as diabetes, arterio-
scLerosis, arthritis, cancer, etc.
mere we're several others. but lack Of
Ume prevents my naming them
There was justification for this
amendment II We were to continue the
policy which had been adopted by Con-
gress Of presuming that diseases came
from war service, because such a pre-
sumption had already been given in
favor OF tuberculosis, sleeping sickness
mental troubles and some other dis
eases which are by existing law pre-
sumed TO have been received in serv-
Ice II contracted prior 10 January l i.
1925. The Legion bill had the virtue of
consistency in so far as II led in the d.
rection Of placing on parity all classes
Of veterans, but 1t was, of course. in
consistent TO prefer a man with one
disease over a man with another dis
ease equally disabling. However. II did
not attempt to extend dates for the
presumptions. ] also introduced the
blu Of the Disabled American Veterans,
House bill No. 8l34, which was much
like the Legion bill except that It ex-
tended the presumption that a disability
was received in the service TO January
], 1880. It also had many other pro-
visions which 1 have not the time to
discuss. / also introduced House bill
No. 1901 at the request of the Veterans
OF Foreign Wars. The amendment
sponsored by that organization was
much like the one submitted by the