Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-04

pitalized at the cost of S120 a month to
the Government, and should receive a
pension which, with the cost of hos
pitalization, will cost from 5000 to $3.50
a month. That Is their privilege, Of
course, but I do not know Of one who
says that there should be discrimina-
tions against or preference in favor Of
group Of veterans. The issue has been
we'll drawn by the veto of the Presi-
dent, and the whole matter should be
thoroughly discussed by the people of
the United States because upon this
legislation depends the welfare of A.
100000 living men and their dependents,
and also the economic condition of the
public Treasury in the future. The
Government owes a duty to its ex-serv-
ice men, but it also owes a duty to its
other citizens, and the burden must not
be unbearable to them. In my 1udg-
ment, it is time that politics be elinni-
mated in the discussion of veterans re-
lief, and no one can deny but that there
has been much politics in the discus
sion during the last session of Congress.
No political party can eventually derive
any benefit by advocating discrimina-
tory legislation, and the members of no
one political party can possibly be the
only citizens who desire exact justice
for those who defended the Nation
goguery in the discussions of this legis-
lation. Men who previously have shown
no desire whatever to fight for their
country have become excessively enthusi-
astic in the promotion of discriminatory
legislation. 1t has become the favorite
argument Of men who have proposed
some Of this legislation to cite men af-
f1icted with tuberculosis and use that
class OF men as an Illustration.
Congress Has Been Sympathetic.
Our sympathies are extended to them
just as 1t is to all who are suffering.
In fact, Congress has been so synpa-
thetic with men afflicted with that dis
ease that it has already passed four
separate provisions of law for their
benefit. The first is the conclusive pre-
sumption of service origin, which is not
extended to any other disease except
spinal meningitis. The second one is
the award of a temporary total rating
for six months following discharge Of
the man with arrested tuberculosis from
the hospital, section 202(2). The third
Is in section 202(3) whereby the tu-
berculous veteran with an active condi-
ton is given a rating of temporary
total for 3 years following discharge
provision of a statutory award of $50
per month for arrested tuberculosis, in
section 202(0.
There Is proposed In the House bill
which was passed Immediately after
the presidential veto a fifth provision
giving men cured of tuberculosis a mini
mum rating Of not less than IS per cent
of disability. Manifestly before any
further preferences are given to this
group, men suffering from all other dis
eases to which mankind is heir must be
given equal consideration. Naturally,
this brings me to a discussion of the
House bill No. 1874, which introduced
Immediately after the Presidents veto
and which was passed by the House of
Representatives within an hour, and
which was brought out Of conference for
final passage today. Like every one of
the bills proposed by every veterans or
ganization and in every bill presented to
Congress this Winter, 1t Is frankly a
pension measure. The other proposed
laws grant pensions by presumption
This grants pensions as matter Of
right.
The policy Of pensions was adopted
by the country Immediately after the
Revolutionary War, and 1t has been its
policy after every war.
Struggle for Higher Rates.
Once adopted, there will be a con-
tinuous struggle for higher rates. 1t
is human nature to request an increase
of any emolument. 1t is as natural
for veteran TO secure an increase in
his pension as 1t Is for a person who
works to secure higher compensation
for his labor. According TO the in
surance table, the last veteran will
probably die in 1897. Between now and
that date some one will be continually
demanding an increase in pension.
1t will be the favorite plaything Of
the politician. It will always be ad-
vocated by those in no way responsible
for the conduct of the Government,
but who desire to become responsible
for 1t. Such has been the history
OF the legislation. There will be more
speeches made by more men who did
less flghting on this subject than any
other during the next generation.
Through 1t all, regardless OF the poll
tics, the Government will treat It's de-
tenders fairly as 1t has done in the
past.
The new measure I am discussing
does not change an iota of the law
affecting men that we actually know
received their disability in service, ex-
cept to further help them, and in
fact, extends the time for the filing of
claims so that any man who can prove
that he was disabled in the service of