Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-26

JLlAI IuIQS from the NdLlOnhI 1TehS"
ury should be provided to veterans
in distress as the result of the
drought and the business depression.
There are veterans unemployed and
in need today In common with many
others of our people. These like the
others are being provided the basic
necessities Of life By the devoted
committees In those parts Of the
country affected by the depression
or drought. The Government and
many employers are giving prefer
ence to veterans in employment
Their welfare is and should be a
matter of concern to our people. In
quiry indicates that such care is be-
ing given throughout the country,
and 1t also indicates that the num-
Der of veterans in need of such re-
lief is minor percentage Of the
whole
The utility of this legislation as
relief to those in distress is far less
than has been disclosed. The popu-
lar assumption has been that as the
certificates average 81, then each
veteran can obtain $500 by way of a
loan. But this is only an average,
and more than one-half will receive
less than half this amount. In fact,
over 800 900 men viii be able to bor-
row less than 5000. and of these over
100000 will be able to borrow only
an average of SITS. Furthermore,
there are 100000 veterans whose Ger
tiflcateS have been issued recently,
who, under the proposed law, will
have no loan privilege until their
certificates are two years old. 1t Is,
therefore, urgent in any event that
the local committee continue relief
to veterans, but this legislation would
leave such local committees and en-
ployerS to assume that these veterans
have been provided for by the Fed
eral Treasury, and thereby threat
en- them with greater hardshipS than
before.
The breach Of fundamental prin-
cIple in this proposal is the require
ment of the Federal Government to
provide an enormous sum OF money
to vast majority who are able TO
care for themselves, and who are
caring for themselves.
Benefits Income Taxpayers.
Among those who would receive
the proposed benefits are included
$4,000 veterans 100000 dependents,
who are already receiving some de-
gree of allowance from the Federal
Government But in addition to
these, it provides equal benefits for
scores of thousands of others who
are in the income taxpaying class,
and for scores of thousands who are
holding secure positions in the Fed
eral State and local governments,
and in every profession and indus
try. know that most of these men
do not seek these privileges, they
have no desire to be presented to the
American people as beneflting by
burdens put upon the whole people
and have many manifestations
from veterans on whom the times
are bearing hardly that they do not
want to be represented to our people
as group substituting special priv
!eges for the idealisr1 and patriot
ism they have retoiced in Offering to
t1eir country through their service.
1t IS suggested as a reason for
making these provisions applicable
to all veterans that we should not
make public distinction between vet
Grams in need and the others who
comprise the vast majority, lest we
characterize those deserving help as
a pauper class. On the contrary,
veterans In need are and should be
a preferred class, that a grateful
country would be proud to honor
with its support. Adoption of the
principle of aid to the rich or to
those able to support themselves in
Itself sets up group of special priv
hege among our citizens.
Allowances Provided.
The principle that the Nation
should give generous care to those
veterans who are Ill, disabled, in
need or in distress, even though
these disabilities do not arise from
the war, has been fully accepted by
the Nation. Pensions or allow
ances have been provided for the
dependents of those who lost their
lives IN the war; allowances have
been provided for those who suffered
disabilities in the war; additional
allowances were passed at the last
session of Congress to all the vet
Grams whose earning power at any
time may be permanently impaired
by injury or Illness; free hoSpitali-
zation Is available not only to those
suffering from the results of war,
but to large numbers Of temporarily
Ill. Together with the war risk in
surance and adjusted compensation,
these services now total an annual
expenditure Of approximately $780,
OOO,0 and under existing laws
viii increase to $500, 000, 900 per an
mum IN a very few years for World
War veterans alone. A total of S.
DOC, 900, 900 has been expended upon
such services since the war.
Our country has thus shown its
sense OF obligation and generosity
and its readiness at all times to aid
those veterans in need. have the
utmost confidence that our service
men would be amongst the first TO
oppose a policy of Government as
sistance to veterans who have prop
erty and means to support them
selves, for service men are as de-
voted TO the welfare of our coun-
try In peace as well as in war, and
as clearly foresee the future dangers
OF embarking on such a policy. It
could but create resentments, which
would ultimately react against those
who should be given care.
Prosperity Theory Disputed.
1t is argued that the distribution
OF the hundreds of millions of dol
lars proposed by this bill would slim
ulate business generally. We can
not further the restoration of pros
perity by borrowing from some Of our
people, pledging the credit of all Of
the people, to loan to some of our
people VINO are not in need Of the
money. II the exercise of these
EDUCATORS UPHOLD
$500.