Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-17

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Inequalities in laws affecting veterans
of various wars in which the United
States has engaged have been studied
carefully by officials of the Government,
and by organizations outside the Gov
eminent. which plan to ask Congress
in its next session to do something about
the problem.
Now that veterans of all wars are I'M
Ger one authority, the Veterans Admin
istrat:on. a much clearer picture of the
striking differences in treatment of vet
Grams is possible.
Officials point cut what may be called
discrepancies, deficiencies, or iuSt plain
Inequalities" These things have been
criticized and changes recommended
One Of the outstanding differences
between World War Veterans and vet
Grams Of other wars is in the total
amount each month they may receive
from the Government
A World War veteran may receive as
maximum compensation for disabilities
he can trace to service in the war $275
a month. Besides, he may get $50 a
month for nurse or attendant. and
S25 for specific disabilities authorized
by law. Thus he could get total of
trace to service the World War veteran
may draw up to $40 a month.
On the other hand, the maximum
which may be drawn by a veteran of
either the Civil or Spanish American
War is only sl25 a month, except in
few instances, where payments are
doubled
The World War veteran may get COM
penSation of 500 a month for total
dea fy1oEc hlIf tho TiufT veteran
could get only $40 a month pension for
the same disability.
In any consideration of differences
between the World War veteran and
veterans of other wars it should be borne
in mind that the word pension" re-
fers only to wars before the World
War, veterans of the World War have
not yet received pensions" dependent
purely on service rendered.
Double Compensation.
World War veterans may receive
double compensation of 5000 a month
if disability is rated double permanent
total" But no such provision is made
under pensions for veterans of other
wars. although double pensions are
payable if disability or death were due
to aviation or submarine accident
Generous provisions of the World
Id FEbEIdIS dLk on ana
benefits granted through the adjusted
compensation act, otherwise known as
the soldiers bonus" and the emer-
gency officers retirement act are pc
culiar to World War veterans relief
No similar legislation has been enacted
Tor veterans of other wars
The discrepancies between Govern
ment treatment of its insane veterans
Of various wars are striking. When an
insane veteran of the World War with
out dependents is maintained BY the
Government six months because of dis
abilities he can trace to war service his
compensation is reduced from what
ever he has been getting to $50 a
month so long as he is maintained In
an institution. If the disability of such
veteran cannot be traced to his war
record, II it is mot service connected"
and he is receiving disability allowance
no reduction to $40 a month Is made.
II, on the other hand. an insane vet
eran OF the Civil War is maintained by
the Government in a hospital his pen
sion is not subject to reduction. If he
Is in national or State military home
his pension is subject to a reduction of
S25 month, subtracted from his pen
sion.
If, TO carry discrepancies still fur
ther, an insane veteran of the Spanish
American War, Philippine Insurrection
or China relief expedition, under SINH
lar circumstances, is maintained by the
Government in a veterans administra-
ton hospital, his pension is not sub
leet to reduction. If he is an inmate
of national or State military home
ne cannot receive more than $50
month.
Difference in Hospital Care.
There is a difference in the yay
Uncle Sam treats veterans who are
hospitalized for these service connected
disabilities. II veteran of the World
War. for instance. is hoSpitalized for
such disability and rated 10 per cent
or more but less than temporary total. Z"
his rating is increased to temporary to-
tai with an award of $50 a month with
additional allowance for dependents. II
the rating is more than temporary total
no reduction in award is made.
If, however. the veteran is of a war
prior to the World War, and he is put
in a hospital. there is no change made
in his rate of pension while he remains
hospitalized.
Veterans of the World War, when re-
porting for disqualification. examination
for disability compensation, or disabil-
ity allowance purposes travel at Gov
eminent expense In addition. when
reporting for examination for compen-
sation purposes there is granted an al
IoWance of s2.65 day to cover loss of
wages.
pensioners or claimants Of pensions
from wars before the World War must
report for examination at their own
expense.
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