The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-02
BY TALCOTT POWELL
Times STAFF Writer

Veterans suffering from cross
eyes, near-sightedness, far-sighted-
ness, inferiority completes, and de-
fects they have had from birth have
been added to the pension pay roll
as eligible for disability allowance.
This form Of compensation per-
mits former soldier of the World
war to receive from S12 to $40
month for permanent disability re-
ceiyed in civilian life years after the
armistice.
Al veteran run over by taxicab
today or contracting tuberculosis
next week is eligible for this COM
pensation. just as though his dis
ability had resulted from the hard
ships Of war The only requirement
is that he shall have paid no income
tax in the year previous to his in
jury
This form of veterans relief is
mounting most rapidly, both in cost
and number of cases.
100000 on Pay Roll
There low are more than 100000
men on this pay roll. The United
States had total casualty list of
327 1888 individuals wounded and
dead from all causes during the con-
fiict.
There are fewer than 100000 men
and women veterans being compen-
stated for disabilities directly con-
nected with their war service under
the most liberal Interpretation of
what really constitutes service con-
nected disability.
In February, 1881, there were 49,
246 veterans getting these disability
allowances, at a cost of $3,234714
month. The following February the
figures had mounted to 353,744 men,
costing $6,6l3,541 a month.
On June last there were 1896, 900
individuals on this pay roll at a
monthly cost not yet made public
by the veterans administration
The figures still are soaring.
The provisions of this disability
allowance law further were liberal
lied by the veterans administration
when on May Is last Administra-
tive Regulation 2006 became effec-
tive.
Gates Are Opened
This regulation stated:
Eye defects resulting from
myopia (short sight, strabismus
(cross-eyes), presbyopia Gar sight)
diplopia double SighD producing
defects of visual acuity incorrect
able to 20-40 by proper lenses here
after will be regarded as disability,
for disability allowance purposes,
though not resulting from disease
or injury.
Similarly in proper cases, mental
deficiency and constitutional psy-
chopathic inferiority may be re-
garded as disability, for disability
allowance purposes.
Disability allowance also may be
based upon defects other than the
above, even though of congenital
origin, if there is convincing evil
dence of reduction in ability to earn
a support"
The regulation adds that pensions
shall be paid only when these dis
abilities exist in pronounced form.
Experts point out that the pos
sibilities in this regulation are
enormous.
Easy for Veterans
The average age of a World war
veteran today is 40. AS the ex-
soldiers grow older, eye defects will
grow more numerous. and more Seri-
Gus. Constitutional pSychopathic
inferiority is one of the common
concomitantS of criminality.
Giving pensions for congenital de-
fects-disabilities which existed at
birth-means simply that men are
receiving taxpayers. money for
something which happened long be-
fore anybody even knew there was
going to be a World war.
There is nothing in the law to in
dictate that such was the intent of
congress when it passed the DiSa-
hility Allowance Act in 1880.
Next: Rising Winds of Protest.