Evening star., 1932-07-26
MOUNTING OUTLAY
FOR VETERANS HIT
Harbord Ayers Present Law
to Cost Two Billion
Yearly by 1945.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 26.-Maj. Gen.
James G. Harbord today told the first
national meeting of the National Econ
omy League that conservative figures by
the Government indicate that by 1e45
payments TO veterans and their de-
pendents would reach $4,000, 600, 900
annually under existing laws.
Delegates from 80 States attended
the meeting to form a countrywide or
ganization Of the league, the object Of
which is to aid in bringing about
economy in Government expenditures.
Gen. Harbord, who presided, read a
letter from President Hoover and q
telegram from Gov Franklin D. Roose-
velt Democratic presidential nominee
both praising the movement.
Tells History Of Move.
The general then outlined the forma-
ton of the league early in Nav. when
a few veterans, to whom it was apparent
the largest single economy that could be-
MADE In the national budget was In the
elimination Of unjustifiable appropria-
tlons to veterans who suffered no dis
ability, decided to form an ORGANIZATION
to correct that condition.
He pointed out that all of these men
nrmly believed in just compensation to
men who we're really injured, and their
dependents. N--
President Hoover's letter said hs
was deeply interested TO learn of the
formation Of the league, and pointed
out there was great need for a Nation-
wide and non-partisan Organization
designed to give persistent attention to
keeping down governmental expendi.
tures'
Gov. RooSevelt's message said he was
glad the league would work to create
clearer understanding of all Govern
ment expenditures on the part of the
average voter, and added that "knowl-
edge OF and interest in Federal and
State budgets by the electorate is es-
sential to sustain the Executive and
legislative branches of Government in
reducing Government costs and balanc-
ing budgets"
Points to Increasing Debt.
Grenville Clark, president of the
league, said 10 per cent of the annual
Federal expense concerns four items,
public debt, Army and Navy, public
works and veterans. OF these four,
he said, public debt is increasing, pub
lie works expenditures probably have In
creased and Army and Navy costs can
only be reduced if and when interna-
tional disarmament becomes a realty,
and therefore veterans expense is the
only one that can be cut.
Rear Admiral Richard e. Byrd term
ed the league a national coalition of
citizens to supply an effective method
of correcting the gross governmental
mistakes that are making this depres-
sion chronic"
A national committee and other off,
GERS were to be chosen today. 1t was
intended also to set up State and local
organizations.
Sponsors announced the league seeks {:
LAS our first specific objective, to
secure the elimination of the great
annual expenditure-now amounting to
more than S450,000000 annually-for
those veterans of the Spanish-Ameri-
can and World Wars who suffered no
disability in war service, without, how
ever, impairing just and liberal pro-
vision for the dependents of those who
lost their lives in war service and for
those who in fact have suffered dis
ability from war service.
LAS general objective to secure the
reduction of all wasteful and unneceS-
sary governmental expenditures ."