Evening star., 1932-10-26
Veterans Organization Also
Petitions for Pensions for
Widows and Orphans.
DISABILITY ALLOWANCES
DEFENDED AS NECESSARY
Admiral Coontz Presents Action Of
National Encampment at
White House.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Immediate cash payment of the SOL
diers' bonus, the enactment of legisla-
tion granting pensions to widows and
orphans of World War veterans and
preservation of disability allowances
were recommended to President Hoover
today by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The appeal, conveying actions taken
at the thirty-third national encamp-
ment Of the organization in Sacramento.
Calf, last September, was taken to the
White House 5y Admiral Robert z.
Coontz, U. s. N, retired, new COM
mander in chief of the organization.
Opposes Debt Cancellation.
1t opposed cancellation of foreign
debts, urged more strict enforcement OF
laws directing civil service preference
for veterans. and said recommendations
later would be made for improving vet
Grams reha bihtation and hospitaliza-
tion. 1t said in part;
The thirty-third national encamp-
ment respectfully urged your ut
most consideration Of pending legisla-
tion that would grant to the widows
and orphans of World War veterans
pension benefits on an equal basis with
the widows and orphans of veterans Of
our previous wars and campaigns.
There are approximately 10000 widows
and 5000 orphans of World War vet
Grams who are not receiving compen-
sation or assistance in any form from
the Federal Government
Our Investigations rpvea1 that st
least 80 per cent of these widows and
orphans are in serious need of finan-
cial assistance
The disability allowance act. passed
by Congress with the Endorsement of
the Veterans Administration. has ac-
complished tremendous good 1t has
relieved individual communities and
citizens Of the burden of providing re-
lief for destitute veterans-an obligation
that We believe belongs exclusively TO
the Federal Government
This legislation Is now being attacked
by individuals and forces thoroughly
unfamiliar with the problems involved
In the interests of economy these groups
would throw the burden of reductions
in Federal expenditures upon disabled
veterans and their families who have
no other source Of sustenance or finan-
cial assistance. We call upon YOU for
your assistance and counsel in the
preservation of this legislation.
Asks for Cash Bonus.
With the honest and sincere belief
that it is advocating a measure that
will contribute TO the economic welfare
OF the Nation as whole, as we'll as i'm
mediate relief for individual veterans in
need. the encampment reiterated its re-
quest Tor immediate cash payment of ad-
Justed service certificates. Funds
thus distributed will 60 directly into
the hands of three and one-half mil
lion veterans Taking into consid-
Grafton the members of their families,
the total number who will be
benefited by this act will approximate
100000 persons.
1T is hardly necessary to point out
that tremendous relief burden will be
lifted from individual cities and COM
munitieS throughout the country-com-
munities that have already virtually
exhausted all available funds for char
liable purposes.
I'VE ask you to consider further the
possibilities of national economic relief
through the payment of these certifi-
Gates. Vast sums have already
been appropriated by the Government
for the purpose of credit and loans to
commerce and industry These efforts
are commendable, but far from adequate
IN the present emergency.
The approaching crisis. made more
acute by the sufferings and privations
of Winter, demands drastic action on
the part of the Government-action that
will actually place directly in the hands
OF the people sums of money that will
afford at least measure of relief"