Evening star., 1932-12-16
gen. HINES urges
/ DISABILITY LIMIT
TO SAVE MILLIONS
Would Bar Allowances to
Veterans Not Permanently
Disabled so Per Cent.
ROBINSON OF INDIANA
CHALLENGES PROPOSAL
Official Also Would Cut Retroac-
tive Period for Awards and
Increases by HALF.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Prohibition of disability allowances
to all veterans not permanently dis
abled to a degree Of so per cent was
urged today by Frank T. Hines, veteran
administrator. with an estimate that
the Government would save $51. .344. 600
the first year under the proposal.
The recommendation, made to q joint
congressional committee studying econ
omies In veterans costs, started a
heated argument. with Senator Robin
son, Republican, Of Indiana, an advo-
cate of liberal treatment Of veterans,
who challenged the equity OF the
proposal.
Hines said 1t would remove 356,555
persons from disability rolls.
Back Payments Hit.
The proposal followed close behind
recommendation that the retroactive
period for the payment Of veterans'
awards or increases be shortened BY
half
Hines said the retroactive change.
which would have the payment Of
awards or increases cover period
beginning six months before admin
1strative determination or the date of
the flling Of an application for review
would save $15,000,0 900 annually. He
estimated that 1t would affect l46. 900
former service men.
Hines said the retroactive recommen-
dation and that made yesterday to limit
rerattng OF cases for the purpose OF
reviving insurance should merit frst
consideration"
$s,eoo,ooo Saving Seen.
He estimated a $6,000.o00 saving
under the insurance amendment and
said 1t would affect 1000 persons.
The veterans administrator said the
retroactive provision had cost the Gov
eminent to date $50 .000, 900 and would
cost much more" II continued. He
ADDED that some fraud had been prac-
ticed under it.
Hines suggested another saving of
SS,o4S,0oO q year by transferring vet
Grams who enlisted after the armistice
irom compensation TO pension status.
Sees Grave Injustices.
Robinson said II you cut out the
present Is per cent disability cases YOU
get back right where we started from:
with grave injustices''
Hines said that veterans disabled less
tnan 30 per cent, under the change.
would either have to be assisted In 1et-
ting employment or helped by local
communities II they could not find Jobs.
1nere Is no employment to get"
Robinson said.
Hines replied:
IF a man is able to carry on and
certainly he Is II he is only as per cent
disabled. the Federal Government
Tine Veterans Administrator also
recommended amendment of the emer-
gency officers retirement act so that
no person shall receive retirement pay
unless he served for six months or more
between April s, 1917, and November
II, 1918, and suffered injury or disease
directly attributable to war service.
He estimated an annual saving of
$3,386,000 from this. It would AFFECT
5000 men,
The House has passed this amend
ment and 1t Is now pending in the
Senate.
The last saving Hines proposed under
his first group Of recommendations was
given as $751;, 900 q year, affecting l40,-
600 persons. This, he said, would re-
suit from denial Of transportation TO
non-service-connected veterans in re-
porting for physical examinations.
Hines listed the total savings under
his initial recommendations at $685.
857, 900 year. This does not take into
account an informally estimated saving
of approximately 81, ,000. .000, 900 over
period of 33 years under his recon-
mendation of yesterday that additional
hospital needs be met by extending ex.
isting facilities rather than building
new institutions.