The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-15
REPORT LISTS
CRAVE ABUSES
IN SOLDIER AID
Study of Two Years AGO
Made Public; Waste of
Millions Yearly Shown.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times Stan Writer

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Reduc-
ton of veterans benefits at this
session Of congress seemed more
probable today, following disclosure
OF confidential report of special
investigators listing grave abuses
which exist under present laws, and
which cost the government millions
OF dollars annually.
The report was prepared two
years ago. but never has been made
public. 1t has been in the hands
of chairmen of the various house
committees dealing with veteran
legislation, of President Herbert
Hoover, and of the veterans admin
istration, but majority of con-
gressmen did not know about 1t
when they voted on reductions last
spring.
1t now has been handed to the
joint committee on veterans which
opens hearings today.
The report vas prepared under
direction Of Representative John
M. Nelson (Rep., Wis., when ne
was chairman of the house COM
mittee on invalid pensions.
Covers Many Abuses
1t covers abuses dating back to
Revolutionary war veterans relief,
including some technically legal and
others which are not. The report
calls attention to:
Revolutionary war pensions based
on affidavits of service which were
purely mythical; frauds in land
bounty allowances following the
revolution: pensions paid to those
who served during, but not actually
in the war, with Spain and the
Philippine instruction; "presump-
ton" Of service connection of dis
abilities Of World war veterans when
direct connection can not be shown;
pensions for young and able bodied
wives and grown-up children Of
veterans; benefits based on med
ical evidence of local physicians
"amenable to local influences; dis
ordinations in the emergency Off
GERS retirement law against enlisted
men and commissioned officers in
the regular army; "unfair" prefer
ences to veterans in the civil serv-
ice; abstraction of vitality important
documents from the files of the
veterans administration; enactment
of 1926 special pensions bills from
1861 to 1881.
Drastic Changes Urged
Tho rar1o,t racoYon,epds dra stic
changes in veterans laws to make
them conform to the following prin-
ciples:
l. Relief for every veteran of
either sex, corscript or volunteer,
who has served in the forces of the
United States in time of war and
peace, if the veteran has been dis
abled from injury or disease in
Cured directly and not presump-
lively in the military service.
2. Relief to surviving dependents
of those who died from injury or
disease similarly incurred.
g. Equal relief for equal disability
regardless of rank, previous occu-
patton, or length of service.
4. Uniform relief for veterans OF
all wars and for the regular estab-
lishemnt in peace times.
Being Brought Up to Date
S. Relief in the form of monetary
compensation in cases already de-
scribed, and also disqualification and
vocational rehabilitation for direct
service connected disabilities.
6. Ample provision for main
tenance of dependents of service
men and women during service, ex-
Guiding independent persons and
those of affluence.
7. Government assistance at the
end of the war in placing veterans
in gainful occupations.
The report was drawn at the time
when extension of veteran benefits
was the only point at issue before
congress. 1t recommends strongly
against any such extensions.
The joint committee now is bring
ing it up to date in the light of pres
ent conditions