The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-11
.PEACE-T|ME patients GET
BULK OF BENEFITS FROM
US. VETERANS HOSPITALS
Committee Hears First Plea
for Bonus Payment by
Patman of Texas.
URGES AID TO NEEDY
Former Senator Owen and
SmedIey Butler Join
in Appeal.

BIZ United Press
WASHINGTON, April 11.-Pay-
ment of the s2,O0O0O0,OOO cash
bonus was urged before the house
ways and means committee today
AS certain cure for the nations
depression woes.
AS the concerted congressional
drive for the veterans payments
opened, Representative Wright Pat
man Dem, Tex and former SEN
stor owen (Okla), joined in asking
currency expansion.
Patman, sponsor of the bill for
Issuance Of new paper money to pay
the veterans, coupled his plea for
recitation" with an emotional APP
peal to aid "the more than 10000
unemployed veterans
Owen, for twelve years chairman
OF the senate banking and currency
committee, declared that the bonus
payment at this time would be a
Godsend to the nation"
Proposal to Be Fought
Weighty testimony in opposition
to the proposal was assured when
Acting Chairman Crisp of the COM
mittee announced at the close of the
first days hearings that Secretary
OF the Treasury Ogden Mills, Gov
ernor Eugene Meyer of the federal
reserve board and other high gov
eminent officials would be called
upon for views.
The opening hearings on the con-
troyersial bonus question, already
assured of presidential veto, began
with meager attendance. However
the big committee room filled rapid
ly and standing room soon was at
a premium.
Patman told the committee that
more than 100000 veterans are
unemployed. In addition, he said
many are on part time work.
Sat least four-fifths of the vet,
Grams are in need of this money" he
said.
Smedley Butler Helps
"The great question:" Patman
continued, lis whether this vete-
rams payment can be made a We
hicle to carry the country back to
prosperity"
Before Patman began his testi-
mony, Chairman Crisp placed in the
record telegram from Major-Gen
eral Smedley Butler, indorsing the
bonus payment and regretting his
inability to appear personally be-
fore the committee.
The former marine officer, now
a candidate for the United States
senate from Pennsylvania, declared
that Il always have been and shall
continue to be in favor of this
bonus"
II have Travelled through forty
two states in the last six months,
Buffers message said, and every
where find the soldiers in great
need of assistance. The nation owes
them this return for their services. ,
Believe Bill viii Pass
Start of the drive finds house
leaders frankly on the defensive
and skeptical of their ability to hold
their lines. They fear the privates
in their army will desert and
stampede, as they did on the sales
tax. The generals strategy now is
to try to kill the bonus by prolong-
ing the engagement until congress
adjourns this summer.
A United Press survey shows q
majority of the committee opposed
to payment of the bonus, either
by the currency expansion scheme
or by forcing the already burdened
treasury to issue more bonds.
If the committee refuses to re-
port the bill, the bonus advocates
plan to obtain house consideration
by obtaining las signatures to a dis
charge petition.
The house leaders plan to prolong
the hearings as much as possible
Then If the house yields to the
pressure and fear of the veterans
votes and passes the measure, the
whole process must be repeated in
the senate, with more lengthy hear
ings and debate.
Finally, if the senate also passes
It, there will be another battle for
passage over President Flowers
veto. The hope of the leaders is
that congress by that time will have
adjourned and the bonus thus would
lose by default.