The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-06-01

Ex-service men, composed most ly of disabled veterans of the World war and pensioners of the Spanish American war, were urged last evening to write to Connecti- cuts senators and representatives in Washington, and register a viz orous protest over the startling in- justice imposed on them by the operation of the economy act. The call to organize and to fight against the "raw deal' given them was sounded by well known leaders of ex-service men, Edward V. Kelly, of Meriden. national rehabilitation officer of the D. A. V. and Captain Neil Pouisen of Ansonia, second district committee chairman of re- mobilization of the state department American Legion. Nearly 200 vet erans attended the meeting held In the state armory under the auspices of the Waterburg Veterans coun- cii.
 "It took our so-called friends in Washington just three weeks to write a book on the care and com pensation of disabled veterans. They scrapped the work of medical experts, veteran rehabilitation off1- cials and sincere, constructive ef- forts of the American Legion, the Disabled Veterans, Veterans or Forign wars another organization which labored over three years to nut in writing the sum of their actual experiences with actual cases of wounded and sickly vet erans." exclaimed MT Kelly. "No man with a heart, no man with sense of fair play, no man who claims that he wants to help worthy veteran, could have written into law such damnable injustices to ex-service men. We still have confidence in President Roosevelt that he will make the new dear a ''square deal' for veterans who are suffering for their part played in the war. We feel that he will be with us in this flight. but lest he should forget let us organize and carry the fight to Washington. Let's put 1t to General Frank T. Hines' who wants to place the blame on the president for all the injustice caused. Let's put 1t up to the de rector of the budget, Lewis W. Douglas, who more than any man in Washington. is responsible for the rotten deal' given to ex-ser- vice men. Organize and carry on. A month ago you veterans of wa terbury laughed at the idea of the government stopping your compen- sation. It has been done and you are going to be made to like 1t, if you try and fight alone. Get into the fight. Write to Congress- man Goss and tell him about the letter you received stopping your compensation, Tell your friends. Tell your landlord, your grocer. your milkman. Tell everyone to whom you owe money what has happened to your compensation. And tell them to write a letter down to Washin ton for an explanation"
 Some of the leaders of the econ omy league came in for a few bou- quets that were decidedly not sweet smelling. The big tax payers who haven't paid any income taxes were also remembered. It was claimed that President Roosevelt's pre-elee- ton promise was to cut federal expenditures 25 per cent. The slash given to veterans represents a SO per cent cut in government ex- penses. The supposed 20 per cent sut for the individual has developed into an average of 50 per cent cut. Insane, tubercular, legless, arm- less veterans, the blind, the bed- ridden, the widow, the dependent child. the gold star mother are all remembered in the slashing. Hospi- talization, medical attention and even funeral expenses are "out".
 Replying to the criticism of med ical societies to the government giving free medical attention to veterans, Mir Kelly remarked that it was necessary for the veterans hadn't c penny to pay . doctor for sickness and injuries suffered in the governments service.
 Captain Poulsen explained the new laws on composition in a gen. eral way. Over 3697 veterans in Connecticut who have been receiv- ing disability allowances amount ing to over $70O.oo0 annually have bee ncut off.
 The term "wife'' or 'widow" of a World war veteran Is a person who was married to the veteran prior to July 8, 1881. Only i've rat- ings will exist in the future. No rec troactive payments will be made prior to the date of filing claim. No person working for the U. S. government, postal employees in- cluded, will be given a pension, ex- cept where the pay is for . dis ability actually occurred In com bat. Persons 50 employed will rec ceive SC per month for directly nervice connected disabilities.
 The presumptive clause on tue berculosIs and chronic diseases was