The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-16
VETERANS CUT
BILL MAY Be
SIGNED TODAY
Passed by Senate, 81 to 13,
Measure Is Rushed
Back to House.
SEEK TO AVOID DELAY
Third Great Weapon Forged
by Congress to Help
Roosevelt Drive.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times STAFF Writer

BY RUTH FINNEY
Times STAFF Writer
WASHINGTON. March 16.-The
third great weapon forged in con-
gress for the President Of the United
States to use against depression
was nearing completion today after
overwhelming approval in the SEN
ate.
The economy bill Wiping out exist
ing veterans laws and cutting pay
of federal employees is back in the
house of representatives for final
approval before receiving the sigma
ture of President Franklin d.
Roosevelt.
It will become law without delay
perhaps today. 1t was passed
Wednesday night by the senate, 62
to -.
Senate and house committees con-
ferred today on the bill and at con-
clusion of the meeting it was an
nounced that the house would be
asked to accept senate amendments,
thus avoiding the delay OF a con-
ference between the two houses.
Quick Action Promised
After the conference Chairman
Pat Harrison of the senate finance
committee. said he was sure all
the amendments are acceptable 10
the White House"
Chairman McDuffie of the mouse
economy committee planned to push
the completed bill through the
house promptly, sending II 10 Che
White House before nightfaH'
like the first two emergency
measures giving power to reorganlze
government departments ana TO olc-
tate bank policies, this bill conierS
sensational powers on President
Franklin d. Roosevelt.
II delegates lawmaking powers 10
the President in respect to veterans
benefits. after having first wiped the
slate clean of all except broad OUT
lines of policy to be followed
Half Billion Saving Seen
IT, does not involve transfer OF
oower Ia appropriate money. When
President Roosevelt has written reg
ulations to cover future pension ana
disability payments to eX-SerVlce
men he still must budget the cost
of the payments he proposes ana
ask approval of congress.
The legislative body may, as IN
the past, appropriate more or IS
than the proposed amount.
Actually, it is the present lnten-
tion of congress to provide the Pres
ident with the exact amount Tor
which he asks.
However, if a storm of protest
over proposed reductions hangs over
congress it still is possible for that
body to appropriate larger sums
and provide for their expenditure.
The economy measure is intended
to save between $50000O.O0O and
$500 900 900. -Four hundred million
is to be cut from the annual billion
dollar bill for veterans benefits, the
rest from salaries of federal en-
ployes.
Wipes Out Old Veterans Laws
The costly structure of veteran
laws enacted since 1918 virtually is
wiped out by the new bill. In gen.
eral terms, it defines who may here
after receive pensions, who Stlu
must receive them, and maximum
and minimum pension rates and
provides that in calculating benefits
the end of the World war shall be
fixed at Nov. II, 1918.
Pensions to Civil war veterans
and their dependents and to vete-
rams of earlier wars are retained
. but are cut 10 per cent.
Spanish war veterans continue 10
receive pensions after 81 years OF
age. and earlier if they can prove
service connected disability.
other veterans may benefit only
when service connected disability is
shown. but all Service-connecteo
disability payments may be reduced
at the discretion of the President.
Veterans with non-service-c con-
nected disabilities still may receive
hospital care, if facilities are avail
able in existing hospitals.
Claims to Be Reviewed
President Roosevelt must approve
all new regulations personally, but
the director of veterans affairs and
his assistants may make final de-
ciSion on claims
The power of the President to
make new regulations on this sub
ject is 10 expire in two years. At
the end of that time, whatever regu-
lations are in effect become per-
manent law until modified by con-
gress
When the economy measure be-
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