The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-14
DENY VETERANS
COST CAIN OUT
OF PROPORTION
Legion Points Out Expense
Higher, Relatively, in
Past Years.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press staff Correspondent

Is IA NlONO NLARPEh
United Press staff Correspondent
Copyright. 1888. BY United Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-SpokeS-
men of the American Legion have
dug out the information that the
relative cost of veteran aid has been
much higher in the past than it is
now.
Veteran costs are running 20 to IS
per cent of total government ex-
penses.
Thirty years ago pension costs
reached 40 per cent Of the federal
budget. Throughout the gay nine
ties, they ran more than 30 per cent.
Due to the concentrated fire of
the United States Chamber of
Commerce and the National Econ
omy League, the impression has
been created that the veteran bu-
reau expenses have shot up out of
all proportion.
Call Criticism Unwarranted
Actually, analysis of figures show
that the whole government struc-
ture has been hOneycombed with air
pockets from the White House out
to the hills of South Dakota where
the federal government is paying
men to carve some pictures on the
side of gigantic rock. That ex-
penSe was loaded on the nation S
taxpayers by the combined efforts
of a senator, and a sculptor with an
eye to business.
The legion figures Of past pension
expense give the peak as 1893. Pen
sions that year ate up Al per cent
Of the federal budget. In 1890, they
accounted for SO per cent. In 1898,
they were down to 80 per cent.
Then, as the immediate Spanish
war cost ran up the general expendi-
lures, pensions dropped to % per
cent, sliding slowly down to % per
cent in 1908, according to legion tab
ulationS.
So that legion spokesman feel the
veterans are being subjected to some
rnwarranted criticism for taking adj
vantage of the generosity of con-
gress to the extent of 20 to Is per
cent Of the federal budget
Injustice Is Charged
They feel that the United States
Chamber of Commerce and the ma
tional economy plea in demanding q
cut of $450000,000 in veteran costs
have ignored imitation Of other gov
eminent costs and attempted tt
heap the burden entirely on the
veterans.
The legion has a special commit
tee studying the possibilities Of
economies though it is not expected
to report for some months.
Meantime, Legion spokesman op-
pose flat horizontal cuts Of say II
per cent.
Their reason is that the man who
lost both legs at the front is de.
serving of more consideration thar
the man who never left his Wash
ington boarding house during the
war, but is drawing disability al.
lowance anyway because he hap
pened to be drafted for duty il
Washington, and maybe last yeal
was in an automobile wreck and
broke his arm.
Make Savings IntelIigentIy
They believe that the war widow
who lost her husband in the fight
ing, and who may draw only $50 g
month, with $40 extra for the first
child and Sc for each additional
child, should not have 10 per cent
of that pittance taken from her
Men, who are holding lucrative
jobs in private life, draw from S10C
to $500 a month as retirement pen
sion for having served as emergency
officers, and having been able later
to obtain rulings granting them dis
ability ratings of 80 per cent. The
average man more than 40 probably
is at least that much disabled, COM
pared with a youth of 20.
If there are to be economies, leg
ion spokesman feel they should be
made intelligently, and not blindly