Evening star., 1933-06-02
VETERANS BOOST
LIKELY IN SENATE
Raise of $4,000, 900 Is
Probable Compromise After
Debate on Issue.
CONTINUED From First page.l


Continued From First Pagel
from war injuries be included In the
Trammen amendment instead Of being
removed from the pension rolls, SIS the
present regulations set out.
ByrneS' statement follows:
Before the appropriation bill was re-
ported TO the Senate, the President an
nounced he believed, as a result of the
application OF the regulation adopted
governing service connected disabilities,
the cut IN such cases was too severe,
and that he would cause a review to
be made of the regulations as to this
class and all other classes affected by
the regulations
Two days ago, I announced that as
a result Of this review, the President
had determined that before July / a
new regulation would be adopted under
which the cut in the compensation OF
the service connected disabilities would
be approximately 18 to 20 per cent be-
low the average compensation for such
disabilities under the old law. While
this regulation would provide payments
upon a different basis, the amount OF
money that the new regulation adopted
by the President would provide for seTv-
ice-connected disabilities Is approx
mately the amount that would be added
by the Cutting amendment. I, there
fore, have no objection to the adoption
of the Cutting amendment
Most Humane Treatment.
"I am authorized to say that fol-
lowing his announcement of review
Of other classes the President has de-
termined that the new regulations af-
feeting Spanish American War vet
Grams will provide for those veterans
over 81 minimum of SIS. The rate
OF compensation in the case of such
veterans over So and suffering from dis
abilities has not been definitely deter
mined. Nor has there been q definite
determination as to the regulation
affecting cases presumed to be of serv-
ice origin, or the widows who were
effected by the original regulations. but
in accordance with the Presidents
original statement, consideration Is now
being given to those groups to effect
the most humane possible treatment Of
veterans, as was stated by the Presi-
dent In his original statement"
The effect Of the Cutting amend
President authority to make reductions
In compensation or pensions Of vet
erars in seryice-connected cases Of
more than 25 per cent. The revised
rating system of the Veterans Admin
iStration has revealed the majority Of
the combat wounded remaining on its
rolls were to be cut SO per cent, effec-
tive July l.
The informal conferences came late
yesterday after Senator Tramnell.
offered his motion to suspend the rules
and write into the veterans appropria-
ton provisions a prohibition against
NJ <Sf r~A %Tnp7 rzAr. nsat Sxz &ts.N
case OF any former service man whose
disabilities are service connected.
The Floridan asserted he had proof
that the compensation of thousands Of
disabled veterans, whose injuries, he
said, we're traceable to the service, had
been reduced from 80 to 60 per cent
He contended Congress never intended
that the economy act should be en-
forced so "harshly," adding:
There were some who went mad on
the question Of economy, who were mis-
led and deceived by the Economy League
of America, the activities of which were
carried on very largely by people who
had never had very much experience
about the hardships of life. Certainly
at the time they were trying to bring
about this maddening economy spirit
in this country most Of them were hv-
ing IN luxury. and many of them were
receiving even large compensation from
the Government.
Accuses Economy League.
$50 far as the administration Of vet
erans' affairs and so far as Budget
Director Douglas are concerned. they
seem to have selected a page out Of
the book Of the members of the Econ
omy League In applying reductions to
fIa c0Idfof-~ Of f17fc eo1ff4fru IF Gam
ators will read some of the literature
of that organization regarding veterans,
they will see the similarity IN the sug-
gestions made by the Economy League
and those which are now being applied.
'I am not satisfied with grapevine
information that the regulations are
going to be modified We have been
sorely disappointed and thousands of
veterans have been treated Ike crooks
instead Of patriots. We ought to make
these corrections by legislation"
Before Senator Trammell took the
floor several members introduced into
the record letters they had received
from combat-wounded veterans show
ing their compensation had been
sharply reduced. Senator Robinson of
Indiana reiterated previous charges
that Congress had been deceived"
as to the operation of the econ
omy act, affecting veterans in placing
into the records copy or q telegram
he said he received from a Kentucky
resident, as follows:
Howard Peacher, veteran, injured
overseas, died here today, having been
cruelty denied both disqualification and
compensation to save the credit of the
United States"
Hatfield Reads Letters.
Senator Hatfield. a surgeon by profes-
sion, read two letters and in connection
with one of them produced large x-ray
pictures showing the character of
wounds suffered by the veteran in ques-
ton.
The West Virginiarl said the picture
diclosed that the veterans limb had
been dtsartfculated ut the hip joint;
his body in many places had been
punctured with bits of shrapnel, some
of the pieces were found in the soft
tissue of his back, shoulders and arms,
others resting against the spinal column,
with other metallic pieces entering the
bony structure of the vertebra.
In other words" Hatfield charged,
'the veteran is hopeless cripple.
He must have paid assistant with him
at all times. His compensation has
been reduced from $125 to S8O."
Trammen then asserted he thought
no greater reduction should be made
in the compensation being paid vet
Grams with service-connected disable
tiles than Is being made IN the cases
Of salaries of Government officials.
Senator Cutting entered the debate
when TrammeiI demanded to know
what class of veterans were entitled
to $275 a month. Perhaps the Sem
ator will pardon me-" Cutting inter-
posed, 'if I quote from the testimony
of Mr.. Douglas before the Committee
on Finance"
Douglas Testimony.
He was asked that particular ques-
ton, and he replied:
"sI am not certain that that ie 4on