Evening star., 1933-05-30
PENSION INCREASE
FAILURE EXPECTED
House Democrats Do Not Be.
IieVe President viii Per-
nit Higher Rates.

Unless developments occur within the
next two days. the special committee
representing the Democratic caucus of
the House will make a report that it
was unable to make headway" in in
ducing President Roosevelt to recon-
mend an increase in appropriations for
combatwounded World War veterans
to avoid reduction in their compensa-
tions of SO per cent.
This was the consensus of members
Of the committee, who yesterday after
noon held a two-hour conference with
the President Although Representa-
tive CroSser of Ohio, chairman of the
special committee, told newspaper men
after the parley that Il am very much
pleased with the Presidents interest in
the subject and his attitude toward it.
it Is known that Mr.. Roosevelt gave
the group no encouragement.
CrosSer said today he planned to take
his group back to the White House
within the next day or SO" for an
other conference with the President,
but other members of the committee
expressed the belief that a second ap-
peal would be futile.
Says President Convinced.
The President is convinced" one
member of the committee said. that
from the lack of appeal from the ma
jority of veterans indicates that they
are willing to take reduction in their
pensions to aid the country out of tine
economic depression
"On the other hand, the committee
IS convinced that the lack of appeal by
the veterans themselves, is due entirely
to the belief on their part that their
compensation will not be cut. We have
been deiuged with requests from vet-
Grams to take some action, but these re-
quests do not, as yet, represent the
majority Of the service men concerned
Acting as the committees spokesman,
Crosser was indefinite on the specific
recommendations made by the COM
mittce to the President, but he en-
ohaslzed mis- group desired a liberalize-
lion of the regulations which go into
effect July !, particularly to those re-
lating to the combat wounded.
I'VE had very satisfactory confer
ence," he said, land probably will have
some more later. We exchanged views
in a pleasant, agreeable mood. The
President was very glad to have the
meeting"
Others on Committee.
Other members from the House at
the White House parley we're Repre-
sentatives Pou, North Carolina; Brown
ing, Tennessee; Goldsborough, Mary
land; Lea, California; Hastings. Okla
homa Lozier. Missouri; Patman,
Texas, and Jeffers, Alabama. They
were named to represent the House
Democrats following secret caucus
Thursday in which bitter opposition is
reported to have arisen over the ad-
ministration of the national economy
act affecting veterans pensions.
In the independent offices bill the
appropriations allotted to veterans
amounts to 1921, ,730 900. cut of $751;
600 900 from the current appropriations.
World War and Spanish War veterans
are cut from $497 7,573,477 to $146,477,-
937, or by 10 per cent. Civil and other
wars are 10 per cent only for one year.
OF the total amount allotted. the sum
of S65 200. 900 has been fixed for the
total compensation for combat wounded
war veterans. This, a cut Of $780,
000, 900, LecessitateS reducing the num-
Der of disabled veterans on the roll of
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