The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1933-06-07
Congress Revolts
At The Treatment
Of Disabled Vets
Deuge of Protests From Legislatures Organizations,
municipalities, Clubs, Veteran Bodies Auxiliaries
Spur Senators and Representatives to Action

tee in Washington, D. c., to seek
an injunction to prevent the en-
forcement Of the Economy Act
July 1, until the constitutionality
of the act is determined.
Hundreds OF Suicides
Senator Robinson of Indiana in
speaking of the cuts of the Vet
Grams bureau said, Hundreds of
Veterans have already committed
suicide and others have died as a
result of the cruelty of the so-call-
ed Economy Act" or of its regula-
tons, and untold thousands have
suffered deprivation and even star
walton. 1t is too late to cure those
matters.
Continued the senator from In
diana. Everybody knows that the
campaign to support the National
Economy Act was carried on by the
National Economy League. At
some appropriate time may dis
cuss the personnel of that league
and its connection with new York
financial interests, with Wall street,
with the banking house Of J. p.
Morgan. but I shall not do 50 at
this this time"
The New Deal
On Monday, May 20, in the
house of representatives, the Hon.
Hamilton Fish. Jr., of New York,
in discussing the Veterans Econ
omy Bill, sponsored by the Ma
tional Economy League, which
pressed down upon the brows of
the American veterans Of all wars.
a crown of thorns and sought to
cruelty them upon a cross Of gold
said, Thousands, Of disabled vet
Grams, together with their wives
and children, are to be made des-
titute after they get their last
check on July J.; indeed, the suf-
ferers from these executive orders
include tens of thousands Of widows
and orphans whose whole econ
omic structure has been built on
the governments pledge that they
would be cared for. Most Of these
disabled veterans and their families
will have to be cared for by local
relief agencies already overtaxed.
| Service.connected
Our reports indicate that the
men whose disabilities are trace
able to their war service were to
be cut on the average Of SO per
| cent, which by no stretch of mag
ination was intended when we
granted the presidents request for
power. President Roosevelt stated
when he asked for extraordinary
power under the economy act that
he would deal justly, fairly and
humanely with the veterans, which
| promise had not been lived UP to-"
Hon. Edward w. Goss
Said the Hon. Edward w. Goss
| of Waterbury, 1.-THE Spanish War
veterans are all nearing. or past
the age of 60. Many Of these have
no income other than their PEN
sions. Many Of them will be thrown
on their cities and states for aid.
1t seems to me q reduction of
their pensions, rather than taking
many Of them OFF the rolls entirely,
would be a more just way of handl-
ing many of these cases."
False Propaganda
| In a senate debate some days
ago over the Economy Act, Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan told of
wounds in the back, hernia, arth-
ritis, and chronic nervousness, all
service connected, who has had his
government pension reduced from
$50 to IS a month.
The National Economy League
and its heavily financed publicity
men spread the impression that
millions of dollars were being paid
to veterans who neither needed
nor deserved the money.
Some Big Shots
"Some of the officers of veterans
organizations who occupied swivel
chair jobs during the World War,
do not think that their bud
dies are being mistreated. They
live in affluence and luxury and
most of them draw big sal
aries from the government or
get government subsidies. They
do not rebel even when the sick
and wounded buddies are cast out
OF the hospitals into the streets and
thrown upon charity. They do not
seem to think there is anything
worry them at ALL" This is from a
Senators Refused Data
One thing that angered more
than one senator and representa-
tive during the senate investigation
Of the Economy Act was the re-
fusal of the Veterans Bureau to
furnish information to senators on
figures showing how the cuts were
being made on veterans' allow
ances. Inquiring senators were
asked to wait awhile. and they re-
scented the attitude OF the bureau.
Press Wakes Up
The congressional uproar over
reports from all over the country
ON veterans cuts has aroused great
newspapers. one OF which appeal
ed to the National Economy Lea
que TO drop preaching false econ
omy. and advised manufacturer,