The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-22
Texas Congressman Admits
Error: Endorses Bene-
fit Pay.
COMMANDER Is LAUDE0
'JuSt Hot Under Collar,
Explanation Given for
Opposition.
By TimesS pecioI

man (Dem., IeX), mas COLI
fessed error in his opposition
to the American Legion policy
of moderation adopted follow
ing passage of the economy
act.
In an article to be published in
the October issue Of the American
Legion Monthly. Patman frankly
declares: L was wrong and Ma
tionsl Commander Louis A. Johnson
was right"
Patman now gives his unquallfleo
endorsement to a policy of mooer-
alton. Only that policy, ne says
made possible the revislons In the
economy act which restored TO ois-
ahled veterans and dependents OIL
deceased veterans many Of the oene-
fits which we're taken from them.
Hats Cruelties
ct was the sportSmanlike thihg
tn do. the patriotic thing to DO as
ve 500 II now. in the full light Oh
all later circumstances" he says.
Continuation of the policy ne
added will prevent future inJustlceS
ard cruelties to disabled veterans
and their dependents through regu-
lations promulgated under the
economy act.
Patman believed the first report
which said johnson not only hao
Endorsed the economy act. but nao
pledged full support of the legion
In its enforcement. he said
L was furious" he continued. /
voted against the bill believing 1t
was a brutal and an unmercl1ui
nroposal and that its enactment
would be a monumental mistake.
Realizes Truth
I still was hot under the collar
when I began to realize the truth.
Out of the smoke of rumors. L got
the truth in the commanders own
words the statements he issued at
the proper time.
johnson did not indorse the
economy act. He opposed it and
the entire legion organization OPP
rosed its enactment. 1t was only
after the act had been made law
over the legion's protest that the
commander pledged to the govern
ment the legions support to carry
out the announced policy oil It's
administration.
1T now is fitting that I make
confession Of honest error. The ROAD
Commander Johnson took was the
road that led TO the later modlf1ca
tion of the law. and any other road
would have led to defeat. diScredlt
and a loss of public confidence.
Wise Policy Adopted
In discussing the results OF the
Iecion's policy. Patman. who was
one Of the most outspoken critics
of Johnson's policy. comments:
The original law and regulations
attendant upon it we're shot so full
of cruelties and inadequacies that a
stubborn inSistence upon its I'M
changed preservation would have
gone down in history as a colossal
blunder Of craftsmanship.
The legion. under the wise policy
il adopted. was in the happy posi-
ton of preventing that blunder. of
being able TO step forward in the
name Of humanity and common
sense to appeal TO the President,
TO congress and to the American
people. And having demonstrated
its own moderation and wisdom, it
was needed
Under any other policy. he said,
the veterans would have been but
ting their heads against a stone
wall OF popular sentiment and con-
fidence in the Presidents good in
tentions. and. in addition. would
have been accused of obStructing
the program for national recovery.
Cites Instances
The wisdom of the legion S
course may be measured in actual
results" he said. and I cite these
as the most important in addition
to restoration of the service man TO
a high place in public opinion:
Battle cs&sIJies AID other serv-
ice-connected cases have been gIveh
PAYMENTS much larger than those
called for bv the first regulations.
More than $4,000 widows and or
-
peen restored to the rolls without
penny of reduction in the amounts
of their compensation.
More than l54 900 veterans with
service connected disabilities by pre-
sumption of law have been given
their day in court. with the burden
of proof placed upon the Govern
ment to show beyond a reasonable
doubt that their cases are not Serv-
ice connected. All of them would
have been eliminated July l, 1888
without an opportunity TO plead
their cases had the law not been
amended.
over 100000 SpaniSh-Americau
war veterans have been restored to
the pension rolls and will receive q
minimum OF SIS a month.
Pensions for totally and per-
mainly disabled World war and
Spanish-American war veterans for
non-Service connected disabilities
have been increased 10 $50 A month
as compared with 500 a month
under the first regulations
Swing Fall Causes Death