Evening star., 1933-05-31
,tbsr States and Canada,
Member ~ the Associated Press
The Veterans Protest.

reducing veterans costs. As remarkeo
At the time, many Of the members OF
Congress who voted to give courageous
President the power to reduce them did
no In the spirit I'VE who are about to
die (politically) salute you" But there
was the element of public sentiment,
aroused over the mounting bounties TO
men who did not owe their disabilities
directly to war service, strongly IN sup
mort of the President and those who
were willing to go along with him In
bringing to an end what many consid-
cred a national scandal. This sentiment
was even more powerful than the voice
of the veterans or the strong losoies
which they have maintained In Wash
hgton.
Now, however. the reaction has set
IN and 1t provides q difhcult problem
for the President and an exceedingly
dangerous one for the politicians. The
national Government obviously erred In
times of prosperity by saddling itself
with all sorts OF mounting indebtedness
20 the veterans until the size Of the debt
was staggering, threatening the national
credit. The fear now Is that there may
have been as much error in the other
direction. and that in drastically wip-
.nr much of this Indebtedness on the
hooks acts of ruthless injustice to de-
serying veterans have been committed
The President was the first TO ac-
knowledge this danger. and on May ~
a White House statement declared that
~as a result Of the application OF vet
erans regulations, 1t now seems that the
cut In compensation of seryice-con-
nected World War veterans with spe-
etfic injuries has been deeper than was
originally intended. The regulation ana
schedules in this respect will, there
fore, he reviewed 80 as to eject more
equitable levels Of payment. CareiW
study also will be made Of other regu-
htions and their effects"
This study is now under way. But
members of the House and Senate OF
both parties have realized that no re-
y,ev OF schedules and regulations can
help matters greatly as long as TWO
n,,,s two continues to equal four. The
sndependent ofices appropriation bill,
now before the Senate, provides $751;
ran ooo for veterans Of all wars. II
that becomes the appropriation, the
money will spread Just 20 far and no
further. II win mean. according to esti-
mates placed In the Congressional Rec
ord. that o man who lost right arm
an battle, and who has been RECEIVING
ss4 a month from the Government must
content himself with $50; that O man
VINO lost a leg, and who has been re-
eeiyine $50, will receive $sl; that the
roll of sso,s4s veterans drawing COM
nensation for war-connected disabilities
win be cut to 225,8oo veterans; that
some io7,s25 benenciaries Of veterans
viii be cut to about 7l,ooo-and that
most of these benenciaries are widows
and orphans. -
Many Of these facts were generally
known before. The startling discovery
has been the drastic reduction IN COM
pensation to the veterans who were
actually wounded and disabled in COM
bat. This is the class for whom there
has been the greatest sympathy. Inere
has been little, If any, criticism OF the
amount Of money paid to them as
partial compensation for their great
sacrifices on the field of battle. The
criticism has been against the benent
,,aynents to men-and women-who
made no sacrifice on the field Of battle,
and who incurred their disabilities,
actual or alleged, years after the war
was over.
It is estimated that between sixty
and a hundred million dollars must be
added to the veterans appropriations II
some Of the injustices to the men who
were disabled in battle, and to their
benehciaries or dependents, are to be
corrected. There seems small prospect
Of receiving this additional appropria-
ton at this session Of Congress. The
addition OF such an amount Woulo
cause q dent Of no small proportions in
the Presidents budget savings.
The country, however, will not allow
obvious injustices to the deserving vet
Grams and neither will the President.
II the slashing has gone too far-and
there seems to be universal admission
that 1t has gone too far-there will be
remedial action. Whether 1t can be
taken at this session of Congress is an
other matter.