Milford chronicle., 1933-04-14
FOLLOW EDITORIAL
THE $iOO.OOO. 900 PENSION CUT
New York Times) }

| President Roosevelt makes nc
apologies to the veterans for his cut
in the Pension List and indulges in
very little pleading. He tells the
Service Men that acceptance of the
cut is matter of civic duty. The
sweeping orders are an integral part
of the program of economy, which
the Administration must carry out
and which is affecting every em-
plOyee of Federal Government, from
the President down thS~line. AS Il
! matter of fact. if every other branch
of the Administration were TO be cut
10 the bone. the budget could not be
| balanced without this reduction in
The Pension List. Mr.. Hoover told
Congress that again and again. But
Congress would not heed. Mr.
Hoover also told Congress that the
payment of pensions to people who
were callecting substantial salaries
on the civil payroll of the Govern
ment, and the payment of compen-
satiOn to service men whose dis
abilities had no relation to war serv-
ice, together with other practices,
were gross abuses of the Govern
men's generosity, were in no way
justified and ought to be abandoned.
And Congress would not heed. Presi-
dent ROOsevelts action, in dealing
with these conditions, under the eX-
traOrdinary Executive power given
him by Congress. needs no argument
or pleading. II is obviously justified.
There are reductions in pensions
all along the line. in keeping with
the cuts in Government and private
payrOlls everywhere, and with the
greatly reduced cost of living. BY
and large the principle underly-
ing the program is To take care
first of the Service Man suffering
from disability incurred in or actu-
ally traceable To service under the
flag. In the case of chronic disease, |
presumption to service connection |
is recognized where the disease was |
manifest to degree of ten per cent. |
within Il year after separation from |
service. The wide-Open |
of service responsible
ity which has been in force is abro-
gated. The more definite demarka-
ton of allowances for disabilities in
CURED in actual service is an act of
Justice.
Widows pensions appear to have
been conserved, so far as was pos
sible. The reduction in the pensions
Of widows of Spanish War Veterans
is unfortunate. They are of com
small number. Most of
hem are in the latter years Of life,
IS years having passed since the
Spanish War. In many instances
hey may be dependent upon the $50
I month they have been receiving.
But. by and large, the decree ap-
pears to have been carefully drawn.
It was necessary. The Federal
led drain. which had expanded be-
yond an anticipation and all the time
lad been developing a demand for
more. Reduction was the imperative
luty of the Administration. for there |
we're no other means of balancing |
heebudget. Moreover there were |
Iatent abuses of the pension list
which simply had to be checked |
Where there are exceptional circum-
tances of suffering, there is no
loubt that Government will find
means for relief. Neither the Ad-
nor the Nation is un-
mindful of or ungrateful for war
ervice. The charge never lay
gainst the United States. But in
he main, President Roosevelt will l
e respected and hOnored for doing I
lis duty.