Evening star., 1933-06-04
ECONOMY |MPER|LS
VETERANS WIDOWS
Publisher Calls Projected Re-
ductions in Pensions "CrueI
Injustice"

Prospective Government regulations.
under which pensions given widows and
orphans of service men are to be cut
sharply as part Of the economy pro-
gram. were characterized yesterday by
John Callan OLaughlin, president and
publisher of the Army and Navy Jour-
nal as Cruel and inhuman injustice.
He asserted that Senator Robert D,
Carey, Republican, Of wyoming is in
terested in having the conferees on the
independent Offices appropriation bill
write in legislation to prevent the i'm
pending hardship.
Mr. O'Laughlin pointed out that
many OF these widows are 30 and 80
years of age, and to cut their pension
allowance in half now would be real
tragedy to them. In lesser degree, he
said, women who are much younger
will likewise suffer If the proposed slash
in pensions materializes AS it is, the
publisher asserted, the widows and Or
phans get q mere pittance, and to re-
duce this further Is unworthy OF q
great Government and will be appalling
to the helpless.
Face PerilOuS Time.
The widows and children of Amer
ica's eminent sailors. soldiers and ma
rines are facing perilous time. In the
opinion of Mr.. OLaughlin. The Gov
ernment is now apparently forgetting
the yeoman service rendered to the
Nation by the loved ones of these now
helpless dependents, he said.
Great injustice will be done II the
threatened economies are carried Tor
wari. particularly to those of advanced
age, in the publishers opinion.
There was little chance for such
families to save money, and in many
cases where savings were made and
carefully invested all has been lost dur
ing the past three or four years" said
Mr.. OLaughlin, referring to those who
roamed over the world in the service.
For some years past widows were en-
titled to pensions Of $50 per month on
account of their husbands services dur
ing the Spanish War, Philippine Insur-
rection or Boxer Rebellion and in most
cases service was had in at least two OF
the aforementioned emergencies Where
the husband bought life insurance or
made investments which have stood the
depression, these widows are to receive
no pension If their private incomes are
over $1,000 per year and II their in
comes are under $1,000 per year the
pension is to be cut to SIS per month.
One thousand dollars per year is not
sufficient income for an elderly woman
to support herself adequately in any
city and besides, 1t may be questioned
why the Federal Government should
penalize those people who by careful
living have teen able to build up some
estate.
Jffect Of New Laws
"It has been dificult to get an exact
general statement which would show
the effect of the new pension laws and
regulations which are to become effec-
tive July /, 1888. Several brief state
ments that have appeared in the press
had errors which have caused unnec-
essary anxiety or left pensioners with
an erroneous sense of security. The Of
flee of the Army Mutual Aid Associa-
ton has given information as a result
of the studies made in that office. but
even there it Is reported that new facts
are developing from time to time on
account of changing constructions which
are being given to the recently enacted
provisions.
In general It may be stated that
the widows Of veterans of the Civil
War and Indian wars are not to be dis
turbed in their present pension allow
ances.
I'm the cases Of those who are
widows OF veterans who served 80 days
or more in the Spanish American War
or World War or who participated In
active operations during the Philippine
Insurrection or Boxer Rebellion and
died as result of causes incident to
such service, pensions are to continue
as heretofore at the rate Of $50 per
month. Where widows are drawing
pension on account of service by their
husbands during the Spanish War,
Philippine Insurrection or Boxer Re-
bellion, but where the veterans death
was not due to causes which originated
in or were aggravated by service dur
ing those wars, the widows pensions
are to be reduced to SIS per month.
provided they have income Of less than
81 900 year. If the widow has pri-
vate income of more than 81 900 a
year. she will not be entitled to such
pension. The children of deceased vet
Grams of the Spanish War. Philippine
Insurrection or Boxer Rebellion will be
paid through their widowed mothers. IS
per month for one child. with So
monthly for each additional child. If
there are children and no widow, one
child may receive $12 per month, two
children SIS per month. three chill
dren $40 per month with additional
allowances for additional children.
ITO widows of deceased officers or
soldiers Of the Regular Establishment in
cases where the officer or soldier died
from causes incident to the service, the
rate of pension is to be $22 per month
with So additional If there Is one child
and 81 additional for each additional
child. Where there is no widow, one
child may. receive SIS; no widow but
two children, $22, three children $50
and additional amounts for additional
children. The dependent mother or
father of an officer or soldier who dies
as a result Of service in the Regular
Establishment may be paid SIS for one
parent or where there are two parents,
$1l each," said Mr.. OLaughlin.
Widows who are employed by the
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