Evening star., 1933-06-08
Discusses Compensation
Agreement With House
Steering Committee.
EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE
MODIFIED PLAN TODAY
Better Treatment for Spanish War
Soldiers Demanded as Step
to Settlement.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The Special Veterans Committee of
the Democratic Steering Committee Of
the House was called to the White
House early this afternoon to confer
further with President Roosevelt over
veterans compensation appropriations
carried in the Independent Offices bill.
President Roosevelt Is expected to tell
the House members at this conference
Just how far he is willing to 60 In the
matter of modifying the provisions Of
the economy act cutting veterans COM
pensation and pensions.
Differences Nearer Settlement.
The Steering Committee, headed by
Representative Crosser of Ohio, at q
meeting prior to the special commit
tees visit to the White House, canvassed
the situation thoroughly. Following that
meeting, Representative Byrns of Ten
nesSee, the Democratic floor leader, said
he believed great progress had been
made toward the solution of the diff
ferences between the President and the
Congress over veterans compensation,
~~>S AAs~AAAS$Ao, 44OWCNCk, dIG
ing out for better treatment of the
Spanish War veterans. Under the
economy act Spanish war veterans
under 81 years Of age, unable to show
service connection with their disabil-
tiles. would no longer benefit under
Government compensation, Members
OF the House insist that because of the
lapse Of time and the lack Of records
IN connection with the Spanish War it
would be impossible for very many of
these veterans to prove service connec-
ton With their disability.
II the President and House members
can reach an agreement regarding the
spanish War veterans, y was predicted
the Steering Committee that the whole
controversy over the question Of vet
eans compensation could be ironed out.
May Appsove 'fressmptive" Cases.
Members of The Steering Committee
believe TIC Presidents would agree to a
plan sc- dealing With the so-called
pze6umpefve" eases of disability of the
World War veterans. This plan looks
20 Keeping the presumptive cases on
the rolls for period Of stx months, IN
winch time 1t would be possible for the
Government to determine whether the
disabQity OF the veterans involved really
grew out OF military service. The un-
there was reasonable doubt" the
cases would be resolved In favor of the
veterans. The burden Of proof that
their disabilities were not service
nected would be put upon the Govern
ment under this proposed compromise
plan.
Whether the President was ready to
accept such compromise was not en-
tirely clear, although some Of the House
members expressed the opinion that he
would do so.
The President is expected to make q
public statement regarding his position
on the veterans compensation matter
while the Special Committee of the
Steering Committee is at the White
House or Immediately after his confer
ence with the Special Committee breaks
up.
At the White House 1t was insisted
that the President does not intend to
yield in his demand that the principle
of service-connected disabilities for
compensation benefits be maintained.
Representative Connery of Massachu-
sets, member of the Steering Com
mittee and an ardent supporter OF the
veterans, said he has a great hope that
the differences with the President could
be ironed out.
Insists on Consideration.
He insisted, however, that the Span
ish war veterans would have to be
taken care of In satisfactory manner
or the House would reject any proposal
from the administration and would
agree to the Connally amendment
written into the independent offices
bill in the Senate, which
would add approximately $170,000,000
to the appropriations for veterans
Mr.. Connery said he. believed that
the House was SO set In its purpose
that it would pass the bill with the
Connally amendment over the Presi-
dents veto unless this concession were
made to the Spanish war veterans. He
added that he thought the Senate
would also vote to pass the bill over
the Presidents veto.
As soon as the special committee
reached the White House. the members
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