Evening star., 1934-01-26
Mysterious Methods in
Restoration of Pensions
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
After reading the news of the
Presidents latest modification of his
veteran legislation. I am reminded OF
the word of the old hymn writer. God
moves in mysterious way His wonders
to perform! For evidently our Pension
Bureau is determined that 1t. too, must
follow such mysterious methods-mys-
terious. however, in it's operations by
the strange lack Of common sense ana
fair play exhibited.
Here is an illustration which. trust,
you will allow a place in your widely
read and unbiased news columns:
First. note that in these new regula-
tions Spanish American War veterans
with a 90-day service record and an
honorable discharge are granted "a
Sl5-a-mopth pension. Nothing said as
to either their war record at the front
or their present need. Apparently they
may have neither, yet draw this
monthly pension! Nor is anything said
Of their disability; just three months In
uniform and good discharge!
Granting that this is but just recoS-
milton of service, no matter where. then
it surely would appear that veterans of
those wars of 80 years ago-men who
have records of service at the front and
of battles participated in, whether In
Cuba, the Philippines or China (the
Boxer campaign to be given
credit for service connected disabilities
when they so claim. Or is it possible
that our Pension Bureau officials, in
their devotion to red tape. give no
weight or value to a mans fighting
record or length Of service abroad;
grants him no more credits than to the
veteran of three months, who may never
have gone to the front or smelled the
smoke of battle?
An ordinary sense Of values would
suggest that men should be rewarded on
the ground of what they have done, Of
the hardships and dangers undergone
i. e., on merit.
But this has not been always shown
In the decisions of our Pension Bureau.
and occasionally neither age, merit nor
need have been respected in the arha-
trary disallowance of claims by such
fighting men for service-connected dis
ability.
Here is the case of a veteran. now over
co years of age, more than so per cent
disabled. who served, not 80 days, but
three years (of these, two in the Philip
pines and China); took part in two
battles in Luzon; was one of the $500
Americans who helped relieve the lega-
tlOnS IN lSUU, participated IN lour Dat
ties In that Boxer campaign and was
one of the few who helped to raise Old
Glory on Pekings walls. He claims
service-connected disability, and by the
earlier legislation the medical boards
saw fit to grant him $50 . month.
But under the recent rulings this
man, whose discharge was marked
excellent" was refused service connec-
ton because after 80 years he could not
conscientiously furnish af1davits, etc.
So now he has been merely assigned
the SIS. His fine service record has
no value, no more than If he had only
drilled 80 days in some home camp.
Neither his age, merit nor need have
been given just consideration; red tape
rules have been preferred to plain
justicel
And this Is only Q sample of similar
"chiseling" done on good service men,
and until such unfair methods are
eliminated the veterans will continue
to have . Just grievance grounds for
positive resentment against such Q
policy which % demeans service and
needl LESTER TRAVIS.
Berkeley. Cplif. =;