The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-09
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Republic, as reported by the head Of
that branch Of the government which
handles this work. have reached the
stupendous sum Of approximately
SIG, 787, 900. 900. more than half the
amount Of the present debt Of the
federal government. This does not
take into account the pensions and
other relief extended BY the states.
but is q measure OF the generosity Of
the American people in rewarding
and caring for those who took part
In the various wars in which the
United States has been involved.
These expenditures are continuing at
the rate Of about 500, O00, 900 q year.
with possibility that q peak Of
81 900, 900 600 will be reached eventu-
ally, II World War veterans are
treated as literally as veterans Of
other wars have been treated.
The World War broke manv
records. More changes were made in
governments and in the map Of the
world than ever before in Z cores.
ponding period Of time. More people
were killed. manned, or otherwise
disabled, than in any previous con-
flict. and the money cost was In ex-
cess Of that Of all other wars Of
which there Is . record. It was the
first war to witness the use Of air.
planes, submarines, tanks, and poison
gas. It was the first war to leave
practically the entire world In q maze
OF debt. And It was the first war In
which, from the outset, there was
an organized. well-planned program
for taking care OF It's victims. The
agency through which this is done
Is the Veterans Administration.
The administration as an inde-
pendent agency Of the government
was authorized by an act Of con-
gress on July 3. 1880, and was estab-
lished as such by executive order Of!
the president on July ~ Of that year.
There was consolidated In It at the
time the United States Veterans Bu-
reau, the bureau Of pensions previous
~ under the Jurisdiction Of the Sec
rotary Of the interior, and the ma.
tional homes for disabled volunteer
soldiers, the latter known g the ma
tional homes service.
The administrator Of veterans' NJ.
fairs Is charged with the control. d.
rection. and management Of all agen.
cies and activities In the veterans
administration, and subject to review!
by him on appeal are all final decisions
or orders Of any agency in the ad-
mlnlstratton. The administrator isl
also chairman Of the federal board Of
disqualification, which is advisory to-
the president on the need for, loca-
tion OF, and expenditures on account
OF increased government lnospitaliza.
ton and domiciliary care Of all vet.
Grams OF the United States.
Some Of the Manifold Duties
The administration Is responsible
Tor extending relief to veterans and
dependents Of deceased soldiers who
served In the military and naval estab.
lishments Of the United States in
peace times. as provided by acts Of
congress. In addition to compensa-
lions and pensions, these laws include
benefits In the form Of government in
sufance, adjusted compensation, emer.
gency Officers retirement pay for
world war veterans, and hospital and
domtctliary care for veterans of ALI
wars. Regional offices, or combined
regional offices and hospitals. are 10
Gated In every state, except Delaware.
to facilitate the granting Of benefits
provided for veterans. The adminis-
tration maintains and operates ri
facilities for hospital or domiciliary
care.
The wards Of this administration are
the mental and physical victims OF
war. They include the sightless. the
legless, the armless, the deaf, the
sheu-shocked, the gassed and tuber-
cular veterans, and men who wee
driven insane by the stress and flame
OF battle. Starting with the bureau
Of war risk insurance, an agency de-
signed to afford life insurance at ex-
ceedtngly cheap rates to American
men going into battle. the government
learned that its obligations to its
lighters were SO great that there
should be centralized agency OF
! help and the veterans administration
Is the result.
The breakdown for relief Of veterans
IN the period from the beginning o.
the Republic to June 80, 1884. Is re-
vealing. There has been expended in
that period. $70yO00,O00 in pensions
for the war Of the revolution, $46,2l0.-
600 In pensions for the war Of 1917;
@62.0l9,O00 In pensions for the In
dian Wars: go ,622 sos in pensions for
the Mexican War: $7.768, 58s, O0O/ In
pensions for the Civil War; 1857 49,
600 IN pensions for the Spanish AM
erican War; and $ll4.857, 900 for the
regular establishment.
Most Generous County In the World
Compensation and pensions for
world war veterans total $2,708 900 900.
OF which $4l5 900 900 was for death
compensation. 42.03o 900, 900 for dis
ability compensation, $50, 600 900 for
emergency officers retirement nav.
pay, and 42o0, 900 for disability
allowances or non-Seryice pensions.
The military and naval Insurance.
accounted for $l.724 900 900; United
States government life insurance for
$226. SOC. 900: adjusted service certifi.
cate fund payments on certificates
matured by death. 4lo2, COX, 900: I'd.
Justed service and dependent nay,
~. 400, 900: hospital and domiciliary
facilities and services, 4ol 40, 900; ad-
ministration which includes Ill ex-
pendttures incident to the mainten-
ance and operations Of the former
pension bureau, bureau Of national
homes, al forms Of disqualification
and medical treatment, regional OFF,
ces. supply depots, and other Offices
In field stations under the iurisdic.
ton Of the veterans administration,
q SAT ,0o0. 900: vocational training,
$6l4 900. 900: allotments and allow.
ances. 4582. 900 900; and marine and
seamens insurance ~. 100000. In
cluded Is the civil service retirement
and disability fund. the dishilraAments