Milford chronicle., 1934-03-16

| published as his estimate in Wash
| ingtOn, January IL. These matters
were called to General Hines at
tention personally while your ma
tional commander was in Washing
ton on Dec. 20, 1888. Yet the pub
lished statement estimates seventy
millions of dollars and then pro-
ceeds to multiply that figure by five
so that the total is given for a FIVE
/ year period as being $3.50 000,0
THE figures given by General
Hines on the widows and orphans
portion of our four point plan are
easily demonstrated to be far in ex-
cess of what they should be. Of
fetal estimates of the cost of the
Rankin bill presented in May of 1882
are readily available. That bill car
ried payments of I20 for widows
and So for orphans. The present
bill provides for SIS for widows, IS
and So per month for orphans. Yet
General Hines estimates that the
cost of the present bill will be al
most exactly the cost of the Rankin
bill presented and passed in 1882
Then taking this stilted figure, he
multiplies il by five and gives an
estimate for a five-year period in
order that large figure may he
presented for u total.
General Hines now estimates the
additional cost of pitalizatiOn
contemplated by the LegiOns four
point plan at $l6.OOO,OOO per year.
This figure is palpably in error for
the reason that those of us who
have lived the subject over the years
know that the extra cost for hos
pitalizatiOn alone would involve
largely the item OF food only. Yet
General Hines estimates that the
cost of spitaliZatiOn under the Lee
si0n's four point program will add
~ per cent To the total expenditure
for all administration. hOspitaliZa-
liOn and dOmiciliary care, as well
as burials and all other expenditures
involving the operation of the re-
giOnal offices and the pay of every
single one OF approximately 10000
employees of the Veterans Admin
istratiOn
Then General Hines multiplies his
figure OF $l6.OO0.O 900 by five to give a
iive-year estimate and again to stilt
the total.
Then General Hines proceeds to
add the five-year estimate of each
of the foregoing items and paints
the picture in totals that the Le-
siOn's four point plan over five1
years will cost a total of $6O3. .O00.-
900"
The national commander declared
the four point program would amend
but not repeal the Economy Act.
lie said il would not disturb the
payments on account of other wars
or savings on nOn-serYice connect
ed World War disability. ''Its chief
effect" he said, would be to restore
the compensation status existing
prior to March 20, 1888. for service
connected World War disability"
He said the current appropriation
for disqualification is sufficient to
the LegiOn's request
that the Federal government hos
pitalize veteran who Is in need of
such care and who is reasonably
unable TO pay fJr IL. lie stated that
the LeeiOn's provision for widows
and orphans would simply grant
them the same benefits and rates
now accorded to those of the Span
ish- American War under the Econ
Dmy Act and its regulations.
Mr.. Hayes said the Legion is ask
ng nothing from the government !
which would interfere with the well
'are OF the nation and cited the Le-
siOn's full cooperation with the
\RA, the enforcement of the Buy
American" movement, the stand for
aw and order. and the opposition
Expressed toward intolerance and
,isOtry. opposition 10 the cancel
ation of war debts aud the LegiOn's
program of promoting
GOOD citizenship, as ample evidence
II the sincerity OF purpose in the
.esiUns program OF service.
The chief aim. the No. provision
II the LegiOn's four point program,
he national commander explained.
5 to restore Immediately the status
# the service connected cases, as
hey existed prior to March 20. 1888.
Ie said he could safely say that all
t the representatives. and even our
nemies. ii they understand" will
o along with the Legion on that
rinciple. and that he anticipates no
iiliculty.
In explaining the No. point,
hich calls for Federal hOspitaliZa
ON of veterans who are reasonably
nable to pay for il when il is re-
uired. he said how the Legion has
XplOded false charge that veter-
MS with large incomes in the past T..
ave obtained free surgical treat
tent.
We went TO the great Hines Hos ..
ital in Illinois in January, 1888" ,
e said. land submitted question
lire to all the veterans receiving !
'eatment there. We found that less !
IAN one per cent could have paid
II their disqualification. At one
me the American Medical AssOcia- q
on and the American Hospital AS
Iciation honestly believed that
lose of us who served hOnorably !
nd who represented the American II
egiOn. were desirOus OF taking o
way the doctors means Of liveli- ;
lOd and that we were trying to
)pulate the hospitals with men
no were able TO take care of them o
Ives. Our survey disprOved that" Il
r. Hayes said he told the Presi- U
mt recently this disqualification
DIVISION would not require an ad- 3
tiOnal appropriation. as the cur
mt one is sufficient. D
Regarding the third point in the :
ogram. he said II is technical. 1t .
that there shall be a perpetua- u
IN of saryipe connection for all of "