The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-08

i cheerfully have assumed the obli. gation of watching over the wei. fare of widows and orphans oi those of ouI comrades who have gone in before. For the past thirty. four years we have been in close and intimate contact with the problems which confront the dis abled veterans and the dependents Because of this experience and in- sight, we honestly believe that we are logically entitled to make cer- tain recommendation to congress and to you, the voters of America in behalf of the welfare of these disabled veterans of the armed service of our country.
 The V. r. W. is concentrating its efforts at present In a six-fold leg islative program based on the re- peal of the cruel and vicious so- called economy act of March 20 1933. Passed during 8 period of hysterla-when congress and the entire country was swept by the fear of economic chaos-adopted without due consideration by either under the pressure of assurance
  would suffer no harm--the economy act destroyed, with one sweep, leg islation that was placed on the statute books after fifteen years of long and deliberate study.
 What Is the result? Thousands and thousands of disabled veterans are being penallzed by this act. In spite of notifications made in the act subsequent to It's passage-modifi- cations which constituted public confession to the charge that the economy act, in it's original form, was cruel and heartless- thousands of veterans were com pletely eliminated from the pension and compensation rolls.
 In brief outline, these are the six great principles that the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States believe should be the foun- dalton of all veteran welfare legis- lation.
 First. federal responsibility for the veteran. The bulk of federal taxes is paid by those citizes who enjoy large incomes and who have profited the most through the years of America's prosperity. It is un- fair and un-American to place this burden of cost upon the local com- munity and local charities, when the small taxpayer already is crush ed beneath the burden of heavy taxation.
 Second, we seek adequate relief for those veterans suffering from injury or disease incurred in actual war service.
 Third, we ask relief for those veterans suffering from liabilities due either to injury, disease or old age and who are no longer able to carry on.
 Fourth, we demand relief for the widows and orphans of all vet erans, regardless of the cause of the veterans death.
 Fifth, we do not believe that compensation, pensions or hospital ization should be withheld from any veteran or his dependents un- til they can prove they are paupers. This qualification of pauperism ut- terly violates the American spirit of fair play. It bears the stamp of cruel ingratitude.
 Sixth, we make one request anu OIIiy obc-"h "hiSh Chccto ShS ablebodied World war veterans. refer to the immediate cash pay ment of adjusted service certifi- cates. This question is of special significance to the economic well fare of the nation as a whole at this particular time. The National Recovery Act, which has the unanimous endorsement of the V. r. w., depends for It's success on the increased purchasing power of the masses. Additional money must be placed in circulation In every corner of the country if we are all to enjoy the benefits of this process Immediate cash payment to ap- proximately three million, five hun Ired thousand veterans, of the two billion, five hundred million dol- lars owed them by the U. s. gov ernment, would place virtually every cent of this vast sum in im- mediate circulation. It would be used to pay off debts, to pay back rent, taxes, grocery bills. It would be used to buy supplies now sorely needed and, by thls wide dissem- nation, immediate cash payment of adjusted service certificates would stimulate trade and com merce, create jobs and otherwise assist in making the National Re- covery Act something more than an ambitious dream or a beautiful vision.