Evening star., 1935-08-14
ROOSEVELT SIGNS
PENSION MEASURE
Spanish War Veterans and
Dependents Restored to
$45,581 900 Benefit.

BY Lne ASSOclaJed treSS.
The names of approximately $1,000
veterans and dependents of veterans
of the Spanish-American War. the
Boxer Rebellion and the Philippine
Insurrection were restored today tc
the Governments pension rolls.
This came about through approval
by President Roosevelt late yesterday
of the so-called Spanish-American
War veterans bill. Offlcials estimated
the increased cost to the Government
would be s45,58ro0O a year.
In statement issued after he had
signed the measure, the White HOUSE
asserted Mr.. Roosevelts action estab-
lished mo ground or precedent" for
World War pensions.
He said that at the start Of the
World War Congress had adopted a
new system for giving benefits 70
American soldiers which were not ac-
corded the men who fought in earlier
struggles.
Refers to Bonus.
This new system, applied to all who
fought in the World War, extended tr
them additional compensation If thev
had dependents, as we'll as insurance.
disqualification. vocational rehabilita-
ton and the adjusted compensation
certificate (the bonus), ;" the statement
said
THE veterans of the Spanish-Amer-
ican War, now approaching an average
age of 81 years, had none of these
advantages, except disqualification in
recent years. Their case, therefore
cannot be compared to the case Of
World War veterans. For the same
reason, the approval of this bill estab-
fishes no ground or precedent for pen
sions for the World War group; theirs
is an entirely different case.
There are some inequalities in
volved in this legislation, but the
President recognizes the fact that the
Spanish-American veterans we're once
on the rolls. under prior legislation.
that they are approaching advanced
age, that their disabilities are in
creasing."
Payments Cut by Act
These veterans were taken from
the pension rolls and had their dis
ability payments cut by the 1888
economy act. They now will receive
disability payments ranging from $50
to s72 month. regardless of their
private income. cause of disability or
service record. Remarked widows will
be restored to the rolls at the full
widows rate of $50 a month and
new claims will be allowed for those
whose husbands we're not getting a
pension when they died. 1t was esti-
mated widows would gain about S.
100000 annually.
While the Presidents pen stroke
swept away one of his major 1888
economies. officials said enough of
the economy act remains to maintain
savings Of s100O00.000 annually.
They referred to the fact World
War veterans with non-service con-
nected disabilities we're cut from the
pension rolls in the economy program
and have never been restored. All
other pension cuts in the economy
act have been modified by later laws
and rulings.
First to Get Total Status.
The Spanish American veteran
were the first to gain restoration OF
the old pension rates for all theii
members, however.
Under the economy act, Spanish
American veterans were paid at three
fourths of the rate existing at the
time of its enactment. Those who
were paying income tax, those whose
| disability resulted from misconduct
| and those who did not actually par
ticipate in the war were cut of the
rolls.
Here are the monthly rates for non
service disability restored by the bill:
10 per cent disability, $40; Is per
cent disability, s25; so per cent diss-
billty, s35; 100 per cent disability,
| $50; hopeless and bedridden, S72.
| By chance, Mr.. Roosevelt signed the
measure. which had been popularity
termed the Spanish War veterans bill
on the anniversary of the occupation
of Manila hv limited States tro0ps