Evening star., 1942-06-22
Senate Cuts Out
Civilian Raid
Victim Benefits
War Relief Bill
Portions Put Over
For Further Study

/
The Senate agreed unanimous
ly today to eliminate from the
civilian war relief bill provisions
authorizing payment OF Govern
ment benefits to civilians injured
or killed in air raids or practice
| blackOutS in this country.
This would leave in the legislation
provision only for medical care and
Workmen'S compensation for civil
ian employees of contractors working
at military and naval bases outside
the United States.
The Senate promptly passed these
| sections relating to workmen at off
shore bases Senator Pepper, Dem
ocrat. of Florida then reintroduced
as a new bill the other provisions
relating to disability benefits for
civilians at home. and this new bill
was referred to the Finance Com
mittee for investigation.
Pepper Consents.
Agreement came after Senator
Pepper consented to the elimina-
ton in the face of a strong move
/ to return the bill for further study
Chairman George of the Senate
| Finance Committee, leading the
fight to send the whole bill to that
committee had indicated he would
not object to immediate passage OF
relief for the employees at bases out
side the Nation if the bill were mar
rowed to that question.
Senator Pepper accepted that linn
/ tied proposal. however, only after
Senator George had signified a
willingness to have the Finance
Committee complete new study
of the remainder of the bill by
/ July Is.
/ The sidetracked portions of the
bill to be restudied include:
! Monthly payments ranging from
ability and $50 for total disability,
up to maximum of $85. for in
/ juries sustained by any individual
| in air raids, including practice
/ blackouts.
/ Provision for disability payments
to air raid wardens and their assist
ants for injuries in line Of duty.
| Temporary relief of distress in any
community that may be bombed.
/ Benefit payments to the depend
ents of any civilian who may be
/ detained by the enemy.
Byrd, Thomas Clash.
The debate was marked by sharp
exchange between Senator Byrd
Democrat. of Virginia, and Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Utah, chair
man of the Education and Labor
Committee, which recommended the
measure.
/ Senator Thomas took exception to
efforts of Senator Byrd to point
/ out that a subcommittee headed by
/ Senator Pepper held only six hours
/ of hearings on what the Virginlan
! called one of the most important
! bills to come before this Congress
/ Senator Byrd also declared the
printed record showed only one
| or two Senators attended the hear
/ ings.
Senator Thomas insisted the
/ number Of Senators attending 9
subcommittee hearing was not
fair measure of the study given the
bill by the members of the ful
committee before they approved IT
In moving to send the bill te
finance, Senator George said he wa!
not raising any question OF the gooe
faith or conscientious consideration
given it by the education and laool
group. but was prompted by th'
fact that not a single estimate ha!
been made of the probable cost o.
the measure.
Declaring the bill is primarily
pension measure having to dt
with the casualties of this war,
Senator George reminded his col
leagues that all war pension ant
insurance legislation since Worlt
War No. l has been handled by th'
Finance Committee.
Taft Opposes Bills Form.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
said that, while he is willing to q
along on aiding civilians injured II
actual bomb attacks, he could no
support the bill in its present form
He argued that the defeat of ar
amendment he offered last weel
means that between 5000, 900 ane
: 100000 AFRAID wardens and theil
stats wiz be eligible for any in.
juries sustained in line of duty, ever
though there is no bombing raid
The Ohio Senator predicted the
benefit payments on such claim.
would be ten times as great as from
actual air raids.
Senator Pepper labeled the bill
as administration measure. by de.
claring it emanated from the PreSi.
dent, and was approved by the
Budget Bureau.
The Florida Senator also read ,
telegram from Senator LaFollette
Progressive, of Wisconsin who i
out of the city, indorsing the bill
The telegram pointed out that legis
lation has been passed to cove
property damage. and that ther'
should not be double STANDARD
for property as against individua
injury.
Citing reports of shells droppet
on the Oregon coast last night
presumably from a submarine, Sen
ator Pepper said that, while re
ports show no casualties or propert
damage. loss of life and injurie
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