Evening star., 1943-12-09
House Passage Of Bill
For Muster-0 Pay
Sought by Tomorrow
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
In sudden burst Of speed, the
House Military Affairs Commit
tee drove ahead today with
hearings on mustering-out pay
legislation for service men and
women. House passage by to-
morrow is the goal sought by
Chairman May.
The committee met half an hour
ahead Of its usual assembling time
To-Day to hear the last three wit.
nesses, representating the Army.
Navy and American Legion. Both
the service departments were ex-
pected to approve the principle of
the measure, and American Legion
spokesmen said they also would in
dorse 1t, with a request that dis
charge pay be based on the length
Of service.
While almost a score of bills are
before the committee, only two. both
introduced by Mr.. May, are being
considered. Both provide for ton
OF $500 in mastering -out pay. One
would pay that amount to everv one
honorably discharged, regardless of
tne length or character of service.
provided he does not rank higher
tnan captain in the Army or lieu
tenant u. g. in the Navy, and is
not eligible for retirement pay.
New Proposal Offered.
The other, which Mr.. May said he
introduced at the request of the
White House, calls for 500 for men
and women who have served less
than three months, 5000 for those
who have served from four to six
months and $500 for all over six
months.
A new proposal, offered Yesterday
py Representative Brooks, Demo-
cfat, OF Louisiana, a committee
member, would provide for three
months pre- discharge furlongh with
pay. During that period. the serv-
lceman technically would be in ths
service, but for all practical pur-
poses would be civilian readjustin1
himself TO civilian life.
Inc mastering out bills won tho
general approval yesterday of
spokeSmen for the Veterans of For
eign Wars and the Disabled Vet
Grams Organization, as we'll as of
Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines, head of
the Veterans Administration All
three cautioned that Congress should
not consider mastering out paw a
flnal settlement of seryicemen's
claims, and hinted strongly that pav
readJustments, or bonus demands.
are virtually certain to be made
after the war.
Other Benefits Emphasized.
Millard w. Rice, national service
director OF the Disabled Veterans
Organizations, emphasized that the
musterlng-out pay, five times the
amount paid to men discharged after
the last war, should not be consid-
cred as "dlscharging all obligations
Mr.. Rice explained that there
might be demands for adjusted COM
pensation, old-age insurance. unem-
ployment insurance and furlough
pay.
Omar B. Ketchum. legislative
agent for the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, told the committee the $500
discharge pay isn't enough" if it is
to be the only thing you're going to
do for these men"
Gen. Hines estimated that the
legislation would cost the Govern
ment approximately s3500.00O 900.
disclosing that discharges since
Pearl Harbor have approximated
100000 most of whom would be
eligible for the payment.
Gen. Hines said he did not believe
men who have served less than 90
days should receive the same pay as
those with longer service, and sue-
gested top of $500 for men who
have served more than 90 days.
Also. he commented, length and
character Of service should be con-
Sidered.
MS o"h ided, 1ell' r1IlltS SdlU. WAS
to provide a furlough plan of pay
ment on discharge. with full pay
being given for the first two OF six
months of furlough. three -tourths
pay for the second two months and
half pay for the last two. During
the furlough period, the serviceman
would be expected to find job and
begin readjusting himself to civilian