Evening star., 1945-09-06

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Broad and generous as this legis-
lation for veterans has been, there
will be need Of amendments and i'm
provements. recommend that the
Congress give prompt consideration
to the recommendations which have
been made by the Veterans Admin
istration for the purpose of Clarity
ing and Iberalizing the provisions
relative to hospital and medical
care, to vocational training under
the Vocational Rehabilitation Act,
and to education and training under
the Servicemen's Readjustment Act.
also urge consideration of the sug-
gestions made by the Veterans Ad-
ministration with respect to the loan
guarantee features of the latter
act, to amendments clarifying and
liberanzing the National Service
Life Insurance Act, and those which
would increase the rates of compen-
sation for specific injuries including
multiple amputations.
Drops Federal Projects.
i I have recommended that the Sc
lective Training and Service Act be
continued; but If the Congress de-
termines to the contrary, urgently
recommend that 1t clarity the pro-
visions thereof which specifically
deal with the right of re-employ-
ment.
Favorable consideration should be
given by the Congress to Federal
reclamation projects as outstanding
opportunities for returning veterans.
The great Columbia Basin project in
the Northwest, the projects in the
Missouri River Basin, and others of
equal significance will bring into ex-
istence many thousands of new
family-size farms upon which re-
turning veterans can secure a live
lihood for themselves and their
families and create new wealth for
the Nation. A number of farms can
be made ready for veterans rapidly
If legislation now pending is en-
acted without delay. This legislation
would authorize necessary and
proper assistance to veterans who
seek to develop farm homes on ir-
rigated lands in Federal reclamat ton
project areas.
I also recommend that the Con-
gress expedite legislation giving
veterans social security coverage
credit for the period of their service
In the armed services.
The latest available statistics in
the Veterans Administration shows
that pension payments in varying
amounts are now going forward each
month to approximately 600, 900 vet
Grams Of World War II and to the
dependents Of more than 100000
deceased veterans of World War II.
Insurance claims under the Ma
tional Service Life Insurance Act
have been allowed In a total of
361 900 cases involving insurance of
approximately $4,000, 600, 900.
100000 Hospitalized.
More than zoe, 900 World War II
veterans have already been afforded
hospital care in Veterans Admins
tration facilities.
At the time of Pearl Harbor, the
Veterans Administration and the
Federal Board of Republication
had under way hospital building
program which by 1919. the esti-
mated peak Of needs for World War
I veterans, would have provided a
total Of 100,0 beds for hospital and
domiciliary care. Since Pearl Har-
Dor the hospital-building program
has been expedited.
The Veterans Administration now
has approximately $4,000 hospital
and $4,000 domiciliary beds. Thir-
teen thousand beds are now under
construction, and funds are avail
able for $4,000 more.
The Servicemen's Readjustment
Act authorizes appropriations to the
extent Of 100000 900 for the con-
struction Of veterans hospitals and
also the transfer to the Veterans
Administration Of suitable facilities
OF the Army and Navy after the end
of the war, when surplus to their
needs. The program of the Veter-
ans Administration and the Federal
Board of disqualification contem-
plates keeping abreast of Develop
ing needs such transfers and addi-
tional construction. To this end a
plan has just been approved for
construction of $4,000 additional
beds.
Since World War I there have
been more than 5000, 600 hospital
admissions in veterans facilities
and most of them since 1925. Con-
sidering that the total number of
veterans Of World War I and all liv-
ing veterans of prior wars did not
exceed one third the number of the
veterans of World War II, it can
readily be seen how important it is
to provide hospital privilege. The
subject Is one which should receive
the most careful consideration from
the point Of view Of the extent and
quality of facilities to be provided
and maintained.
In the last analysis, If we can in
sure the proper economic conditions,
we may be sure that the genius and
initiative OF Americans who met
successfully all demands of the
greatest war in history, both on the
fighting front and on the production
front, will make certain the reinte-
grafton Of veterans into an expand
ing civilian economy. Anything less
would not meet the country's obliga-
tion to its veterans.
IL. Public Works
During the war years we have
expended our resources-both hu-
man and NATURALIZATION stint. We
have thrown into the battle for
freedom everything we had.
Thousands of our finest Young
men-our best human resources
have given their lives. Additional
thousands have been injured so that
they may not be able to realize their
full promise. The education of mil
lions Of young men and young wom-
en- has been disrupted. At best, the
Nation will be deprived Of the fun
benefit OF their services as scientists
doctors, technicians, lawyers and
educators for three to five years. or
even longer, while they complete the
preparation which the necessities of