Evening star., 1945-05-31
mo. S OF a Series.)
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.

The nearly 1000 veterans bills
before Congress include % amend
ing the CT Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights, described more
formally as the Servicemen's Re-
adjustment Act of 1914, set up a
comprehensive plan for hospital
care, rehabilitation, education, un-
employment pay and loans for
homes, farms or business property.
Twelve of the new bills would
liberalize the loan provision-the
most controversial feature of the
GI charter. These measures would
make 1t easier Tor veterans TO op-
tain loans guaranteed by the Gov
ernment, cutting some OF the pres
ent red tape and shortening the
process of obtaining the money.
The loan provision is assailed as
worthless in an article in the cur
rent issue of Golfers magazine,
which states that up to February
Is only nine GI loans had peen
lgranted 100000 eligible veterans
An official of the Veterans Admins
tration said today that while the
figure might have been correct on
the date cited, present reports
showed that 29,238 loans had been
approved.
1t was explained that early last
winter a great many applications
for loans were being processed. OF
the total approved, 23,917 were for
homes. 1.753 for farms and $3.50 for
businesses. The money involved
amounted to $12,256, ,99970.
"Yard-Long" Form Hit.
Many complaints have been made
that veterans had to go through so
much formality and delay, includ-
ing the filling out of a "yard-long"
form, with questions on both sides,
that most of them gave up the
project in disgust. 1t was admitted
| at the Veterans Administration that
the system might be improved,
| though not conceded that it's as
bad as painted. The agency may
support one Of the proposals to sim
lplify and speed up the procedure.
The Government guarantees so
per cent of the loans, which cannot
exceed $4,000 each. The money is
not advanced directly by the Gov
ernment, but must be obtained by
the veterans from a bank or other
lending organization.
Seven of the bills would amend a
clause in the CT Bill of Rights pro-
viding educational opportunities
broadening them in various ways.
Another would increase unemploy-
ment allowances. One bill would
extend the general benefits of the
act to widows of veterans whose
deaths resulted from their service.
One measure would extend its pro-
visions to the merchant marine.
Bills on Hospital Care.
A large number of bills pertain
to hospital care. There are nearly
80 which would liberalize admission
to veterans hospitals or authorize
increased construction. Fourteen
of these provide for new veterans
facilities in specific areas.
While members of Congress fire.
quently offer bills to build hospitals
in their districts, sites for most new
facilities are selected by the Federal
Board of disqualification. Veterans
Administrator Frank T. Hines is
chairman of this board, without
vote. The voting members are the
deputy administrator and the sur
geon generals of the Army and Navy.
Hospital sites recommended by the
board must be approved by the
President and the Budget Bureau.
When all these requirements are
met, Congress is asked to appropri-
ate the money.
The CT Bill Of Rights carried an
authorization of $50O,OO0,O00 for
hospital construction and improve
ments. The Veterans Administra-
ton has just announced compre-
hensive program of increasing hos
pital space and improving facilities.
The MEDICAL service offered veter-
ans is highly controversial topic
at the moment. 1t has been as
sailed and defended, in print and
on the floors of Congress. The