Evening star., 1946-12-22
|vFW Official Puts Cost Gen. McLain SaysU.S 5.
|0f GI Bill at 70 Billion, Must Adopt Training
Sees MANY Nof Aided As u. n. Takes Shape

Omar B. Ketchum, legislativ
director of the Veterans OF Foreigl
Wars, declared last night that G
Bill benefits will cost taxpayer
more than $40, 900, 600, 900, and tha
fewer than half of the World Wa
II veterans will reap any substantial
benefit from the legislation.
The estimates were made, 1t wa
learned. in line with VIEW plan
to urge World War II bonus II
the next Congress, which ofncial
say would cost about $50, ,000, 900 ,000
Mr.. Ketchum emphasized, how
ever, that VFW has mo plans II
urge that provisions of the CT Bill
be scuttled."
1 Sees Z Million Benefited.
| He said it is estimated that fewel
than 100000 World War II vet
Grams will receive substantial bene
| fits of any kind before provision
of the act expire.
"In effect" he said, "this will
make fish of one group and fow
of another unless some recognition
is given veterans who, by reason
of economic conditions, family cir
cumstances or age, are unable tt
take advantage of the provisions.
This recognition, VFW feels, car
best be given by bonus.
| The organization is studying
recommendation that any financia
benefits by ex-GIs from the legis.
lation be deducted from bonus pay.
ments. The high estimates of G..
Bill costs strengthened that pro.
posal, Mr.. Ketchum said.
Cites 3 Main Provisions.
In computing his estimates, Mr.
Ketchum used costs from only three
principal benefit provisions of the
bill-education, loan guaranty ane
unemployment compensation.
Thus far, he said, $946, ,381 ,521 ha
gone out in subsistence allowance
and costs of tuition, equipment ane
supplies for education programs
Loan guaranty costs total $38 8,004, ;.
1888, and 81 ,679 ,123,056 has been paie
directly to veterans as unemploy.
ment allowances, he said.
At the same time, the Legislative
chief estimated administrative cost!
for the three programs up to October
81 have totaled $92, ,726 ,595. To thai
figure, he said, S5,510,823 should b.
added for indirect administrative,
costs within the finance and person.
mel services of the Veterans Admin.
| istration."
Some Get All Aid.
| Before the period for the benefit!
expires, Mr.. Ketchum figures thai
about 5000, 900 veterans will get Fed.
eral aid through education provi.
sions, and about 100000 will bene.
fit under the GI loan title. Future
participation in the unemployment
allowances program will depend
largely on economic conditions
within the next few years, he said.
He pointed out that there will
be many Implications among veter-
ans receiving these benefits. Thous-
ands will receive all three"
At its National convention in Sep
tember, the organization indorsed a
bonus "in principle" and left details
of the proposal to Mr. Ketchum and
his legislative aides.
While the committee has not yet
made a decision, Mr.. Ketchum said,
the most popular proposal would call
for payment of SO day for each day
served in the United States, 81 for
each day served overseas, and $500
for combat wound. Ceilings would
be provided of $500 for service
within the UnitedsStates, and $500
for overseas duty, with $500 extra
for a wound. ..
Ofhcials estimate such a bonus
would cost $50 1000 ,o00, 900. But If
GI bill benefits were subtracted, the
figure would be trimmed down con-
siderably," Mr.. Ketchum said.