Evening star., 1946-08-08
President Signs
Funds Bill for
Terminal Pay
30 Millions to Give
Autos to Amputees
Also in Measure

an appropriation bill carrying
$2,431, 100000 for enlisted mems
terminal leave pay.
The President will sign separate
Legislation authorizing terminal
leave pay in a ceremony at 1890
pm. tomorrow, the White House
announced.
The appropriation bill signed to-
day also carries 100000, 900 for the
purchase of especially fitted auto
mobiles for more than 10000 World
War II leg amputees and veterans
who have lost use of their lower
limbs.
The bill also provides s26,OO0, 900
for OPA, in addition to $4,000, 600
appropriated earlier.
Today's signing was witnessed BY
Representative Edith Nourse Rogers
Republican, of Massachusetts. who
first introduced the cars-for -ampu-
tees legislation.
For Unused Furlough Time.
AS the terminal pay bill went to
the President, it provided for pay
ment for unused furlough time up
to l20 days in non-negotiable, 21a
per cent, five-year bonds, issued in
units of S25.
Estimated to cost as much as So
700,000,OOO, the bill awaiting sigma
ture requires payment to enlisted
personnel who accumulated their
unused furlough time between Sep
tember 8, 1889, and September /,
1916.
Payments are based on the rate
of base and longevity pay received
at the time of discharge, plus a
minimum of 10 cents a day for SUBJ
sistence
The veterans will receive their
pay in cash if they are entitled
to less than $50 or if they were dis
charged before January /, 1943
Cash payments also will be made
to the wives, children or parents
OF discharged men who have died
and to the guardians of veterans
judged legally incompetent.
Other Payments in Bonds.
Other payments will be in bonds
which mature five years after the
individual veteran is discharged
The bonds can be used before. the
f1ve-year period is up only for pay
ment OF premiums, repayment OF
loans and conversion of national
service or Government life insur-
ance
The legislation appropriatine
funds to buy free automobiles fol-
leg paralytics and veterans who have
lost one or both legs at Or above the
ankle establishes a ceiling of S1,6OC
on the vehicles and allows purchase
OF other conyeyances," including
motorcycles. motor scooters OF
similar vehicles.
BY way of restriction, however
the veterans must prove their ability
to operate the vehicles and must be
able to obtain driving permits before
they will be qualified to make pur.
chases.
After that, according to the Vet
Grams Administration, they car
enter contract with any dealer
| they wish, and make the purchase
The dealer then will bill the Vet.
Grams Administration for the cost.
Repairs Up to Veterans.
While administrative procedure l.
not yet complete, spokesman said
lit is planned that eligible veterans
will apply at regional and branch
offices of the agency for processing
and approval. Regulations and in
structlons will be sent from the
Washington office as soon as they
are completed.
The 81 600 maximum cost will not
include maintenance, repairs OF
additional charges for appliances
necessary in order for some ampu-
tees and paralytics to operate the
vehicles. The veterans will be
allowed to add differences in cost
over $1,000 if they desire to pay
more for cars, but they will not be
paid the difference if the cost is
less than the ceiling.
The Veterans Administration en-
phasized that its jurisdiction and
responsibility will end after pur-
chase of the vehicles, and that the
veterans will be responsible for all