Evening star., 1946-11-17
Veterans Legislation
Is Seen Unaffected by
Change in Congress
By George Beveridee

lkHolIyC Ill IVHylc99
By George Beyendee
Major veterans organizations be-
lieve the change in political con-
troll OF Congress will have little or
no bearing on the congressional at
titude towards veterans legislation
next year, q survey showed last
night.
Legislative officers OF the Ameri-
can Legion, Veterans Of Foreign
Wars, American Veterans Of World
War II and American Veterans
Committee - who between them
speak for nearly 5000, 900 ex-service-
men of both world wars-are pay
ing scant attention to Republican
control of both houses as they map
extensive legislative programs for
consideration of the 80th Congress.
With an estimated $500 ,0OO, 900
already earmarked for expenditure
on veterans programs next year,
the legislative officers expect no
economy" reductions in existing
appropriations and look. for the
same liberal consideration that the
Democratic Congress gave veterans
benefits.
n Reasons Are Listed.
They cite these reasons:
Veterans legislation always has
passed on q nonpartisan basis.
2-No party will purposely antag-
onize the huge veteran population,
now nearing 100000 men and
women.
3-Both the House and Senate
have greatly increased their veteran
membership.
Through increased member
ship, veterans organizations have
gained power as lobbying groups.
"Of all places the Republicans
Will not economize, you can look first
to veterans legislation" declared
Chat Paterson, AVG legislative di-
rector. He said veterans should get
even better" consideration under
reorganization plans slated for COM
mittee handling Of veterans affairs
in both houses.
Legion Recalls 1888 Cuts.
Francis Sullivan of the American
Legion, largest and most powerful
OF the groups, pointed out that vet
Grams took one of their worst beat
ings under a Democratic Congress
through the Economy Act of 1888,
which drastically sliced pensions
and other benefits.
But then, veterans represented
about Al per cent of the popula-
tion," he said. Nov, with their
families, they represent about go
per cent"
Amvets Comdr. Jack Hardy echoed
the belief that veterans will "stay
on a non-partisan basis, as far as
the Republicans are concerned"
While the VFW concurred, Legis-
lative Director Omar B. Ketchum
warned his group will be wary of
the prophets of economy" who may
apply the pruning knife" to vet
erans' benefits.
Delay Is Feared.
VIEW voiced a strong fear that
consideration Of veterans legisla-
tion in the new Congress may be
delayed for weeks, perhaps
months" by determination of how
committees will function under re-
organization plans.
Under the La Toilette -Monroney
Reorganization plan, adopted by the
last Congress, the House would route
GI legislation through q powerful
Committee on Veterans Affairs,
while Senate jurisdiction would be
held by, two committees, one on
finance and the other on labor and
public welfare. 49,
Representative Edith Nourse
Rogers. Republican, of Massachu-
sets, appears, to be in line to head
the House committee, to succeed
Representative Rankin, Democrat,
of Mississippi, long head of the
World War Veterans Committee in
that branch.
Functions Are Divided.
In the past. the Senate's Finance
Committee has handled nearly all
GI issues.
Under the reorganization, the
Finance Committee would hold
jurisdiction over veterans mea-
sures generally" while the newly
formed Labor and Public Welfare
Committee would be specifically
charged with consideration of wet
eran hospitals, medical care and
treatment of veterans, soldiers and
sailors civil relief and readjust-
ment of servicemen to civil life"
While party leaders declare they
have no intention of delaying the
reorganization, observers point out
that so many committees will be
merged by January l that exact
machinery is still hazy.
Likewise, committee chairmen
will not be definite until the COM
mittee functions are established.
The VFW, according to legisla-
tive spokesmen, plans to urge
amendment OF the reorganization
to provide one an-powerful COM
mittee on veterans affairs in the
Senate.
Van Zandt Mentioned.
At the same time, the organiza-
ton reported an "undercurrent of
rumors" of an effort to "sidetrack"
Mrs. Rogers by offering her an
other assignment and the selection
OF veteran to head the House
committee.