Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-08-23
Dear Joe
By JAMES L. HICKS
IN THE MONEY


President Truman signed eight
bill affecting veterans last Thurs
day and Ave Of them dealt directly
with a veterans pocketboOk.
The big item, Of course, was the
terminal leave pay bill which pays
the ex-GI's for the furloughs they
didn't get and somewhat evens
things up with the boys who wear
the pink pants.
The payments will be made to
enlisted personnel of the armed
forces who have served Mt any
time between September 3, 1899.
and September l, next.
They will be paid. up TO a limit
Of 100 days, for the number Of
days leave due at the rate Of 2Ia
days a month, minus the number
Of days actually taken on furlough.
In soldier language, Joe, all that
simply means that for every month
you served in the army, the army
should have given you ga days off.
II you served IL months and didn't
get 80 days Off, the government
is going to pay you for the days
you didn't get.)
What's more you are going 10
get paid at the rate of pay Of the
last grade you held while in the
army, plus 10 cents a day for subsis.
tence. This means that il you were a
buck sergeant and got promoted to
staff few weeks before you were
discharged, you will receive all your
terminal leave pay as a staff ser
geant. II works the other way too.
II you were a first sergeant for
Ave years and got knocked down to
buck private q few days before
your discharge, you will only re-
ceive terminal leave pay as a buck
private. Told you not to loud talk
that second looey!
In addition to base pay and sub
sistence, the first three graders
with dependents will get an extra
$l.25 a day for quarters allowances.
The average payment TO CTS
IL expected 20 be about $l65 but
many Of the boys In outfits like
the Ninety-sixth Engineers, the
FoFty-eighth Quartermaster
Truck Regiment, the 394th Port
battalion and the Forty first En-
Kineers. who went overseas way
back there in 1912. will get much
more than the average payment
because they did not have OppOr-
tunity to get their furlOugh be-
fore being shipped overseas. It's
going 10 cost the government ga
billion dollars.
But just 10 make sure you don't
spend IL all In one place, Uncle
Sam Is going to pay 1t TO you in
$25 bonds which you can't cash
until Ave years after your dis
charge. You can use them imme-
diately. however, TO convert your
CT insurance or pay up your back
premiums TO get your insurance
reinstated.
MORE MONEY!
The four other bills putting CT
pocketbooks which the President
signed included:
I. A 20 per cent increase in
pensions for 1000, 900 veterans and
400. 900 dependents Of both World
Wars.
2. An appropriation Of $50. 00O,-
600 to provide free cars TO all leg
amputees and other World War II
vets who lost the ability to walk
while in the service or through serv-
ice disability. The cost Of each
auto Is limited to $500 (you can
get q Packard Clipper for thatl.
and the VA says il Is still ironing
out the details Of buying the cars.
s. Restoration Of pension bene-
fits to all United States veterans
living in enemy countries during
World War ii.
When war broke out. hundreds
81 vets living overseas had their
pensions cut OF because Uncle Sam
was afraid the money would fall
into enemy hands. The new act
restores payments 10 these men,
4. Increase Of pension benefits
10 hOspitaliEed veterans who have
no dependents, TO peace time vet
arans and 10 war widows with more !
han four children.