Evening star., 1947-02-28
By George Beveridqe

in such conventional courses as account
ing, engineering, mechanics and con-
struction. Others, including those in
the agency's vast disabled training pro-
grams, are learning to be watchmakers,
gunsmiths and saddle makers.
Still others have turned to such
bizarre courses as deep sea diving, fish
culture, bookkeeping, bartending, sau-
sage stufnng and animal training Actual
cost OF tuition and subsistence benefits
so far exceeds $1,500,000,000.
Some 100000 Receive Aid.
Some 100000 veterans received unem-
ployment and employment benefits
from the Veterans Administration last
year alone, however, at a cost of about
$1,70O 100000 in direct payment. Total
monthly payments still stand between
$4,000, 900 and $100,0o0,000 month.
Most Of the veterans agency's ad-
nlinistrative problems have centered
around the tremendous and sudden
growth Of its activities. These figures
show its growth during the last several
years:
In 1889, the total of all benefits issued
was 1,358,600 They amounted last year
to 1S,327,870. Out-patient service eight
years ego was given to 33,400 veterans.
Last year, 1.122,17 veterans were treated
at the clinics and hospitals. Dependents
pensions in 1889 totaled 302,1 and
there were "a 200 death claims. Last
year, benefits were going to $4,000 de-
pendents and death claims had mounted
to Az, 2,700.
Less than three years ago the Veterans
Administration had only 650,000 disabled
veterans on its pension rolls. Today,
1t has 2,288, 900, with an average pay
ment OF $42 a month. And this is only
the beginning. A glance at the pension
rolls best illustrates how long it takes
to pay for war.
Not until last March was the final
pension account closed to a dependent
OF the War of 1912 veteran. Payments
are still being made to 40 dependents
OF Mexican War veterans, while GIG
veterans and 1892 dependents of the
Indian wars are still getting monthly
checks. And there are still 116 Civil
War veterans-with an average age of
100-who are receiving payments. OFF,
cials estimate that peak of the World
War pension load was not reached
until 1910.
A Worrisome Job.
How does it feel to be responsible
for developing and maintaining these
big businesses?
TITS worrisome," commented Gen.
Bradley. But he added it is Job that
can be done.
ut can't be done overnight. But If
people have little patience and give
us the TOOLS" the general declared, II
think a job can be done that will be
satisfactory to the vast mass of vet
erans." The tools, he said, are enough
personnel to work with, their avail
ability, and enough money to hire them.
The Veterans Administration has
about 900 full-time employees, whose
professions are as varied as the programs
they run. They range from lip-read-
ing experts to landscape engineers, from
biochemists to swineherdsmen.
While officials feel the personnel sit
uation Is generally satisfactory, a few
shortages are affecting the programs.
Some, as in the case of psychiatrists,
can be traced to a general shortage of
trained personnel, To Offset this, the
agency Is training psychiatrists In its
own hospitals. Among other employees
most drastically needed are nurses and
experienced medical attendants.
Cost OF administering benefits for the
Nations ex-servicemen in the fiscal year
1947 Is expected to be close to $4,000 ,0On,-
600. A deficiency appropriation request
for nearly 000,0O0,000 Is pending be-
fore Congress now