The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-03-06
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Facts and Figures
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BY
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FULLER WARREN


Approximately $4,000 citizens
of Florida served in the armed
forces during World War II. A
total of 3,540 Floridians lost their
lives in the worst of all wars
Many thousands were wounded.
All of them sustained severe eco
nomic losses by being away from
civilian life while the big war
money was being made. Most of
them suffered privations, such as
fear, cold, hunger and homesick-
ness.
Many states have recognized
their obligation to those who saw
ed the state, the nation and civil
lization. Florida has not.
During 1916, the legislatures OF
10 states enacted legislation for
the benefit of veterans. Florida'S
1947 legislature should do some
thing for veterans, especially those
who don't have houses to live in.
DREW Pearson says there are 3D.
100000 homeless veterans in the
United States; there must be
many thousands of veterans in
Florida who don't have homes)
In 1916, a special session of the
California legislature enacted in
to law about so measures dealing
with veterans. Chapter 90, Laws
of California, appropriated. ST.
100000 to aid counties, cities, local
housing Authorities, or districts in
acquiring federal housing and eS-
tablishment of emergency housing
facilities for veterans and families
of servicemen. 1t provides for
ALLEGATION of funds by the direc-
tor of finance on basis of 80 per
cent from the state and 10 per
cent from the local agency.
Chapter 1913 appropriated $780,
900 for assisting veterans in pre-.
senting claims against the Fed
eral government, arising out of
war service.
Chapter SO increases the re-
volving fund for purchase of
farms and homes from $750,000
to 100000.
The Connecticut legislature APP
propriated- $4,000 to be used as
a revolving fund by the state for
ester for the purpose of produc-
ing lumber from state forests or
from private forest lands to be
used solely for housing of veter-
ans.
The Louisiana legislature pro-
vided state aid for the education
of children of deceased veterans
of World War II. Surely, the
children of the 3,540 Floridians
who lost their lives in the late
war should not be denied an ed
ucation because their fathers died
defending the rest of us. The
Federal government makes no
provision for educating the chill
dren of men killed in the war.
The state should.
Even Mississippi, which is not
noted for being progressive, has
done a good part by its veterans.
The Mississippi legislature Gre
ated a Farm and Home Loan
Board of six members appointed
by the governor to assist veter-
ans in buying farm or home to
cost not more than $4,000, where
it can be shown that a qualified
veteran has been unable to OBJ
tain a loan in his own community
or county. The state may pur-
chase a home or farm for a vet
eran and resell it to him with fl
nanced payments at four per
cent interest over a period not to
exceed 25 years.
The Farm and Home Loan Pro-
gram carries an appropriation of
$5,000,000, with administrative
expenses not to exceed $4,000 a
year.
Senate Bill 292 enables cities
and counties to undertake emerg-
ency housing facilities.
Senate Bill 900 authorizes mu-
inequalities to execute contracts
with the Federal government and
to carry out their responsibility
in providing temporary housing
facilities for veterans.
House Bill 2 and House Bill $40
removed minority disability for
veterans who desire to enter into
contracts and buy or convey
property under the terms of the
Gil. Bill.
If Mississippi, the poorest state
in the Union, can do so much for
its veterans, SO can Florida, one
of the WedlthieSt in the South