Evening star., 1947-01-06
Is New Veterans Bills
Before House Would
Pay Out 20 Billions
BY the Associated Press

BY the Assoeiofed Press
The rush is on in Congress to
shell out more billions to veterans.
Lawmakers are tossing in bills
and getting campaigns under way
for such things as:
/. A soldiers bonus.
2. Immediate caShing of terminal
leave bonds.
8. An increase in Government
payments to veterans going to
school or learning new jobs by
working at them.
Eighteen of the first 157 bills re-
ceived by the House would do some
thing for those who served in the
armed forces. These Is cover pro-
grams that might total $40, 0,000, ,000,-
600 or $4,000, ,000, 900 in new outlays.
Calls Ceiling Unfair.
And Representative Edith Nourse
Rogers, Republican, OF Massachu-
sets, the new chairman, is corlcen-
trating on plans to keep the House
Veterans Committee busy.
"One of the first things" she told
a reporter, will be to lift the 5000
ceiling on allowances for on-the-job
training. 1t Is manifestly unfair :,
Mrs. Rogers introduced bfll on
tnat. So did several other 1egis-
Iators t7 ~ zsF
Furthermore, Mrs. Rogers has
ideas about: -,-.-...--- -. o. ---..--.----
Increasing the number am
putees eligible for free cars tCon-
gress provided $4,000, 900 for this
purpose last year,, expanding out
patient treatment to help more vet
Grams and relieve the shortage OF
hospital beds; extending education
al provisions Of the CT Bill Of
Rights, and improving arrange
ments for supplying artificial limbs.
Cash Leave Pay Sought.
Judging by the number of new
bills, heavy demand is building
up for immediate redemption some
So, TOO 900 900 worth of terminal leave
bonds. These were given to enlisted
men by the last Congress to make
up for the fact that officers got long
leaves with pay before they were
But enlisted men have
to hang on to their bonds for at
least five years, even though the
bonds draw 21z per cent interest.
Representative Patman, Democrat,
of Texas, author of one bond cash.
ing bill, said 1t wouldn't cost the
Government a cent, because the
Government can borrow money to
redeem the bonds at less than the
interest IL pays. on them"
Mr.. Patman, along with Repre-
sentative Mccormack, Democrat, OF
Mississippi and Former Representa-
tive Fred M. Vinson, now Chief JUS
tice of the United States, was CO.
sponsor of the World War bonus
bill.
Representative Pace. Democrat, Of
Georgia has come forward with a
World War II bonus bill. 1t would
ante up 81 a day for service at
home and S. for service overseas.
Would Benefit Older Veterans.
Representative Landis, Republic
can, of Indiana, figuring on re-
introducing bonus bill for 81 q
day for duty at home and $1.5C
for overseas service, said the cost
of such payments had been sesti-
mated at $4,000, ,009,0 900. On that
basis, the check for the Pace bill
might reach $4,000. 600, 900 or $751;
O00, ,0o0, ,000.s
Some of the new legislation would
go back to help veterans of World
War I. Representative Beckworth
Democrat, of Texas would extend
the pension system to cover par
TALLY disabled veterans OF that
war whose disability was not service
connected.
This would extend to these men
the same benefits, ranging from $2s
to 500 a month, now granted
Spanish h-American war veterans.
Another Beckworth bill would
transport overseas all families o1
soldiers serving there and provide
housing for them, all free.