Evening star., 1947-03-29
VA Holds Congress
Cannot Economic on
Benefit Commitments
By George Beveridae

The House Appropriations Com.
mittee's slice of $552,000 900 from
funds requested for veterans bene.
fits will have to be made UP, Veter.
ans Administration officials claimed
today.
The veterans agency asked Con-
gress for s2,169,114,50O to pay vet
Grams in the form of direct benefits
and to cover administrative costs
through June 30. In the first de-
flciency appropriation bill, the Com
mittee yesterday cut the figure tc
81 SIG, 1894, 500.
Rankig officials of the agency in
timated the only reason for reducing
the Veterans Administration esti-
mates was to give the appearance
OF economy in reporting out the
appropriation.
Payments Required by Law.
The Government is committed by
law, they pointed out, to pay bene-
fits to all eligible veterans regard
less of how many there are. II
funds to pay the benefits run out
Congress would have to grant an
other appropriation, unless the Law
were changed, they said.
Except for a $1,Ooo,O6O decrease
in VA printing and binding esti-
mates. all the committees cuts were
from funds which Veterans Admin
strator Bradley said were necessary
to pay pensions. school and training
benefits, unemployment compensa-
ton and loan guaranty costs.
If funds for the direct benefits run
out after Veterans Administration
appropriations for the fiscal year
l948 are voted, some of the 194e
money could be used, officials said
If the funds run out before next
years money is granted, they intend
to hand in another deficiency re-
quest promptly.
Public Relations Staff Cut.
Only direct effect of the bill on
the agency itself, as officials see it
is in the committees order that all
but 100 public relations personnel be
stripped from the payroll. At pres
ent, 272 men and women are on the
publicity staffs-46 in the Wash
ington central Office and the rest
assigned to the 13 branch areas
throughout the country.
While Mr.. Taber's committee gave
VA the 1907 ,25s, 900 it requested fol
salaries, medical costs and admin
istrative expenses, officials feel they
will have to make another trip tc
Capitol Hill before June 80 to make
ends meet.
Gen. Bradley opened the door for
such visit during testimony before
the committee, when he warned that
increasing medical costs may raise
expenses $44,450, 900 above current
estimates. That exact amount, he
later told the committee, was slashed
by the Budget Bureau before the
estimate was sent to Congress.
Other Rises Anticipated.
Il must frankly admit that to the
best of my judgment this sum will
prove insufficient. If January trends
are meaningful in hospital care, out
patient treatment and examinations
and in the payment of tuition for
veterans training under Public Law
l6 disabled veterans" he told the
committee, "an additional appro-
priation of s44,450,0OO will be re-
quired for those essential services
alone" =
Proportionate increases also car
be anticipated in other activities, he
declared, emphasizing the fact thu
activities of the agency are still or
the upgrade.
The Hause. bill further orders Gen
Bradley to make every effort to elm
mate excess personnel" but makes
no definite recommendation beyond