Evening star., 1948-01-09
VA's%,677,97S,O7S
Expenditures in Year
Explained in Report
By George Beveridse

Veterans Administrator Gray has
sent to Congress his first annual
report to show what happens to the
Veterans Administration dollar
or rather the $6,677, ,978,o78 that the
agency spent during the fiscal year
1947.
The new report, just off the
presses, shows that three veterans
benefit-disability and retirement
pay, education benefits and unem-
ployment pay-account for well over
half of that figure.
More than $187 zoe, 900 was dis
bursed in benefits to veterans of
all wars in the District.
Not included in the figure is an
other $1,127, ,000,0 900, listed in the
report as disbursements. For the
most part, however, 1t involves
transfers of insurance appropria-
tions to trust funds and operation
of hospital patients funds-which
represent little actual expenditures.
Request Due Monday.
The request for the fiscal year be-
ginning next July is expected to be
just under the present operating
budget of $6,964,4 ,457 ,080. The new
request will be made Monday from
the White House.
Only sizable reduction is expected
to come from elimination Of fund
Congress has appropriated during
the war years to take care Of war
time death claims by beneflciaries Of
National Service Life Insurance
policy holders. Other VA programs,
according to officials, show little
signs Of change.
VA administrative cost-princi-
pal target of criticism leveled
against the agency-amounted to
$3.50, ,029,777, according to the new
annual report.
The largest slice, however, was
the $1,731 ,972,782 paid in direct
benefits for disability or retirement
claims. 1t was drawn by 1890, ,765
living veterans-about 24,500 of
them District residents-and the
survivors of $4,000 others.
Benefit Total Given.
The report pointed up the length
of time it takes Government to
pay-in benefits alone-the cost of
a war. The Veterans Administra-
tion and its predecessors, the re-
port announced, now have spent,
for all wars, $41,832, ,297,053.
And these amounts were paid dur
ing the last fiscal year to veterans
of wars that ended before the
turn of the century:
About $108,350,000 to 114.500
Spanish-American War veterans,
1878 of them residing in the Dis
trict.
About s124,soo to 81 Civil War
veterans.
About s7s1 400 to s41 Indian Wars
veterans
About $25,4O0 to survivors of Al
Mexican War veterans.
In addition, $500 was paid In
World War I bonuses OF this
amount, claim of $36 was paid to
q District resident.
Education Program Cost.
The huge education program for
World War II veterans, meanwhile,
cost more than s1,500, ,000, 900 for
subsistence payments and more
than SSH 100000 for tuition. The
cost In the District amounted to
$8,387, 900.
About 211 800 other former serv-
tcemen-1,574 of them here-were
registered in vocational training
courses that cost $1eo,941. 900.
The 1920 Club"-still going
strong during the fiscal year
reached total outlay of $1,176, $780, :
900 in jobless pay. In the District,
the report said, more than $5,440, 900
was paid. Self-employment allow
ances cost the Government $271,-
10000 during the year.
other principal expenditures
listed:
More than s25s, 1903 800 in CT life
insurance claims.
Automobiles for war amputees
$21, 100000.
ropetr,cfioy, ooets s1e 900 666