Evening star., 1949-03-06
Rising Bonus Pressure +
Dismoys. Economy Forces

1tSastNy yS'6SSI
Congressional Ability to Withstand
Veterans Lobby Is Serious Question
By Frank r. Kent
The small minority Of elected officials IN
Washington deeply concerned about the con-
dition Of the Federal finances and acutely
aware Of the accommodating dangers OF un-
controllable deficits and unchecked debts.
nevertheless up to now, has continued val
iantly to make its fight for retrenchnent
and to regain fiscal stability.
They have done this despite the fact that
public resistance to reckless spending appears
to lessen as the size, cost and waste of the
Government operation increase. During last
year. for example. Senator Byrd points out.
more than 100000 new civilian employees
have been piled on the public payroll How
ever. II two things happen at the current:
session Of Congress this band Of men who,
undismayed. have been battling against
heavy odds for Is years will throw up the
sponge and quit. This will not be because
they have lost courage or gone soft or
changed their views. 1t will be because the
sheer futility of keeping up the fight will
have become 50 clear that it would be silly
to do SO.
The first Of these things concerns the
Hoover Commissions report on reorganiza-
ton OF the executive branch. Detached men
who know enough about this report intelli-
gently to discuss it are agreed on four things:
l. That 1t is the most comprehensive and
thorough ever made by a Government COM
mission. 2. That if it's main recommended
tions are adopted not only would efficiency
OF Government be greatly enhanced, but
about So, 600 900 year would be saved 3.
That opposition from the Federal jobholders
10 III 4
and determined. T. That if the main fsa-
lures of the report are not accepted by Con-
gress all hope of ever getting the Federal
machine to manageable proportions will dis
appear. Clearly, this is the last chance
&+&
The second thing which would end the
fight for retrenchment concerns the veterans
bonus and pension bills, introduced in the
House at this session. II the Hoover report
fails, the prospect Of averting national bank
ruptcy will certainly be decreased But II
on top Of that, the general pension
and bonus proposals-which according to
Harold A. Keats, national commander Of
the American Veterans of World War II,
were approved by 10-to-1 vote-should be
approved by the House this session, why then.
say the doughty advocates of national SOL
vency it would, indeed, be Kitty, bar the
history In this country shows that any gen.
eral bonus or pension bill getting that far
becomes law within about three years.
Though Senates reject and Presidents veto.
the weight behind forces enactment. There
Is not single known instance in which any
general bill Of this kind has permanently
failed. 49,, =.
If and when the present bonus and pension
proposals meet success. the cost to the Gov
ernment is estimated at from $40 600, 900 600
to $67,500, 100000. What that will do to an
already overburdened fiscal structure need
not be described. Clear-headed members OF
Congress shudder when they think of it. No
such bill will 60 through this year. Though
the House may pass 1t, the Senate will not;
or if it did, Mr.. Truman would veto it just
as Mr.. Coolidge vetoed one in 1924 and Mr..
Hoover vetoed one in 1881 and Mr.. Roosevelt
vetoed one in 1885 and again in 1885. In
each Of those instances the bill was finally
passed over the Presidents veto and became
law. IT, say the forecasters. the House
passes the bill by an emphatic vote this
session, 1t easily may become law at the
next session, as 1850 is an election year. II
not, then 1t Is sure to pass. regardless OF
veto, before the 1852 session ends. That Is
the prospect. Is 1t surprising the retrench-
ment group should feel futile?
When it is considered that already eight
States have voted bonuses amounting to
four times the total State bonuses provided
after World War L. that in 10 more States
proposals are pending which If approved
would bring the total State cash payments
to S. 800 900 900; that when the soldiers were
mustered out they received additional pay
and later still were voted terminal leave"
pay by Congress; that they receive many
additional advantages such as insurance
policies, ETC., under the so-called GI Bill OF
Rights-when all these things are considered.
the hope of members of Congress that this
time the demand for Federal bonus would
not develop can be understood The hope
was bolstered by an enlightened attitude
taken by many servicemen who sought to
identify the veterans interest with the ma
tional interest, who pointed out that bonuses
eventually must be paid by the taxpayers.
including veterans and declared the veteran
ought to be "a citizen first and veteran
second"
It now seems that that hope was not well
founded. The demand for Federal bonus
on top of the State bonuses and the G1
privileges and compensations has been made
and bonus history is expected to repeat
in big way. Veterans Administration exc
penditures are now running close to $1,000
900 900 year, which is seven times as mucH
as in 1888, when the late President Roosevelt
forced reduction to less than $600,00eOO0
on the plea that the country could not carry
the load. In less than two years the total
was greater than before which shows the
power of the forces behind the bonus de-
mands They are, of course, stronger now
than they were then When the State bonus
drive has succeeded, they will be in position
to concentrate upon the Federal bonus. This
measure of its success will be the character
of the House action at this session. "A
Distributed by McNaught Syndicate 1nc)
itself is fully feet in height and makes
a very excellent advertisement for the show. :
Last evening the attendance was about
evenly divided between the bicycle girls and